Kingdom Holding Posts 10.3% Rise In Q4 Profit

Full-year net profit for Prince Alwaleed’s investment firm rose five per cent to 742.5 million riyals.

UAE’s Taqa Plans $1.2bn Investment In Kurdistan Oilfield

Taqa plans to invest more than $300 million in the first phase of the project.

Saudi Telecom Profit Lifted By Accounting Change

Saudi Telecom reported a net profit of 3.62 billion riyals in the three months to December 31.

Dubai’s Ruler Announces New Directives To Boost Hotel Investment

The new rules aim to reduce red tape for businesses and cut short approval time.

Qatar’s Barwa Real Estate Sells Barwa Bank Stake For $656m

BRE is selling some of its assets to Qatari Diar to help eliminate its debts.

Deutsche Sees Saudi Local Debt Sales Surpassing International Issues In 2014

High liquidity in the country has kept funding costs low.

Samsung, Just Falafel, GEMS Join Forces For Startup Initiative

The ‘Launching People’ initiative aims to help transform ideas into reality in four areas – fashion, education, invention and start-ups.

Dubai Starts Work On Huge Resort On The World Islands

The “Heart of Europe” project, a complex of luxury hotels and villas, is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

FRV, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy Form JV To Develop Solar Projects In Saudi

The firms will work on photovoltaic solar projects through the joint venture.

Exclusive: Just Falafel Eyeing Asian And European Expansion

Fast food chain plots Asian and European expansion on top of openings in UK and North America.

New Upscale Project Launched In Dubai’s Motor City

The project will be developed by Dubai’s Union Properties, along with National Properties, a unit of National Bonds Corporation.

Arabtec Wins Dhs5.7bn Contract In Jordan

The project is an integrated entertainment, hospitality and leisure development and is expected to boost Jordan’s tourism industry.

Shell Sells Stakes In Australian Gas Project For $1.14bn

Shell is selling the stakes to the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, a partner in the project.

UAE’s Shah gas Project Due Online In Early 2015 – ADNOC

It was previously estimated that the project to produce usable gas from Shah’s high-sulphur gas field would be completed in late 2014.

Nakheel Chairman: No Increase In Sales Prices In 2014

The Dubai developer is maintaining sales prices at the same level as last year, confirms chairman Ali Rashid Lootah.

MENA To Invest $50bn In Solar Power Sector By 2020

The contribution of solar power towards the region’s energy mix is forecast to shift significantly in the coming years, says new report.

World powers, Iran To Activate Landmark Nuclear Deal After IAEA Nod

If Iran meets its end of the agreement, the European Union and the US will suspend some economic sanctions in return.

Qatar Islamic Bank Q4 Net Profit More Than Triples

QIB made a net profit of $100.2 million during the three months to December 31.

UAE Plans Renewable Energy Projects In Five Pacific Nations

Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will receive grants from the UAE’s $50m renewable energy fund.

Gulf Finance House To Sell 75% In Leeds United, Retain 10% Stake

GFH, which bought the second-tier club in 2012, said it had agreed to sell the stake to a consortium of British investors.

Saudi Says Doubles Number Of Citizens In Private Sector Jobs

Economists estimate only 30-40 per cent of working-age Saudis hold jobs or actively seek work.

Saudi Oil Min Says U.S. Shale Oil Helps Keep Oil Markets Stable

Shale oil remains much more costly to produce than most Middle East crude.

Different Arab money

Middle East Investment Banking Fees Up 20% In 2013

Total fees rose to $722 million in 2013, the highest since 2010.

Middle East Professionals Consider Flexible Working Vital

A study has shown 71 per cent believe flexible working improves staff retention.

Sager Is Frontrunner To Succeed Dabdoub At Kuwait’s NBK

Isam al-Sager, 58, is currently the deputy chief executive of National Bank of Kuwait.

Empower

Empower Buys Cooling Firm For $500m From Dubai World Unit

Acquiring Palm Utilities will give Empower about 70 per cent of the UAE’s district cooling market.

Shell And UAE’s Mubadala Swap Malaysian Offshore Field Stakes

Mubadala has taken a 20 per cent interest in Block 2B and Shell has taken a 20 per cent interest in Block SK320.

UAE Introduces Compulsory Military Service For Men

All Emirati males between ages 18 and 30 will be required to serve in the military while it is optional for women

Abu Dhabi Plans Aviation Biofuel Project With Boeing And Total

The venture is looking at various raw materials to produce biofuel including agricultural waste and date palm leaves.

Abu Dhabi’s Prime Property Prices Rose 30% In Q4 2013

Reem Island showed the highest rise in prices for the second consecutive year in 2013, comprising around 30 per cent of online property searches.