Kuwait To Freeze Expat Numbers

New expats will only be allowed to enter the country to replace those leaving, according to reports.

UAE’s Etisalat To Raise Up To $500m Through 2019 Bond Tap

Last June, the company sold $4.3 billion worth of maiden bonds in four tranches.

UAE Telco Du Q1 Net Profit Drops 0.6%, Misses Estimates

The firm made a net profit of Dhs487.1 million in the three months to March 31.

Dubai’s Ruler Approves Dhs500m Union Museum Project

The museum, located next to the Union House in Dubai, will showcase the events leading to the formation of the UAE.

Abu Dhabi Rolls Out Red Carpet For Market Makers, May Outweigh Dubai

Both the DFM and ADX say they are in talks to attract market makers.

U.S. Blames Houthi Battlefield Moves For Renewed Saudi Strikes

Riyadh announced last week that it was ending its nearly five-week-old bombing campaign, except in places where the Houthis were advancing.

WhatsApp can officially hide online status, announces rollout of Communities

Facebook Launches Video Calling In Messenger App

Messenger, with more than 600 million users, now has a video icon at the top right corner of its screen.

ISIL Kills Five Journalists Working For Libyan TV Station

The reporters, working for Barqa TV, had been missing since August.

Qatar Navigation Says Q1 Net Profit Up 4% On Core Business Growth

Milaha’s core units – Maritime & Logistics, Gas & Petrochem and Offshore – posted a combined increase in profitability of 71 per cent year on year.

UAE’s Dubal Holding Looks Into Buying Stakes In Energy Projects

The firm is looking for equity interests related to coal, solar, gas, and other alternative sources of energy.

Saudi Arabia Ready To Supply Any Additional China Oil Demand

Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi reiterated that the Kingdom intends to remain the world’s number one oil supplier.

Dubai’s DP World Says No Plans For Share Buyback

Earlier on Monday, shareholders approved a proposal to buy back a “limited number” of the company’s shares, according to a bourse filing.

Saudis Pound Arms Depots In Yemen, Houthis Block Aid

There were no immediate reports on the extent of casualties.

UAE Billionaire Calls For New Rules On Succession For Gulf Family Businesses

Abdulaziz al-Ghurair, CEO of Dubai-based lender Mashreq, is calling for the introduction of wills and trusts that are compliant with Islamic principles.

Ooredoo Kuwait Q1 Net Profit Plunges 89%

The firm, a subsidiary of Qatar’s Ooredoo, made a net profit of KD2.2 million in Q1 2015.

Dubai’s Meraas Launches Bulgari Residences

The Bulgari Residences project expands upon the May 2014 announcement of Bulgari Resort Dubai.

Oil And Gas Firms Urged To Adopt Big Data For Efficiencies, Skills Gap Concerns – Report

Consulting firm Booze Allen Hamilton said regional oil and gas companies adopting big data could increase oil well production by up to eight per cent.

Iran To Start South Pars Oil Production In 2016 – State Media

Ali-Reza Zeighami, manager of the South Pars oil layers project, said new wells were being drilled and would become operational in the second half of the next Iranian year.

Gloria Hotel To Embark On Dhs80 Million Revamp

Major four-star hotel to phase in room upgrades that reflect latest design trends.

Iranian General Accuses Saudis Of Following In Israeli Footsteps

A Saudi-led alliance began bombing Iranian-allied Houthi militia in Yemen last month.

Dubai’s DP World Says Shareholders Approve Limited Share Buyback

The approval was granted at the firm’s annual shareholder meeting, according to a bourse filing.

Topaz Closes In On Loan Worth Upwards Of $550m – Source

Emirates NBD, First Gulf Bank, Gulf International Bank, HSBC, Noor Bank and Standard Chartered will provide the loan, three sources told Reuters.

Saudi Oil Output Based On Demand, Market ‘Excellent’ – Deputy Oil Min

The world’s top oil exporter is keen to maintain its market share, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz said.

Affordable Smartphones See Growth Boom In Middle East, Africa – IDC

Smartphones priced under $100 accounted for 20 per cent of the overall market last year, up from five per cent in 2013.

UAE Aviation Firm Sanad Says Raises $90m Loan

The transaction will increase the company’s total borrowing to $600 million.

Dubai’s DP World Posts 4.4% Rise In Q1 Gross Container Volumes

Gross volumes totalled 15 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the opening three months of 2015.

India Seeks First Cut In LNG Imports Under Qatar Deal

New Delhi plans to use a 10 per cent reduction permissible under a 25-year contract with Qatar’s RasGas.

Revealed: Top 10 Cities With The Highest Skyscraper Rents

Dubai is ranked 16th spot on the index, with prime office rents remaining flat since H2 2014.

Saudi’s Itqan Capital To Add Brokerage, PE Fund To Services

The new business will be developed as a joint venture with Bahrain-based brokerage Mubasher Financial Service.

Japan’s Inpex In Talks To Obtain New Abu Dhabi Concession

Inpex was one of 11 firms that bid for stakes in the concession covering Abu Dhabi’s 15 principal onshore fields.