GCC Food Consumption To Hit $106bn By 2018

Food is the largest segment of consumer expenditure in the region and stood at $83 billion year-end 2012, says new report.

Pictures: $75M Swiss Penthouse Targeted At Gulf Buyers

In return for their multimillion franc investment, owners will receive “full on effortless living”

Exclusive: Aujan To Expand Into Asia, Africa

The Saudi-based juice manufacturer, which signed a $1 billion deal with Coca-Cola in 2011, plans to launch Rani and Barbican brands in international markets.

Oman Seeks Consolidation In Financial Sector

There are now 18 banks in the sultanate after last year’s merger between the local business of HSBC Holdings and Oman International Bank.

Fiat Chrysler Group ME Sees 2012 Record Year

The U.S. car manufacturer – which houses the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands – sold 25,321 vehicles in the region.

QNB Bid For 100% Of Soc Gen Approved

Qatar National Bank had planned to buy 77 per cent of National Societe Generale Bank last year.

Etisalat Picks Banks For $6bn Maroc Telecom Stake

Etisalat is talking to banks about a syndicated loan of up to $8 billion to finance the potential transaction.

Arqaam Hires Ex-Credit Suisse Banker To Head Equity Sales

Wafik Nsouli will take charge as executive director and head of institutional equity sales

UAE’s Tabreed To Issue Bonds To Mubadala As Dividend

The Dubai-listed company has proposed to pay a cash dividend of 5 fils per share to its shareholders.

Kerry Makes First Foreign Trip To Middle East

The top U.S. diplomat will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE in his nine-country whistle stop tour.

Emirates LNG Leases Land For UAE Gas Import Terminal

Once complete, the facility will have the capacity to import nine million tons per annum of LNG.

Emaar Shares Hit 51-Month High Ahead Of Dividends

The Dubai developer’s shares jumped 4.6 per cent to hit Dhs5.15, its highest close since November 2008.

Rotana To Debut In Turkey

Twin projects near Istanbul target leisure travellers as operator seeks new revenue opportunities outside GCC

Turkish Airlines To Spend $120m On Ads This Year

The carrier’s recent advertisement featuring sports stars Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant has received over 102 million YouTube hits.

Industries Qatar Q4 Net Misses Forecasts

The Gulf’s second-largest chemical producer made a net profit of 1.8 billion riyals ($494.4 million) for the fourth quarter.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank To Issue Two-Tranche Bond

The UAE lender will issue a benchmark-sized five-year bond and also a ten-year subordinated deal.

Qatar Holding To Seek Credit Ratings This Year

The Qatar sovereign has ratings of Aa2 from Moody’s and AA from S&P, and was in the bond market last summer with a $4 billion sukuk issue.

UAE Etihad’s Pause Highlights India Investment Risk

Etihad’s pause over taking a stake in Jet Airways highlights the difficulties Gulf investors have faced in India.

Most Successful GCC Companies Abroad

A list of the most successful Gulf companies to take the international business world by storm.

Air Berlin Makes First Profit In Five Years

Shares in Germany’s second biggest airline jump after Etihad Airways buys stake in frequent flyer programme.

Kingdom Holding To Pay $147m In Dividends

The firm made a net profit of 209.6 million riyals ($55.9 million) in the fourth quarter.

Kvitova Wins Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

The Czech claimed her 10th tour victory with the win over Sara Errani on Saturday.

Drone Manufacturers Target Rising Gulf Arab Demand

“All countries in the Arabian Gulf are talking to us,” says one executive in the unmanned aerial vehicle business.

Review: Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

The flexible 13-inch hybrid from Lenovo can be folded into a tent or a tablet.

After Big Delays, Kuwait Moves Ahead On Infrastructure

The Gulf state is pushing ahead with a $2.6 billion plan to build a 36 km causeway connecting Shuwaikh port with the north of the country.

Etihad and Kenya Airways sign codeshare agreement

Deal provides Abu Dhabi carrier with better connectivity throughout Africa and Nairobi-based airline with improved international access.

Qatar Gives $100m In Humanitarian Aid To Syria

Donor countries meeting in Kuwait last month pledged more than $1.5 billion to aid Syrians affected by the civil war.

Saudi Arabia Salaries Increased 5.8% In 2012

The government’s bumper spending spree translated into higher salaries in the Kingdom.

Middle East Urged To Address Food Security Issues

Recent predictions suggest the value of food imports into the GCC alone will hit US$53.1 billion by 2020.

Qatar Airways Becomes First ME Airline To Fly To Cambodia

Alongside funnelling east-west business traffic via Doha, the new route will appeal to leisure travelers.