Fighting, Airstrikes Throughout Yemen As Dialogue Remains Distant

Saudi-led coalition warplanes struck military targets at airports in the capital Sanaa and in Hodeida, the main Red Sea port.

Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Gamble May Define Its Regional Role For Years

Success would establish Riyadh as de facto leader of the region’s Sunni states it has pulled together in a complex armed operation.

Iran Expands Regional “Empire” Ahead Of Nuclear Deal

Iran has been maximizing its strength across the Middle East as it spearheads the fight against Sunni muslim militants in Iraq and Syria.

Gulf Firms Go Islamic As Markets Deepen

Islamic equivalents to conventional financial instruments have been developing even in relatively obscure areas such as short-term interbank lending, trade financing and swaps.

Gulf Markets, Economies Can Cope With Escalating Yemen Conflict

The conflict could pose a domestic security challenge for Saudi Arabia, and deny Dubai and Oman the economic benefits of rapprochement with Iran.

Saudis Claw Back Global Market Share With Oil Output Push

The Kingdom is now pumping around 10 million barrels per day – near an all-time high as it looks to grab a bigger share of the oil market.

The War For Talent: The Ugly Side Of UAE’s Healthcare Boom

With a number of hospitals and clinics starting up in the GCC, the war for medical talent has begun.

Emirates NBD Bond May Signal More Euro Issues From Gulf

Market conditions may have shifted so far in favour of euro issuance that Gulf borrowers may leave their comfort zone and start to follow a shift towards the euro.

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.

After Saudi Feud, Sweden Debates A “Feminist” Global Role

Sweden cancelled a defence cooperation accord with Saudi Arabia last week over rights concerns.

Food Security: Should The GCC Be Worried?

Oil revenues cushion the GCC from any major food crisis but with the region still reliant on imports, countries face real supply chain risks.

With Help From His Allies, Syria’s Assad Looks Set To Stay

Syria’s civil war has no doubt left Assad weakened, but he is stronger than the groups fighting to topple him.

Saudi King Aims For New Sunni Bloc Vs Iran And ISIL

King Salman is trying to reinforce the need for unity in the Arab region and find a way to work around disagreements over the Muslim Brotherhood.

Apple’s Rivals Hope Its Watch Will Boost Their Own Wearable Tech

Apple’s new Watch is expected to be launched at an event announced this week.

King Salman Banks On Welfare Spending In Gloomy Oil Era

Saudi Arabia recently announced a new round of bonuses for government employees, a direction that experts believe is opposite to what it should be doing in this time of cheap oil.

Oil No More: The UAE Diversifies

The UAE is weaning itself away from oil and could be almost independent of it by 2021, say senior government officials.

Oil Plunge Slows Deposit Growth At GCC Banks, No Liquidity Crunch

Deposits from governments, quasi-government bodies and national oil companies provide around 10 to 35 per cent of GCC banks’ non-equity funding.

Saudi King Keeps Close Hand On Oil In Remodelling Strategic Team

King Salman is clearly laying the ground for a generational shift in how Riyadh develops its energy and economic strategies.

Analysis: Eurowings To Start Low-Cost Dubai Flights

How will Eurowings’ new low-cost Dubai services fare next winter?

Saudi Satisfaction With ‘Calm’ Oil Markets Signals $60 Anchor

In his first public comments since oil prices rebounded, Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi signalled satisfaction with developments, saying he saw oil demand growing.

Dubai Marina Blaze Pushes Case For Home Insurance In The UAE

The UAE has an extremely low home insurance penetration rate with just six per cent of the population insured against emergencies, experts say.

EU Court Successes Complicate Sanctions Against Iranian, Russian Companies

Iranian banks’ recent successes in the EU courts are complicating sanctions ahead of June-end talks to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Arms Exporters Eye Big Deals At UAE’s IDEX, Mideast’s Largest Defence Show

The Middle East is the largest market driver in the industry with billions of dollars spent annually on buying military equipment.

Fierce Crackdown On Dissent No Laughing Matter In Egypt

Humour, which was one of the only channels for protest under successive Egyptian autocrats, is being stifled under current laws.

Rent Vs Buy: The Rapid Rise Of The Aviation Leasing Market

An industry veteran gives his insights into the little discussed aviation leasing market.

New Saudi King Shapes Contours Of Power For Future Rule

The Saudi king has created two new super-committees that give Mohammed bin Nayef and his son Mohammed bin Salman extensive control over most aspects of Saudi policy making.

Democracy Under Way, Tunisia Turns To Tough Economic Agenda

Tunisia has been praised as an example of compromise politics and democratic transition since overthrowing its autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in a 2011.

Confident Gulf Bond Market Shrugs Off S&P Downgrades

S&P cut its outlook for Saudi Arabia’s “AA-/A-1+” foreign and local currency credit ratings to negative from stable and lowered ratings of Bahrain and Oman.

Gulf Banks Help Underwrite Region’s Aviation Boom

Figures from Airbus show that 47 per cent of its aircraft deals in the ME in the first 11 months of 2014 were funded by local banks.

Qatar’s Embattled Brotherhood Exiles See Hope In New Saudi King

King Salman is more sympathetic to religious conservatives than his predecessor Abdullah and is seen as less hostile to the group.