UAE clears MERS patients, Saudi finds 11 new cases

Gulf countries have been seeing a seasonal surge in the number of MERS cases, a trend that has been worrying experts.

Jazeera Airways lodges interest in buying 35% Kuwait Airways stake

Kuwait Airways Company is currently undergoing a privatisation process by the Kuwaiti government.

Video: Lenovo’s new laser projector smartphone concept

The laser projector extension enables the screen of a device to be projected onto a surface.

GCC’s construction sector to boom despite oil price drop

The Gulf’s construction sector is estimated to reach a value of $172 billion in 2015, a new study said.

Real estate ranked as favoured asset class by UAE investors – survey

Stocks and precious metals were the other favoured asset classes among UAE investors, a Franklin Templeton survey found.

UAE’s R Holding launches retail projects worth Dhs700m

The company is currently building five retail projects in Ajman and two in Dubai, a statement said.

Ramadan likely to start on June 18, Eid to fall on July 17 – Astronomers

Fasting hours are anticipated to stretch for up to 15 hours and 15 minutes at the beginning of the holy month.

Emirates to sponsor FA Cup for the next three years

The FA, which will rebrand the competition as The Emirates FA Cup, did not release any financial details.

Qatar to open embassy in Baghdad as Iraq’s ties with Gulf improve

A rapprochement could help strengthen a regional alliance against ISIL militants who have seized vast areas in both Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

ISIL not significant threat in Saudi Arabia – US military

Friday’s blast killed four people and was the second attack claimed by the Sunni militant group in a week in Saudi Arabia.

Qatar defends 2022 World Cup bid, will comply with further probe if asked

The organising committee said in a statement Qatar had conducted its 2022 bid with integrity and to the highest ethical standards.

ISIL’s Saudi branch calls for clearing Arabian Peninsula of Shi’ites

ISIL claimed two suicide bombings carried out on May 22 and May 29 on Shi’ite mosques in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Oman to build refinery, petchem plant in Indonesia, Jakarta says

The refinery would be built in Indonesia’s Riau province, with the oil products being purchased by state-owned Pertamina.

Saudi central bank net foreign assets drop 1.7% on month in April

Assets dropped 6.8 per cent from a year earlier to their lowest level since May 2013, central bank data showed.

Saudi Aramco may raise rigs in 2016 if oil prices rise -sources

The company has 212 rigs of both types in operation and that could rise to between 220 and 250 if conditions permit, sources familiar with the plans said.

Emirates to launch daily service to Bologna in Italy

The service is scheduled to begin on November 3, 2015 and will increase Emirates’ weekly flights serving Italy to 56.

UAE’s Rakbank buys 79.23% of RAK National Insurance in tender offer

The lender acquired 87.15 million shares at a total value of Dhs317.2 million ($86.37 million), it said in a bourse filing on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding has no plans to invest in Snapchat -source

Kingdom took part in talks over a potential investment in Snapchat but decided not to invest in the application, a source said.

Phase 1 of Meydan Sobha’s District One project on track for 2016 completion

The developer said it has recorded strong investor interest in the project and has sold out all villas in the first phase.

Almost 41% of UAE users downloaded paid apps in last 30 days

A survey, which polled smartphone users in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon and Egypt, found that more than 50 per cent of users downloaded more than five apps in the last month.

UAE bank ADIB eyes capital-boosting measures to back growth

The bank will convene shareholders soon to vote on a rights issue worth Dhs504 million and raise its sukuk limit to $3 billion from the existing $2 billion ceiling.

Lenovo reveals dual-screen smart watch, laser projector smartphone

The two devices were among the technology concepts showcased by the company at the TechWorld event in Beijing.

Nakheel to launch retail space for lease at Ibn Battuta Mall extension

The developer will launch 766,000 sq ft of additional shop and restaurant space for lease at the mall on June 1.

Etihad posts 52.1% rise in 2014 net profit on strong passenger growth

The airline carried 14.8 million passengers in 2014, an increase of 22.3 per cent year-on-year.

Qatar’s UDC to focus on finishing 60-tower Pearl development

About 90 per cent of the available properties on the Pearl have been bought or leased.

Saudi designates two senior Hezbollah officials as terrorists

Khalil Youssef Harb and Mohammed Qabalan have been banned from any dealings with Saudis.

Oman to deport over 1,000 foreign workers at airport project

The labourers reportedly did not have the necessary work permits for the construction sector.

Etihad to support 23,400 jobs, add $2.9bn to US economy in 2015 – study

By 2020, the airline will have committed $41 billion to the US’ GDP, an Etihad-commissioned study by Oxford found.

Chevron says output from Saudi-Kuwait joint Wafra oilfield to remain shut

The oilfield will not be reopened until difficulties to operate there are resolved, the US firm said.

Air strikes kill at least 80 in deadliest bombings of Yemen war

Arab warplanes and ships also hammered Yemen’s largest military port in the Red Sea city of Hodeida at dawn on Wednesday.