Strike Paralyses Lufthansa Network

Middle East travellers should brace themselves for cancellations and delays from today’s strike by the public services trade union ver.di

Sebastian Vettel Wins Bahrain GP

The race was untroubled by anti-government protests and reported clashes elsewhere in the tiny Gulf kingdom.

Saudi Telecom Posts 38.5% Fall In Q1 Net Profit

The firm posted a net profit of SAR1.55 billion, attributing the profit drop to charges relating to an Indian affiliate.

Total-Led Group Gets Laffan 2 Refinery Deal – Qatar Petroleum

Construction of the $1.5 billion condensate refinery is expected to be completed by the second half of 2016.

Saudi’s Kingdom Holding Sees 9% Q1 Profit Rise

The firm made a net profit of 110.1 million riyals ($29.4 million) during the three months ended March 31, compared with 100.8 million riyals in the same period a year earlier.

GEMS Education Raises $545m Expansion Loan

The loan is a mix of Islamic and conventional financing managed by lenders including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank.

Emirates NBD CEO Rick Pudner Resigns

Pudner has been at the helm of Dubai’s biggest bank since 2006 after 24 years at HSBC.

ITC Projects Revive Oman’s Real Estate

Integrated Tourism Complex developments, such as Muscat Hills and The Wave, help to revive the Sultanate’s real estate market.

Saudi’s Mobily Misses Estimates With 11% Profit Rise

Mobily’s revenue for the three months to March 31 was 5.63 billion riyals, up from 5.01 billion riyals from the prior-year period.

Saudi King Removes Deputy Defence Minister In Royal Reshuffle

Prince Khaled bin Sultan has been removed from his post, replaced by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.

Barcelona President Rosell Aims To Continue Beyond 2016

Sandro Rosell negotiated the club’s $39.25 million sponsorship deal with Qatar Sports Investments.

Sabic To Cut Over 1,000 Jobs In Europe

The company, which employs 40,000 people spread across 40 countries, made a net profit of around $6.59 billion in 2012.

FIFA is considering a request from the South American Football Confederation for hosts Qatar to play Ecuador a day earlier than previously planned

Qatar To Develop Solar-Powered Cooling For World Cup

Qatar has promised to hold a carbon-neutral World Cup and so is researching solar-powered cooling technology.

FAA Approval Clears Dreamliners For Take Off

Boeing said planes wll be modified “in approximately the order they were delivered” and the expectation is they will be flying again in May.

U.S. Nears $10bn Arms Deal With Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE

The deal will take V-22 Osprey aircraft, advanced refueling tankers, anti-air defense missiles and 25 F-16 Desert Falcon jets to the region.

Saudi’s Sabic Q1 Profit Falls 10%

Net income for the three months to March 31 was 6.56 billion riyals ($1.75 billion) compared to 7.27 billion riyals in the same period last year.

Bahrain Soccer Head: I’m Favourite For AFC Top Job

An interview with Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa reveals he favours himself to replace disgraced Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Saudi Oil Exports In February Jump To 7.45m bpd

The world’s largest oil exporter shipped around 7.09 million bpd in January.

Etihad Travel Mall Opens In Dubai

New round-the-clock, comprehensive facility targets more Dubai passengers

NBAD Signs Refinancing Deal With Paris’ Prince de Galles Hotel

The Abu Dhabi lender is refinancing the renovation of the Parisian five-star hotel that is scheduled to re-open in May 2013.

The $15 Million iPhone

A businessman from Hong Kong has commissioned the bejewelled device.

Qatargas To Shut LNG Line In May For Maintenance

The Train 3 unit produces 3.2 million tonnes of LNG annually

German Firm Wins Contract To Supply Tanks To Qatar

Arms exports are a sensitive issue in Germany given the role arms makers like Krupp played in fuelling 19th and 20th century wars.

Kuwaiti Police Teargas Opposition Protest

Musallam al-Barrak, a former member of parliament, was sentenced to five years in jail this week, sparking protests.

Saudi Arabia Intensifies Crackdown On Illegal Workers

Saudi Arabia has been deporting hundreds of thousands of illegal foreign workers as part of labour market reforms.

FIA President Jean Todt Avoids Bahrain GP

Formula One’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone will attend the race.

Is Dubai Earthquake Proof?

What was it like being in the Burj Khalifa during the earthquake? Our structural design expert explains.

Etisalat Draws Strong Bank Demand For $8bn Maroc Tel Bid Loan

The UAE telecoms operator has already secured the backing of 12 banks and up to four more could join.

Kuwait’s NBK Q1 Profit Flat, Sees Rosier Outlook

National Bank of Kuwait made KD81.3 million of net profit in the three months of 2013.

Emirates Sponsoring Roland Garros Tournament

Latest agreement is the third tennis sponsorship in Europe after the Italian Open and recently announced Barcelona Open