Mesaieed Petchem Shares Soar In Qatar Debut, Far Exceed Estimates

Mesaieed, a unit of state-owned Qatar Petroleum (QP), raised 3.2 billion riyals ($880 million) in an IPO of about 26 per cent of its shares.

Gulf Ties Could Aid Islamic Finance In Italy

Islamic finance has so far made only marginal progress in continental Europe.

Tenants Become Investors As Abu Dhabi Engineers Property Rebound

Unlike Dubai, Abu Dhabi’s property market rebound appears to have been triggered by clever government intervention in the market.

Oman: Islamic Banking On The Rise

In contrast to other GCC nations, Oman’s banking sector is small but well performing with Islamic banking rising in prominence.

Secretive Companies Puzzle Investors As Gulf Bourses Grow

Secretive company managements, poor disclosure mechanisms and patchy enforcement of disclosure rules mean information is scarce in Gulf markets.

New CEO Of Kuwait’s Top Bank Faces Sluggish Home Market, Gulf Rivals

Isam al-Sager was appointed as the new group CEO of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) earlier this week.

Kuwaiti Oil Refineries Vulnerable To More Power Problems

Three of the country’s oil refineries shut down late last month because of power failures.

Kuwait Faces Citizens’ Ire As It Eyes Cut In Lavish Subsidies

Spending at the current rate could outpace Kuwait’s revenues as early as 2017-18, the International Monetary Fund has warned.

What’s The Future of The Automotive Industry?

Completely accident-proof cars are still a far-away dream, writes Sarwant Singh, senior partner and head of Visionary Innovation Group, Frost & Sullivan.

No Oil, But A Phosphate Future For Saudi Desert Outpost

Waad al-Shimal, a joint venture between Maaden, SABIC and US phosphate and potash producer Mosaic, is a massive new project coming up in the far north of Saudi.

Independent Entity Needed For Sharia Supervision -Kuwait Central Bank

Kuwait’s central bank governor has called for an independent legal entity to oversee Islamic financial institutions.

Fitch Revises Batelco’s Outlook From Stable To Negative

The revision was mainly driven by Fitch’s concern about regulatory uncertainty in Bahrain, it said.

Rising Dubai Rents Boost Sharjah’s Retail Sector

Major mall developers are targeting Sharjah’s retail sector as demand surges.

What Property Can You Buy In Dubai For $7m?

A villa in Palm Jumeirah and an apartment in Dubai Marina can be yours for $7 million, according to Knight Frank.

Does Apple Need A Flagship Store In The UAE?

With rivals such as Samsung promoting themselves heavily in the country, the US giant may have to step up its presence.

Cars Or Mass Transit? Future Trends In Emerging Markets

Rapidly growing populations and rising incomes will drive an enormous rise in car use and…

Iraq’s Investment Challenge

Can Iraq’s oil prospects offset foreign investor’s security concerns?

Saudi Healthcare Booms As State Scrambles To Close Welfare Gap

Future expansion of healthcare facilities will also be driven by Saudi’s growing young population and the high incidence of lifestyle-related diseases.

Impact Of Saudi Labour Crackdown Spreads Through Economy

Nearly one million foreign workers are estimated to have left Saudi Arabia between last March and November.

Allow Your Investments To Divide And Conquer

Diversification is key to earning better rewards and balancing market fluctuations.

GCC Oil Subsidies Removal Could Cause ‘Stagflation’

Experts say that subsidies should be gradually removed to avoid sudden short-term economic shocks.

Qatar: More Than Just A Gas Nation?

With a new leader at the helm and the emirate’s gas boom coming to an end, can Qatar maintain its economic and political momentum?

Could Learning Arabic Boost Your UAE Job Prospects?

Knowledge of Arabic can provide job seekers with flexibility in the UAE’s competitive market but it will not trump skill and experience, experts say.

Gulf States Seek Food Security In Europe, US After African Problems

Projects in developed countries tend to be more expensive, but present fewer political problems and less risk.

Bahrain Impasse Risks More Instability In 2014

Authorities are using arrests, raids and strict new laws against activists seeking political reform.

Saudi Arabia Needs To Provide Job Skills To Its Youth

The Kingdom needs to arm its young graduates with on-the-job training and vocational education, experts say.

Why Are Some Of Dubai’s Office Buildings Empty?

Offices with multiple ownership structures have higher than average vacancy rates.

Gulf Stocks Bullish In 2014 But Economic Risks To Rise

Gulf markets are still around 15 to 50 per cent below the peaks reached before the financial crisis in 2008.

Domestic Concerns Drive Oman’s New Foreign Policy

Oman was unusually assertive in opposing a Saudi plan for Gulf Arab states to close ranks against Iran.

Dubai Health Insurance Law Will Make Market Competitive

But experts assure that the new law will not wipe out smaller insurance firms from the market.