Bahrain’s BBK Tightens Price Thoughts For 5-Year Benchmark Dollar Bond

BBK has returned to the market in its first debt issue since 2010 to refinance an existing $500 million bond maturing in October.

Passenger Rail Not An Immediate Priority For The UAE – Minister

The country is currently focussing on operating rail services for the cargo sector, a senior official has said.

Dubai Needs Cheaper Telecom Rates To Become Global Financial Hub – Expert

Increased competition in the UAE’s telecoms sector will help make services more affordable for new companies.

Saudi’s PetroRabigh Signs $5.2bn Financing For Expansion Scheme

The total cost of the project, known as Rabigh Phase II, is now estimated at SAR30 billion.

Emirate Of Ras al-Khaimah To Meet Investors From Thurs For Sukuk Issue

Investor meetings will start in Singapore on Thursday, before moving to Kuala Lumpur on Friday, the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and London on Monday.

Investcorp Buys U.S. Residential Properties For About $300mn

The deals, made through its U.S. based property arm, bring the fund’s total purchases of properties in the country in the last 12 months to over $850 million, it said in a statement.

Dubai’s Daman Investments Aims To Launch IPO Within Weeks

The company had announced last November that it planned to list on the Dubai Financial Market during the first quarter of 2015.

Kuwait Considering Imposing Corporate Tax -KUNA

As part of economic reforms, the government is working on changing the tax system to diversify sources of state income and increase its non-oil revenues, the state news agency said.

Iran Nuclear Deal May Open Oil Taps In Months, Not Weeks

Oil bears may underestimate the hurdles on the diplomatic path to Iran’s return to world energy markets.

EU Chooses Italian Negotiator As EU Middle East Envoy

The EU has picked Fernando Gentilini, an official who has worked for NATO in Afghanistan, as the new envoy.

OPEC Comes Cleaner On How Much Oil Its Members Pump

OPEC issued a set of production figures as reported to its Vienna Secretariat by member-countries this week, without any countries missing from the total for the first time in months.

Open Skies Pact To Survive Gulf Subsidies Dispute- Boeing Exec

Boeing’s Middle East president Jeff Johnson said that the US stands for free trade.

Kuwait’s Electricity Minister Resigns Following Last Month’s Power Cut

No details were given on the reasons for the resignation, but the government said the emir had expressed understanding for the causes behind his move.

Exclusive: Palm Jebel Ali Will Not Be Cancelled – Nakheel Chairman

The project will be built in the long-term, depending on market conditions, says Ali Rashid Lootah.

Bahrain Seizes Bomb-Making Equipment Aboard Bus From Iraq

Authorities found 140 detonators, 41 electrical circuits, a remote control device and some cellular telephones hidden inside electrical appliances on the bus.

Saudi Arabia’s Index Slumps To Two-Week Low As Oil Extends Drop

Brent crude oil fell to around $54 a barrel on Monday, its lowest for more than a month.

Gulf Arabs Respond With Alarm To Kerry Comment On Assad Talks

The Saudis have in the past said a political transition in Syria cannot begin unless President Bashar al-Assad leaves power.

NBAD To Add Export Financing To Its Egypt Operations – CEO

The lender plans to target affluent and high net worth individuals in Egypt.

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OPEC Says Low Oil Prices May Hit US Output By Late 2015

In its monthly report, OPEC left its forecast for 2015 world oil demand growth unchanged.

Gulf Allies’ Central Bank Funds To Arrive In Egypt Within Days

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates each offered $4 billion to Egypt.

Video: HTC One M9 To Launch By End-March In UAE, Full-Gold Model To Debut In ME

The flagship phone, featuring a 20MP main camera, will be priced at Dhs2,749.

Bahrain Bank BBK May Price 5-Year Benchmark Dollar Bond Tuesday

BBK has returned to the market in its first debt issue since 2010 to refinance an existing $500 million bond maturing in October.

St Regis To Open First Polo Resort In Dubai

The resort will have 136 rooms, residential villas, a polo academy, a polo club and a riding school.

GE To Invest $100m In Saudi Arabia

The conglomerate plans to boost its existing manufacturing facilities and improve R&D in the kingdom.

Qatar’s Masraf Al Rayan Eyes Potential Debut Sukuk Issue -Sources

The sharia-compliant institution is expected to raise funds before end-April, sources said.

Dubai Investments To Float Group Member In 2016 -CEO

The official did not specify which company will be listed.

Global Recovery Slow, Brittle, Fragile – IMF’s Lagarde

Christine Lagarde reiterated the IMF’s forecast that the world economy would grow by just 3.5 per cent this year and 3.7 per cent in 2016.

Saudi Prince Says Iran Deal Risks Nuclear Proliferation – BBC

Saudi Arabia sees Iran as its main regional rival and fears that an atomic deal would leave the door open to Tehran gaining a nuclear weapon.

Abu Dhabi Police Nabs Armed Abaya Clad Robbery Suspect

The fully veiled suspect allegedly threatened employees of an Abu Dhabi money exchange with a fake plastic gun.

Dubai’s Emaar Says Not Part Of Egypt’s Capital City Project

The company said in a Dubai bourse statement on Monday that it was not involved in developing the planned new capital to the east of Cairo.