Accenture Ranked As GCC’s Top Consulting Firm For Thought Leadership

EY ranked first in terms of the volume of published material while Deloitte produced almost a third of consulting thought leadership material, a new report finds.

China-Backed Hackers May Have Infiltrated Apple’s iCloud

The hackers potentially gained access to passwords, iMessages, photos and contacts, Greatfire.org said.

IKEA To Open Middle East’s Largest Distribution Centre In Dubai

The distribution centre is also IKEA Group’s first direct investment in the region and is scheduled for completion in September 2015.

Oman Oil In Talks With US-Based Occidental Petroleum To Buy Its Local Assets

Oxy had said in October 2013 that it planned to sell a minority stake in its MENA operations as part of a restructuring programme.

Abu Dhabi Reports Progress In Louvre Museum Construction

A huge dome structure weighing 7,000 tonnes has been installed as part of the museum project.

Stock News: Qatar Edges Up On Q3 Results, UAE Bourses Mixed

Dubai’s benchmark edged down 0.4 per cent as shares in builder Arabtec Holding fell 2.6 per cent and Emaar Properties lost 0.6 per cent.

Etihad, Alitalia Unveil New Aircraft For Expo 2015

The airlines will fly two Airbus A330-200 aircraft with the Expo livery starting from October 21 between Rome and Abu Dhabi.

Saudi’s Sipchem Blames Plant Shutdowns For Q3 Net Profit Drop

Saudi International Petrochemical Co reported a 13.3 per cent drop in third-quarter net profit.

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital Gets Regulatory Nod For Share Buyback

Waha Capital has secured regulatory approval to buy back up to 10 per cent of its outstanding shares.

UAE Starts Process Of Building Arab Region’s First Mars Probe

The UAE Space Agency and the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, EIAST, will develop the probe.

UAE Declares Islamic New Year Holiday For Private Sector

Islamic New Year is likely to fall on Friday, October 24 or Saturday, October 25.

Total CEO Christophe de Margerie Killed In Moscow Business Jet Accident

De Margerie, 63, became CEO of the French oil company in February 2007, taking on the role of chairman in May 2010.

Saudi Inmate To Stay At Guantanamo, Another Cleared For Transfer

Muhammed Abd Al Rahman Awn Al-Shamrani, 39, should stay at the prison because he remains a security threat, the Periodic Review Board said.

Qatari Lender Masraf Al Rayan Lifts Quarterly Profit By 23%

Net profit for the nine months to Sept. 30 was QAR1.43 billion, compared with QAR1.25 billion in the same period a year ago.

Dubai’s Aramex Aiming For Two Acquisitions In 2015

Aramex founder Fadi Ghandour said plans are under way to acquire firms in the emerging markets of Africa, Asia and Turkey.

Carlson Rezidor Inks Deal With Al Hokair Group To Develop New Hotels In Saudi

The deal will allow Rezidor to develop new Radisson Blu and Park Inn hotels in markets such as Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Makkah and Medina.

Qatar Islamic Bank 9-Month Net Profit Rises 12.8%

The Islamic lender made a net profit of QAR1.1 billion ($300 million) during the period, a company statement said, up from QAR975.1 million in the same period a year ago.

Qatar’s Masraf Al Rayan Posts 16.6% Rise In 9-Month Net Profit

Net profit for the third quarter was QAR1.4 billion ($384.5 million) compared to QAR1.2 billion in the same period a year ago, a bourse filing said.

Cobone’s Recent Spin-Off, UAE Travel Site Triperna, Rebrands As Safarna

CEO Paul Kenny says the new name, which means ‘our travel’ in Arabic, better reflects the site’s offering and reach.

Stock News: Markets Give Up Gains As European Stocks Slip

Dubai’s index, which was up as much as 2.5 per cent early in the session, fell 0.4 per cent by mid-day as the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index edged down 0.6 per cent.

Dubai’s Mega Theme Park Complex To Include Sony Pictures Studio, Smurfs Zone

The new areas will be located in Motiongate Dubai, the Hollywood inspired theme park within the Dubai Parks & Resorts project.

Commercial Bank Of Kuwait Slashes Bad Loans As Settlements Reached

CBK has now reduced its non-performing loans to 1.3 per cent of its total loan book from a 2009 level of 25 per cent.

Saudi’s NCB Pledges Conversion To Islamic Bank After Pressure From Scholars

State-owned National Commercial Bank, which has about $116 billion of assets, currently has a mixed business.

Majid Al Futtaim Launches New Carrefour City Stores In Dubai

Carrefour City stores will cater to smaller neighbourhoods across Dubai and will offer convenient shopping options, Majid Al Futtaim said.

UAE’s First Gulf Bank Plans Bond Issue, To Establish China Office

The bank expects to post double-digit loan growth in the next 12 months, its CEO says.

Saudi August Oil Exports Fall To Lowest In Three Years

The world’s top oil exporter exported 6.663 million barrels per day in August, down from 6.989 million bpd in July.

Saudi’s Fawaz Alhokair Co Quarterly Net Rises 7.7%, Misses View

The company made a net profit of SAR303.74 million ($81.0 million) in the third quarter, up from SAR282.08 million in the year-earlier period.

Industries Qatar Q3 Profit Rises 5%, Halting Profit Slide

The company made a net profit of QAR1.86 billion ($511 million) in the third quarter, up from QAR1.77 billion in the year-earlier period.

Saudi’s Yansab Q3 Net Profit Falls 20% As Sales Drop

The firm made a net profit of SAR691.3 million ($184 million) in the third quarter, down from SAR864.8 million in the same period of 2013, a statement to the Saudi bourse said.

UAE Launches Strategy To Become Most Innovative Country In Seven Years

The strategy will focus on bringing innovation into seven sectors namely renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space.