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Bahrain Grand Prix Doubts Persist

Despite officials confirming that the race is Bahrain is still on, many teams expect it to be called off amid security concerns, say reports.

GCC Produces Record Aluminium Supply

Annual production in the GCC could reach five million tonnes by 2014.

Formula One’s FIA Monitoring Bahrain

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said that it was keeping a close watch on the escalating violence in Bahrain ahead of the grand prix on April 22.

Bahrain Tops Region In Global IT Index

The UAE and Qatar also ranked high for their IT technologies on the global index compiled by the World Economic Forum and INSEAD.

Batelco Eyes Acquisitions In 2012

The Bahraini telecoms operator hopes that new acquisitions will bring in revenues to compensate domestic losses.

New $1bn Islamic Bank In Doha

Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Bank and Dallah Albaraka Group have signed an agreement with Qatar to set up the new bank.

Ex-Mumtalakat Head Joins PineBridge

Talal Al Zain, who recently resigned from Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, has been appointed as the CEO of PineBridge’s MENA operations.

Accor To Hire 4,000 Staff In ME

The hotel group targets to have 100 hotels either operating or under construction in the region by 2015.

Bahrain’s SWF Names New CEO

Mumtalakat has appointed ALBA chairman Mahmood Hashem al-Kooheji as its new CEO.

Bahrain’s GDP Growth Fell To 2.2% In 2011

This is the country’s worst economic performance since 1994, when oil prices fell to $13 per barrel.

Bahrain’s Arcapita Files For Bankruptcy

The investment house filed for US bankruptcy protection after it failed to reach a $1.1 billion debt deal with creditors.

Bahrain Unrest Hikes Salaries By 10.5 %

Average monthly salaries for some expatriates have gone up by more than 10 per cent this year compared to 2011.

Investcorp Acquires UK Education Group

The Bahraini investment group has taken over the GL Education Group, a UK-based education solutions provider.

Ecclestone: “Nobody’s Going To Shoot”

F1 boss says there won’t be violence at Bahrain race and protests should be peaceful.

GCC To Produce 10% Of World Aluminium

Investment in the GCC’s aluminium industry has reached $14 billion to date.

Investcorp Buys US Properties

The Bahraini investment company has acquired a portfolio of properties in the San Francisco Bay Area for $65 million.

GCC Oil And Gas Reserves Worth $65trn

The region’s hydrocarbon reserves account for almost a third of the world’s reserves, says QNB Capital.

Freeze On Bahrain’s Expat Tax May Continue

The parliament has voted to extend the suspension of the tax on foreign workers for another two years, according to reports.

Bahrain Eyes Gas Imports From Russia

The Gulf state is initially planning to import the equivalent of around 3 million tonnes a year of LNG from Russia’s Gazprom.

Mumtalakat Head Quit Over Differences

The head of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund reportedly resigned because of differences with the board.

Mumtalakat Head Resigns

Talal Al Zain is leaving Bahrain’s $9 billion sovereign wealth fund to set up an investment firm.

ABC Islamic Bank Nets $8.1mn Profit

ABC Islamic Bank announced a net profit of $8.1 million for 2011, based on lower provisioning.

Investcorp Close To Selling US Mall

The mall is part of a mixed-use development project located in Bellevue, Washington, that Investcorp invested in five years ago.

Al Baraka Net Profits Rise

The Bahraini banking group reported a 10 per cent increase in full year net profits for 2011.

Oman Owes Gulf Air $310mn

The Bahraini carrier said that the sum has been outstanding from the time Oman pulled out of Gulf Air in 2007.

Mashreq Loans $80mn To Gulf Air

The struggling Bahraini carrier will use the amount to meet its medium-term capital needs.

Batelco Sells STel Stake

The Bahraini telecoms operator will receive $174.5 million, the same amount that it paid to purchase the stake in the Indian firm.

Bahrain’s Gulf Air To Downsize

The airline’s CEO said that it was unlikely that the struggling carrier would be dissolved or sold.

Batelco Records 8% Fall In 2011 Profits

The Bahraini firm saw its subscriber base increase by 20 per cent year-on-year in 2011.

Bahrain Airshow Nets Deals

The signing of $930 million worth of trade deals at the Bahrain International Airshow has raised expectations for 2014.