World Expo Organiser BIE Sends Delegation To Dubai

The delegation, which includes the secretary general of the BIE, is checking on the progress of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Islamist Group Criticises Egypt Over Arrest Warrant For Cleric

Interpol this month issued a Red Notice alert for Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi in connection with several alleged offences including murder, arson, vandalism and theft.

Gunmen Take Hostage In Belgium, No Islamist Link Seen

Belgian police cordoned off part of the city after the four men were seen entering the building in the Dampoort district, where they took a hostage.

UAE’s Dana Gas Says Kurdistan Government Failed To Pay $100m

Dana warned that the Kurdistan’s government could face sanctions if the autonomous region failed to pay the money to its consortium.

Dur Hospitality Inks Deal With IHG To Operate Hotels In Saudi Arabia

As per the deal, a number of Holiday Inn & Suites branded hotels will be developed across the Kingdom over the next five years, IHG said in a statement.

Abu Dhabi Businessman Gets Loan Of Up To $800m For Travelex Purchase

The facility, arranged by Goldman Sachs and Qatar National Bank for B. R. Shetty, will last for 18 months, according to one of the sources.

Hostages Flee Besieged Sydney Cafe As Police Seek Bloodless End

The mid-morning hostage-taking brought much of Sydney’s CBD to a standstill and saw the local currency fall.

Bahraini Telco Viva Eyes Data Growth As Per-User Call Income Falls

Voice calls accounted for 64 per cent of the operators’ revenues in 2013, data was 18 per cent, text messaging four per cent and subscription payments 14 per cent in Bahrain.

Huge Gap Of Women Leaders In The Middle East – Mercer

A quarter of organisations in the region have no women leaders in their 100 most senior roles, a survey by Mercer found.

Stock News: Dubai, Other Gulf Markets Rebound On Stronger Oil

Brent crude climbed above $62 per barrel on Monday, after hitting 5-1/2-year lows of $60.28 earlier.

Qatar’s Barwa Real Estate Wins $206m Warehouse Contract

The 25-year arrangement was awarded by state-owned Manateq.

Saudi Arabian Security Man Shot Dead In Riyadh – Police

A gunman holding three labourers hostage shot dead a member of the security forces when police tried to free the captives.

Australia’s Currency Drops As Sydney Hostage Drama Continues

At least one gunman has taken several people hostage at a central Sydney cafe.

Why Are Oil Prices So Unstable?

Deep price cycles are inherent in capital intensive industries like oil and mining, writes Reuters columnist John Kemp.

Kuwait Working To Improve Stock Exchange Conditions

New changes would cover market mechanisms and the operations of market makers.

Kuwait May Cut Planned Spending Next Fiscal Year – Parliament

Officials are estimating budget spending at KD19 billion in the fiscal year starting next April.

Stock News: Qatar Enters Bear Market As Dubai Erases 2014 Gains

Dubai’s gauge wiped out this year’s advances as oil prices plummeted to the lowest level since July 2009.

Abu Dhabi Bourse Approves Temporary Halts On Stocks That Fall 5%

The move comes after days of stock market falls across the Gulf region in response to slumping oil prices.

Dubai-Based Retailer Al Ghurair To Launch 30 New Stores In The GCC

The latest addition will see Al Ghurair’s retail presence in the region increase to 90 shops from the 60 it currently operates in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar.

Syrian Wins Arab Idol Contest, Steers Clear Of Politics

Hazim Sharif steered clear of specific political references in interviews after his victory, which was broadcast to millions of viewers across the Middle East.

Majority Of UAE Residents Say Savings Are Inadequate For Future

Rising cost of living and inflation are the main factors impacting the ability of UAE residents to save, a new survey says.

UAE Says OPEC Won’t Change Output Even If Price Drops to $40

UAE minister of energy ruled out a cut in OPEC’s production or an emergency meeting soon to stabilise the falling oil prices.

OPEC Chief Defends Policy, Says Group To Try To Ride Out Price Fall

OPEC Secretary-General said that Gulf countries should continue to invest in oil exploration despite the decline in oil prices.

Qatar Predicts Booming Economy In 2015 Despite Oil Price Slide

Despite the oil slump, the country’s wider economy is likely to be shielded by its fiscal strength, officials said.

Emaar To Distribute $2.45bn Special Cash Dividend On Dec. 23

The special cash dividend follows the successful IPO and listing of the Emaar Malls Group.

Concrete Work On Abu Dhabi’s Louvre Museum Almost Complete

The museum, anticipated to be ready by December 2015, will encompass 9,200 square metres of art galleries.

Etihad Doubles US Network With New Services to Dallas/Fort Worth

The Abu Dhabi-based airline is expanding its US network as it looks to tap into the growing business and trade links between the US and the UAE.

Stock News: Dubai Tumbles After Oil Hits Fresh Low

The Dubai benchmark tumbled 6.1 per cent to 3,374 points, erasing most of its remaining year-to-date gains.

Saudi’s Tasnee Names SABIC Finance Head As New CEO

Current CEO of Tasnee, Saleh bin Fahad al-Nazha, resigned for personal reasons, the company said.

Dubai’s Aramex Buys South Africa’s PostNet Franchise For $16.5m

PostNet provides courier, printing and copying services, plus stationery and mailboxes, and has 287 stores in South Africa.