Middle East Firms Must Increase Profits, Not Prices

Introducing a new product line-up will boost profits, write Lovrenc Kessler and Ekkehard Stadie from Simon-Kucher & Partners.

Social Entrepreneurship Can Reduce Welfare Costs In ME

In a candid chat with Gulf Business, Hult Prize CEO Ahmad Ashkar discusses why he thinks the time is ripe for social entrepreneurship in the Middle East.

Can All Nationalities Provide Great Service?

Nicolai Tillisch addresses a taboo in the region and reflects on how to deal with the underlying misconceptions.

Syria’s Chemical Weapons; Decades To Build, Years To Destroy

Syria’s stockpile is believed to be spread over dozens of sites and include research and development centres, some of them underground.

Syria’s Economy Goes Underground As Black Market Thrives

In chaotic Syria, smugglers, middlemen and small companies working with shipping agents are finding ways to do profitable business.

SocGen Avoiding Goldman Missteps With $300m Sukuk Plan

Goldman Sachs tried to follow HSBC in late 2011 with a $2 billion sukuk programme, but Islamic scholars and analysts questioned whether the bank was obeying religious principles.

How To Keep Hold of Your Job

Even when you’re unhappy at work, justifying your salary and being a team player is vital, writes James Randall, sales manager, eFinancial Careers Gulf.

30 Seconds On The Business Of… The UAE’s Audio Retail Industry

Gulf Business speaks to Amit Malani, president of Harman Middle East

World Cup 2022 Will Be A Winter Affair

Now Blatter’s admitted it was a mistake to award the rights to Qatar’s summer months, only a time-efficient loophole will prevent a winter tournament, writes Gulf Business reporter Neil Churchill

Timeline: The Apple iPhone From Origin To iPhone 5S

Gulf Business traces the lineage of the iPhone 5S back to its initial concept.

Microsoft-Nokia Deal: What Does It Mean For BlackBerry?

Peter Garnry, equity strategist at Saxo Bank, asks what does the Nokia-Microsoft deal mean for the mobile market.

Top 10 Most Expensive Construction Markets

Qatar tops the list as the most expensive construction market in Middle East.

The World’s Most Expensive iPhones

As Apple releases the iPhone 5S, we look at the priciest (and most bling) iPhones that money can buy.

Abu Dhabi Employees In Fix Over Losing Dubai Life

The Abu Dhabi government has ruled that public sector employees in the capital have to live within the city.

In France, A Tax-Free Property Empire Owned By Qatar

Around 40 properties in France are owned by Qataris, with total investment amounting to around $7.8 billion over the past decade, found Reuters.

Oman’s Entrepreneur Ecosystem Needs Strong Government Push

Oman’s entrepreneurs can add value to the government’s job creation efforts, if given adequate support.

V Shankar, Standard Chartered CEO: It’s The Economy, Stupid

Focusing on business, not politics is the only way out of the vicious Arab unrest circle, says group executive director and CEO of Standard Chartered, EMEA.

Five Minutes with… Jihad El Eit, Founder And CEO, Manoushe Street

The home-cooked style restaurant is planning to expand across the UAE and the wider region, says El Eit.

How To Rule The World Like… Catherine Middleton

Catherine Middleton is the Duchess of Cambridge.

Where Should UAE NRIs Invest In India?

As the Indian rupee continues its free-fall, Gulf Business tracks the best investment options in India for NRIs.

Brazil And Dubai: A Growing Beauty Connection

Latin beauty firms have found a goldmine export market in Dubai and the Middle East.

Why The GCC Needs New Skills Formation Systems – Now

Wes Schwalje, chief operating officer at Tahseen Consulting, says swift action must be taken to create sustainable jobs and develop the region into a truly global knowledge economy.

5 Minutes With… Chris Buncombe, Co-Founder & Director, Halcyon Events

Halcyon Events, a luxury hospitality company, operates concierge style packages to Grands Prixs around the world.

Intrapreneurship In MENA’s Public Sector

Forming mini-start ups within the government could jump start creativity and fuel jobs, say Bessma Momani, associate professor at the University of Waterloo, and Mehrunisa Qayyum, founder of PITAPOLICY Consulting.

Strike On Syria Could Trigger Retaliatory Attacks, Cyberwar

A US-led cruise missile attack on Syria in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons, seems increasingly likely in the coming days.

Web-Based Apps Pose Tricky Problem For Saudi Monitors

The number of Twitter users in Saudi Arabia nearly doubled in six months to 2.9 million in July 2012, amounting to a little over 10 per cent of the population

Corporate Governance Is Not Just For A Company’s Board

Subsidiary governance is crucial, according to Hawkamah, the Institute for Corporate Governance in the MENA region.

An Arab Buys Your Football Club – Good Or Bad?

Does the sudden input of wealth from the Middle East region guarantee success? Recent history would suggest the results are mixed.

TIMELINE: Qatar World Cup 2022 Controversies

A look at the roller-coaster ride of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, and the allegations made since.

Can You Take Legal Action In The UAE If Your Phone Is Faulty?

Data lost cannot be replaced or compensated through legal means, say experts.