Dubai Sees 12.8% Rise In September Passenger Traffic

The airport handled 4.78 million passengers in September 2012.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi Eyes South Korea

NBAD, which opened an office in Shanghai earlier this year, plans to expand its presence in Asia.

UAE Approves 2013 Federal Budget, No Deficit

As per the budget, total spending for the year will be Dhs44.6 billion.

Qatari Draft Media Law Criticised By Rights Group

Human Rights Watch described the law as “a commitment to censorship”.

Etihad Signs Multi Million Deal With Airbus

Abu Dhabi’s flagship carrier has bought two new A330-200s and converted seven A320s into the larger A321.

UAE’s Dana Gas Will Not Repay $920m Sukuk On Maturity

The Sharjah-based gas firm has reached a standstill agreement with bondholders, say sources.

DP World’s Terminal Volumes Drop Slightly

The world’s third-largest port operator recorded a 0.7 per cent year-on-year fall in the third quarter.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Eyes Sukuk Sale

The lender has mandated HSBC, Morgan Stanley, National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Standard Chartered to arrange the roadshows.

Saudi Labour Costs Highest In GCC

Construction labour costs in the Kingdom are 51 per cent higher than in Qatar, says new report.

Bank Of Sharjah Profits Up 1%

The lender grew its total number of assets by five per cent while its shareholders’ equity dropped by two per cent.

Doha Bank Eyes London Share Sale To Boost Capital

The Qatari lender hopes to increase capital by up to $1.6 billion in 2013.

Abu Dhabi’s TAQA Seeks New Terms For Dutch Gas Transport Tariffs

TAQA has a 60 per cent stake in Netherlands’ 4.1 billion cubic metre Bergermeer storage facility.

Souq.com Receives New Buyer, Naspers Limited

South African media group Naspers has acquired a minority stake in the Middle East e-commerce site, for a rumoured $40 million.

Emirates, Etihad Cancel Flights As Hurricane Sandy Nears

The massive hurricane is expected to hit the US east coast on Monday evening.

Dubai’s Global Village Sees 600,000 Visitors

The entertainment venue, which opened on October 21, saw 260,000 visitors during the first two days of Eid.

Expat-Owned Start-Ups Thriving In UAE

Data from government department, Dubai Internet City and a local awards highlights the success of expat-owned companies.

Over 3.1 Million Pilgrims Perform Hajj

The Saudi government has said that its measures have ensured that pilgrims are safe and secure.

UAE Condemns EU Parliament Over Human Rights Resolution

The EU resolution that criticised the UAE’s human rights record was “biased and prejudiced,” said a senior minister.

TAQA Hires Banks For $2bn Loan Refinancing

The financing will include a three-year and a five-year revolving credit facility.

Will Saudi’s Open Skies Policy Hinder Growth Of Domestic Carriers?

The motion is debated by Saj Ahmad, chief analyst, StrategicAero Research.com and Simon Elsegood, senior analyst, CAPA – Centre for Aviation.

Green Tourism Gains Ground In The UAE

After years of bad headlines, the UAE is beginning to transform itself into a sanctuary for eco-tourism.

Fashion Brand Brioni Opens Shop In Dubai

CEO Francesco Pesci speaks to Gulf Business about the brand’s expansion in the Middle East, its PPR takeover and James Bond.

HSBC Bank Oman 9-Month Profit Drops 4.2% On Provisions

The lender made a net profit of OMR10.57 million in the first nine months of the year.

Apple’s iPad Mini To Reach UAE Before Year-End

Apple’s new smaller tablet is expected to ‘officially’ reach UAE shelves within the next three months, say retailers.

Etisalat Q3 Profit Up 28% After Indonesia Sale

The UAE’s leading operator reported third-quarter net profit of Dhs2.21 bilion and revenue of Dhs8 billion.

Groupon And YaDig Launch Review Partnership

New alliance will see regional website’s reviews published on global giant’s website.

Emir Of Qatar Makes Historic Gaza Visit

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani denounces Israel’s policies and praises the people of Gaza on first ever visit.

Emaar Reports 4.7% Drop In Q3 Profit

Dubai’s prominent developer reveals slight drop in Q3 revenue and profit, despite rise for January-September.

UAE Salaries To Rise 5% In 2013

About 70 per cent of companies in the GCC are also planning to increase headcount next year, says new survey.

Dubai’s Aramex Q3 Net Profit Rises 11%

The Dubai-based logistics firm reported third-quarter net profit of Dhs53.1 million.