DEWA Increases 2014 Budget By $1.8bn

DEWA’s 2014 budget has been set at Dhs20.56 billion compared with 13.835 billion in 2013.

MENA IPOs Rebound As Market Improves

As market conditions improve, 2014 could be the year for Gulf capital listings.

South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Dies Aged 95

South Africa’s first black president and anti-aparthied icon, Mandela, 95, passed away in his Johannesburg home.

Australian Boutique Oroton Launches In Dubai

The luxury accessories retailer is selling the concept of ‘affordable luxury’ to Middle East’s shoppers.

UAE’s Khalifa Fund Signs $200m Agreement With Egypt

The agreement aims to develop poor areas in Egypt and maximise job creation among women and youth in the country.

Dubai Stock Market Ends Above 3,000 For First Time In 5 Years

The index climbed 0.9 per cent to 3,013 points, its highest close since October 2008.

Saudi Minister Says 250,000 Saudis Employed After Amnesty

Saudi Arabia has been repatriating illegal expats with the hopes of stemming unemployment among locals.

Turkey Says Qatar Interested In Afsin-Elbistan Power Project

The United Arab Emirates dropped out of the coal-fired power plant project earlier this year.

Arab Economies Urged To Increase Female Employment

Currently only about 19 per cent of the regional workforce comprises of women.

Qantas Issues Profit Warning; To Cut 1,000 Jobs

Surprise announcement shows Qantas continues to wrestle with fuel costs and competition

Dubai State Fund ICD Acquires Atlantis Hotel

The firm acquired the hotel from a unit of Dubai World for an undisclosed sum.

Egypt Woos Gulf Investors, Promises Repayments To Oil Firms

Egypt promised to pay $1.5 billion of the $6 billion it says it owes foreign oil companies.

Saudi Arabia Bank Loans Cooling to ‘Healthy Levels’: Arab Credit

Bank loan growth to the private sector was 13 per cent in October, the slowest rate of expansion since May last year.

Iran Eyes Better Ties With UAE After Nuclear Deal With West

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited the UAE as part of a regional tour to improve relations with the GCC.

Saudi Q3 Economic Growth Picks Up As Oil Output Rebounds

The Kingdom’s economy expanded at an annual rate of 3.1 per cent in the third quarter of this year.

Facebook Found To Influence Users’ Travel Plans

A recent study revealed that travel is one of the most discussed topics on the site.

Qatar Airways Launching Dallas Flights

Second Gulf carrier set to serve Dallas from next summer

Majority of Finance Executives Are “Flexible” On Ethics

A study found that there is a significant gap between the belief about ethics and industry practices among finance executives.

OPEC Seen Keeping Oil Cap; Naimi Says Market in Best Shape

The current 30 million barrel-a-day target for the 12-nation group adequately matches demand, say officials.

Dubai Has No Immediate Plans For An Olympic Bid – Official

But the UAE is prepared and capable of hosting the Olympics, says senior UAE National Olympic Committee member.

Officials Deny Single Gulf Currency Launch

The Gulf Monetary Council has dismissed media reports of four GCC countries launching a common currency.

Nakheel Awards Dhs174m Contracts For Palm Jumeirah Projects

The construction contracts have been awarded for Azure Residences and Club Vista Mare.

StanChart Set To End 10-Year Boom With Profit Drop

Standard Chartered has reported 10 consecutive years of record income and profits.

UAE Business Activity Growth Hits Record High In Nov

Output and new orders in the country’s non-oil private sector accelerated to a record high.

Emirates Starts Kabul Flights

Global carrier identifies premium demand and raises competition with Safi Airways.

Raytheon CEO Sees $4bn-$5bn In ME Orders In ‘Weeks’

Raytheon is looking to foreign orders to help offset a reduction in projected U.S. military spending over the next decade.

Kuwait Airways May Issue Bonds, Sukuk For Airbus Deal

Kuwait Airways is planning to buy 25 new aircraft and lease 12 other new planes.

Hyatt Eyes Eight Dubai Projects After Expo 2020 Win

New brands such as Andaz and Hyatt Place are being lined up in next development phase.

Dubai Mercantile Exchange Sets New Trading Records

Almost 7.5 million barrels of crude oil per day were recorded in November this year.

Russia’s Putin, Saudi Prince Bandar Discuss Syria, Iran

The Kremlin said Putin and Prince Bandar discussed plans for a long-delayed international peace conference on Syria.