Top 10 Digital Companies To Watch

Gulf Business lists 10 companies to keep a close eye on as they move the region’s digital industry forward.

Saudi Kings Of Oil Join The Shale Gas Revolution

Inspired by a shale gas surge in the U.S. the kingdom has begun investigating its large unconventional deposits and their potential for fuelling long-term growth.

Egyptians Buy Into Real Estate To Escape Currency Dive

The Egyptian pound has lost about 14 per cent of its value because of unrest in the country.

Starwood Restarts Doha And Aqaba Projects

Starwood leaders upbeat after meeting 50 owners across 12 countries during month-long HQ relocation.

OPEC Says Oil Price Level Not Harmful To World Economy

Oil prices have averaged about $110 per barrel this year.

Yemenis Protest Against New Saudi Labour Ruling

Thousands of Yemeni labourers face deportation following new Saudi regulations that require expats to work only for their sponsors.

Gold Hits 10-Month Low On Selloff To Cover Equity Losses

The precious metal fell as far as $1,541.14 an ounce, its lowest since May.

Telco Zain Saudi Extends Maturity Of $600m Facility

The operator, which has yet to make a quarterly profit since launching services in 2008, last week extended a $2.4 billion Islamic loan to April 30.

RAKBANK Chief Exec To Retire, Replaced By Lloyds Banker

Ian Larkin of Lloyds will replace Graham Honeybill, who will become a non-executive director.

Saudi Arabia Quits IILM Islamic Finance Corporation

IILM faced a major challenge to ensure compliance with laws in all of the 12 member countries situated across Asia and the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Signs $2bn Refinancing

The three-year revolving credit facility attracted a total of 19 international lenders and replaces a $2.5 billion loan agreed in 2010.

Saudi Binladin Group Prices $347m Islamic Bond

Pricing came at the tight end of initial price guidance of 170-190 bps, indicating that demand for the transaction was strong.

Exclusive Interview: Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free

With $16 million sales per day, is Dubai Duty Free’s success about being in the right place at the right time or a shrewd business strategy?

UAE Relaxes Travel Restrictions On Canadians

The UAE withdrew its visa waiver for Canadian citizens more than two years ago amid a dispute over landing rights.

“I Eat A Burger Everyday,” Says Max Burger CEO

The Swedish burger chain recently opened its first store outside Scandinavia in Dubai.

Kuwait’s Parliament Approves Personal Debt Relief Plan

The plan will mean banks have to pay back any overcharged interest to citizens.

India’s MRPL Asks For More Saudi Oil In April

State-owned refiner MRPL said it will halt oil imports from Iran in April if insurance cover is not available for its refineries.

Dubai Duty Free Sales Up 12% In Q1

The airport retailer recorded sales of Dhs1.6 billion in the first three months of the year.

Bahrain Halts Telecom Spectrum Auction As Operator Appeals

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority was due to auction 12 lots of spectrum primarily for 4G networks from March 31.

Dubai World Central To Open For Passengers In October

Dubai’s second airport will operate five runways and have a capacity of 160 million passengers a year.

National Bank Of Abu Dhabi Names ANZ’s Thursby As CEO

Alex Thursby succeeds Michael Tomalin who after 14 years at the helm will remain in a non-executive director’s role.

Prince Alwaleed: Open Saudi Market To Foreigners

The Prince has said the Kingdom needs to upgrade its equity markets to international standards while protecting its blue-chip companies from hot international money.

Saudi Finance Minister: Spending Growth Will Slow

The Kingdom has budgeted to spend a record 820 billion riyals, up 19 per cent from the amount originally planned for 2012.

Oman’s Islamic Banks Get Extension On Foreign Holdings

Oman’s Islamic lenders can hold no more than 40 per cent of their net worth in the form of foreign currency-denominated assets.

Dubai Developer Damac Plans IPO – Sources

The IPO plan is reportedly at an initial stage and it is not clear whether the listing will be in Dubai.

Dubai ‘Central’ To Emirates-Qantas Partnership Success

Emirates President Tim Clark highlighted the importance of Dubai as a trading hub at last night’s gala dinner.

Abu Dhabi’s Western Region In $500bn 2030 Output

A strategic guide for all the development initiatives in the Western Region has been devised under a framework called Al Gharbia 2030.

Saudi Aramco, Dow JV Raises $2bn From Sukuk

Sadara Chemical Co will use the returns to fund a $19.3 billion petrochemical complex in the east of the Kingdom.

Qatar’s CBQ Plans Bond Sale To Boost Capital

Commercial Bank of Qatar has hired Morgan Stanley and Bank Of America Merrill Lynch for the issue of a Tier 1 bond.

Eurozone Unemployment Rate Hits Record High Of 12%

The number of jobless people in the 17-member union reached 19.07 million in February.