“Be Brave,” Global Creative Head Tells ME Advertisers

Erik Vervroegen, international creative director, Publicis Worldwide, a judge at the Dubai Lynx Awards, says regional work is “world-class.”

OPEC Sees Oil Demand Downside Risk, Rising Supply

OPEC, the source of more than a third of the world’s oil, expects the U.S. economy to expand by 1.7 per cent in 2013.

Gulf States Buy Stake In Virgin Mobile’s Middle East Unit

Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and GIC will be the joint largest shareholders in Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa.

Thousands Of South Asian Workers Strike At Oman Airport

Workers are demanding better safety conditions after a worker died in an accident on Monday.

Abu Dhabi In Nearly $7bn Oil Investment In Malaysia

The emirate has signed an agreement for a petroleum storage facility in Malaysia’s Johor state.

UAE Announces Cabinet Reshuffle; Replaces Energy Minister

The cabinet reshuffle includes four new ministers and one new ministry.

Emirates Sends A380 Signal To Mauritius

Special service marks island’s 45th anniversary of independence – and serves as a capacity-raising hint from the airline

UAE Consumer Confidence Lowest In The GCC

The country scored much lower than the other Gulf states on the latest MasterCard Index of Consumer Confidence.

Dubai’s Arabtec To Buy Rest Of Target Engineering

The construction firm already has 60 per cent stake in Target, an oil and gas construction business.

52% Of UAE Female Employees Intend To Quit

Survey finds only 31 per cent of female employees would stay put if offered a job elsewhere.

Dusit Gears Up For Regional Expansion

Its second Dubai property falls under the rapidly growing dusitD2 brand, which targets young and successful business and leisure travellers

Obama Meets Arab American Leaders Before Middle East Trip

Obama met about 10 leaders on Monday to seek input for his meetings in the region.

Saudi Binladin Group Meets Investors Ahead Of Sukuk Sale

The size and pricing of the sukuk will be decided during roadshows taking place over the next fortnight.

UK Government Promotes London As Islamic Finance Hub

More than $34 billion worth of Islamic bonds have been issued through the London Stock Exchange.

Qatar Makes First New Gas Find In Over 40 Years

The discovery was made at the 4-North offshore block near Qatar’s massive North Field.

Nomura’s EMEA CEO To Leave Bank

John Phizackerley had previously said he planned to beef up staffing at the lender’s Dubai office.

Battle Of The Smartphones

With BlackBerry releasing the BB Z10, the smartphone battle just got bloodier. Who will triumph?

Emirati Graduates Expect To Earn Dhs27,000 A Month

UAE nationals choose public over private sector jobs with investment firm Mubadala the company of choice.

GCC Tourists Spend Dhs2,440 Per Head In The UK

Visitors from Qatar and Kuwait were found to be the biggest spenders.

Qatar Picks Sarkozy To Lead Wealth Fund

France’s ex-President would take a non-executive role to help direct where to invest $650 million.

Qatar Says $1bn Islamic Bank To Be Set Up “Soon”

Qatar signed an MoU with Islamic Development Bank and the Dallah Albaraka Group last year to establish a new international Islamic bank.

Qatar Says No More Aid To Egypt For Now

Qatar has been a key source of foreign aid to Egypt since its 2011 revolution giving $5 billion.

Emirates Airline Eyes 10 Year Sukuk Issue This Week

The sukuk, maturing 2023, will have an amortising structure, with an average weighted life of five years.

Gold Bounces From 2-Week Low As Stimulus Seen To Continue

Better-than-expected US jobs data helped push spot gold up 0.2 per cent to $1,580.66 an ounce.

Dubai’s Index In Biggest Gain In 3 Weeks

Investors are starting to buy back into the emirate’s stocks following a recent slump.

Saudi Aramco Confirms Leasing UAE Fuel Storage Space

Securing storage space at the key fuel hub outside the Strait of Hormuz helps traders ensure swift and flexible supplies to buyers.

Abraaj Buys Stake In Palestinian Games Firm

UAE-based Abraaj Capital invests undisclosed sum in Anoud Games through its Palestine Growth Capital Fund.

Exclusive: Cobone CEO Says Company Will “Expand” Following US Investor Buy Out

Dubai-based entrepreneur Paul Kenny speaks out for the first time on the Tiger Global Management buyout, this year’s most important regional dot-com acquisition.

Emirates NBD Eyes Bond Sale To Repay Govt Funds

The bank will use the proceeds to repay part of the Dhs12.6 billion it received from the government in 2008, say sources.