Australia-GCC Free Trade Agreement “A Priority”

The commission is hoping that the growing commercial links between the two countries will help restart a stalled FTA agreement.

Yemen Minister Calls For Arab Ground Push “As Soon As Possible”

A Saudi-led coalition has bombed Iran-allied Houthi fighters and army units fighting against President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Saudi Bourse’s Rules For Opening To Foreigners Expected By End-April

The market will officially open to overseas institutions 60 days after the publication of the rules.

National Bank Of Kuwait Sets IPTs For Benchmark Dollar Tier 1 Bond

The bond will be issued through a special purpose vehicle, NBK Tier I Financing Ltd, and be guaranteed by NBK.

Saudi Arabia Says Military Push Will Last Until Yemen Stable

Saudi Arabia, along with a coalition of Gulf states, is conducting airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

UN Says Donors Pledge $3.8bn To Syria Crisis

The United Nations has appealed for $8.4 billion for Syria this year to help deal with the ballooning humanitarian crisis.

Saudi’s Sipchem Says Initial Operations Begin At Plastics Plant

The plant, located in Jubail Industrial City, will manufacture up to 63,000 tonnes per year of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin.

Saudi’s Sidra Capital Opening Islamic Trade Fund To GCC Investors

The fund provides working capital to small businesses focusing on agricultural commodities, energy and metals, a segment often neglected by Islamic lenders.

Saudi-Led Strikes Again Hit Yemen Overnight

The strike are aimed at stopping the Houthis from taking more territory and pressing them to negotiate a power-sharing deal with President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Dubai’s Arabtec Says Appoints CEO For Its Construction Unit

Raja Ghanma has been promoted from chief operating officer to CEO of Arabtec Construction, Arabtec Holding said in a bourse filing.

Global FDI Flows Fall 8% In 2014 As Economic Growth Falters

Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the UAE, which although grew 25 per cent in 2014, did not reach the estimated amount of $14.4 billion.

Dubai’s Drake & Scull Proposes No 2014 Dividend

The company’s profit fell to Dhs100.7 million ($27.42 million) in 2014 from Dhs166.5 million a year earlier.

Saudi To Link Foreign Investment To Infrastructure Projects

Prince Saud K. Al Faisal said that under a new programme, the government would propose investments linked to such state spending plans.

Dubai Developer Damac Says Sales Boosted By Foreign Buyers

Ziad El Chaar said the momentum in the property market was being driven by foreign buyers, both those living in Dubai and abroad.

FIFA is considering a request from the South American Football Confederation for hosts Qatar to play Ecuador a day earlier than previously planned

Qatar 2022 World Cup May Not Need Cooling Systems

Lower temperatures during winter will help do away with the need for cooling systems, a top official said.

Air Strike Kills At Least 40 At Yemen Camp For Displaced

Yemen’s state news agency Saba, which is under the control of the Houthis, said the camp at Haradh was hit by Saudi planes.

Turkish Airlines Flight Diverts To Casablanca After Bomb Threat

Flight TK15 had departed from Istanbul and was headed for Sao Paulo when a note with the word “bomb” was found in the lavatory.

Saudi King Says Open To A Meeting Of All Yemeni Political Parties

The conditions for the talks would include returning weapons to state authorities and not threatening the security of Yemen’s neighbours.

Qatari Investors To Pay $5bn For 49% Shandong Dongming Petchem Stake

The cash will be used to finance a number of projects that Shandong is currently working on.

Etihad Makes Entry Into Spain

Spanish capital is now served by all three major Gulf airlines

Roamer App Says It Has Bypassed Block Of VoIP Providers In UAE

The app allows users to make low-cost calls when roaming aboard through an internet or GSM connection.

Saudi Aramco Says Signs $10bn Dual-Currency Loan

The loan will replace an existing $4 billion facility due to mature later this year.

Dubai’s ENOC Appoints New CEO

Saif Humaid Al Falasi will replace Saeed Al Khoory, who has served as ENOC’s CEO since 2007.

Pakistan Defence Team Heads To Saudi To Discuss Support

Pakistan, an ally of Saudi Arabia, has yet to commit itself publicly to military support to Riyadh’s campaign in Yemen.

Dubai Airport Passenger Traffic Rises 5.3% In Feb

Passenger numbers climbed to 5.97 million in February from 5.68 million a year earlier.

UAE’s Al Noor Hospitals 2014 Profit Rises 36% On More Outpatients

Abu Dhabi’s largest private healthcare provider, listed in London, reported a net profit of $84 million for 2014.

UAE Drafting Law For 100% Foreign Ownership Of Firms – Minister

Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri did not specify in which sectors the government would permit full foreign ownership of companies.

Saudi Sipchem Says Production To Begin At $800m Plastics Plant

The plant will make 200,000 tonnes per year of polyethylene and EVA, two forms of plastics.

Two Policemen Shot, Injured In Saudi Capital

Police are conducting an investigation into the shooting, which came from a car.

Bahrain’s Mumtalakat, Investcorp Acquire Private School Network In US

Nobel Learning, which operates 176 schools across 18 states, was acquired from Leeds Equity Partners for an undisclosed sum.