Dubai’s Drake & Scull Gets Shareholder Nod For Strategic Investor Plan

The company said that its shareholders had approved issuing a bond that would allow a strategic investor to buy into the company.

Boeing Plans Higher-Capacity Version Of 737 Jet

The updated version of the jet will be five per cent cheaper to operate, an executive said.

Saudi’s Yansab Misses Forecast As Q2 Net Profit Slips 8.6%

The firm made a net profit of SAR613 million ($163.5 million) in the second quarter compared with SAR670.5 million in the same period of 2013.

Saudi’s SAFCO Posts 7.8% Q2 Net Profit Fall

The company said it made SAR639 million ($170.4 million) in the second quarter, compared to SAR693 million in the same period a year ago.

Qatar’s Masraf Al Rayan Sells Real Estate Firm Stake To Govt Fund

The Qatari lender said it had agreed to sell its 50 per cent stake in Seef Lusail Real Estate Development.

Dubai’s New Mega Projects Could Create Boom-Bust Cycle – Report

Policymaking complacency and the launch of larges scale projects such as Mall of the World could lead to property bubble, finds report by the Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Saudi Lender NCB Posts 22% Q2 Net Profit Jump

NCB said the growth was driven by an 8.3 per cent year-on-year increase in net special commissions income.

Saudi Conglomerate Olayan Buys 51% Stake In Gulf Union Foods Co

The stake was acquired from a group of investors including private equity firm Jadwa Investment.

Abraaj Investment Management Makes Bid Approach To Egypt’s Bisco Misr

The affiliate of Abraaj Capital is seeking to buy at least a 51 per cent stake in the Egyptian snack maker.

Dubai Beats Abu Dhabi To Become The UAE’s Most Expensive City – Mercer

Dubai jumped 23 spots to rank as the 67th most expensive city in the world for expatriates.

Gulf Capital Invests $30m In GCC School Operator EKI

The investment is expected to help Evolvence Knowledge Investments Limited (EKI) to expand its offerings in the region.

Phase One Of Dubai’s Jumeirah Corniche Project Completed

The initial phase extends over 2 km, from the Dubai Sailing Club up to a point close to the Dubai Municipality’s Center at Umm Suqeim.

UAE To Fine Firms Dhs1000 For Delays In Applying For E-Labour Cards

Companies are required to apply for electronic employment contracts and labour cards within 60 days of an employee joining the firm.

UAE’s Dana Gas Says Wins Right To Some Payments From Iraqi Kurdistan

The firm had filed an arbitration case in London last October against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), to obtain payments for products which it had delivered.

Saudi Lender Samba Beats Estimates with 7% Q2 Net Profit Rise

The bank made SAR1.26 billion ($336 million) in the three months ending June 30, compared with SAR1.18 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Saudi Sipchem Q2 Net Profit Jumps 41%; Sales, Margins Rise

Sipchem made a profit of SAR244.6 million ($65.3 million) in the three months to June 30, up from SAR174.0 million in the prior-year period.

Oman’s Bank Dhofar Q2 Net Profit Rises 23%, Meets Expectations

The bank made a profit of SAR10.28 million ($26.7 million) in the three-month period to June 30 compared to SAR8.36 million in the same period last year.

Saudi’s Al Rajhi Bank Q2 Net Profit Slips 8.2%; Matching Forecast

The bank said it made SAR1.95 billion ($520 million) in the three months ending June 30, compared with SAR2.12 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties Appoints CEO

Al Mubarak had been serving as the deputy chief executive and chief portfolio management officer of the company since shareholders approved the merger in March 2013.

Airbus To Launch Rebranded A330-800/900neo – Sources

The A330-800neo and A330-900neo will be upgraded versions of the A330-200 and A330-300 respectively.

Egypt Tries Crude Swaps To Import Crucial Foreign Oil

Egypt has been largely unable to buy crude oil in the international market for more than a year due to a domestic subsidy scheme.

World Has Ample Oil Now But Risks “Extraordinarily High”-IEA

Global oil demand is expected to grow by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) next year, up from 1.2 million this year.

Bahrain Charges Opposition Leader Over Meeting With U.S. Diplomat

Authorities said al-Wefaq party leader Sheikh Ali Salman and his political assistant, Khalil al-Marzouq, should have obtained permission before meeting the official.

Investcorp To Buy Dutch Company In $327m Deal

The acquisition, Investcorp’s fifth in 12 months, is expected to close following competition clearances.

Middle East Tech Start-Ups Lure Large VC Funds

The Middle East is catching the eye of venture capitalist (VC) firms eager to cash in on the growing number of tech start-ups in the region.

Are Banks Prepared For Another Dubai Property Bubble?

Dubai’s property market is showing signs of overheating, but banks seem better insulated this time around, say experts.

Kuwait’s Zain Says $4.5bn Lawsuit Against Iraqi Unit Dismissed

In April, Zain revealed its Iraqi unit was being sued over the $1.2 billion acquisition of rival operator Iraqna from Egypt’s Orascom Telecom in 2007.

UAE Bourses Merger Shelved As Terms Not Agreed -Sources

The sources said it was unclear whether the merger plans were permanently on hold or whether they would be revived later.

Boeing Will ‘Fight’ Revamped Airbus A330, Defends 787

The two planemakers have clashed over the weight and efficiency of their jets in the 250- to 300-seat segment of the jetliner market.

UAE Opens New Consulate In Toronto

The move is expected to boost trade and business ties between the UAE and Canada.