Tourists To Abu Dhabi Rise 12%

The number of guests in the emirate’s hotels reached 192,374 during May this year, official statistics show.

Emirates Adds Saudi Flights For Ramadan

The airline will fly 73 extra flights to Jeddah and Medinah Al Munawarrah from July 20 to September 1.

Dubai Property Market Most Open

The UAE city is ranked as having the most transparent real estate market in the MENA region.

Saudi Aramco To Sell Unit For $1.3bn

The oil giant signs agreement to sell its Vela marine unit to Saudi National Shipping Company.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Meets Obama

The crown prince and the US president discussed regional issues and global energy prices during the meet.

UAE Firms May Go On Credit Card Strike

Restaurants and shops consider rejecting premium credit cards as Network International hikes fees.

Flydubai Launches Basra Route

Flights to Basra, the low-cost airline’s fifth destination in Iraq, are scheduled to start next month.

Arabtec Group Wins $2.9bn Deal

The Arabtec consortium, that includes Greek and Turkish firms, will build a terminal at the Abu Dhabi airport.

Nestle To Offer 800 Jobs In Dubai

The Swiss company is opening a Dhs500 million manufacturing plant in Dubai World Central.

Tycoon Nears Deal for Drydocks’ Stake

A firm linked to billionaire Robert Kuok is set to take a stake in Drydock’s Southeast Asia operations, say sources.

Qtel Bids For Wataniya Stake

The Qatar-based telecoms operator plans to buy the remaining majority stake in Wataniya for $1.9 billion.

Former Alkhair CEO Found Guilty

Majid Al-Refai will serve four years in jail for a number of crimes during his tenure as CEO of Bank Alkhair.

Bahrain Eyes 10 Year Bond

The Arab state will need to attract conventional rather than Islamic investors due to the lack of sukuk.

MAF Eyes $350-500m From Bond

UAE mall developer Majid Al Futtaim Holding plans to issue a dollar-denominated bond this year.

Top 10 Global Spenders In UAE

Visitors from the UK topped the list, spending almost $500 million in 2011, according to Visa.

Etihad, SpiceJet Deny Stake Sale

Media reports had claimed that Etihad and Qatar Airways were eyeing a minority stake in the Indian budget carrier.

Saudi Women To Enter Olympics

Women athletes from the Kingdom will be allowed for the first time to compete in the London Olympics.

Kuwait Government Resigns – Sources

At least seven governments have stepped down in recent years because of political deadlock.

Qatar Predicts Slow Growth In 2013

The country’s planning authority says that GDP growth is expected to reduce to 4.5 per cent in 2013.

UAE And Brazil Trade Rising

Trade links between the two countries have never been stronger as new figures reveal the growing relationship.

Abu Dhabi Optimism Rises

The emirate has seen consumer confidence rise in the first quarter of the year, say official statistics.

ADIA Values Emerging Equities

Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund expects emerging market stocks to outperform in the long-term.

Bank Muscat Plans $251m Stake Sale

The Omani bank plans to use the proceeds from the sale to fund credit expansion and its foray into Islamic finance.

UAE Mall Developer Picks Banks

Majid Al Futtaim has begun choosing banks to arrange investor meetings ahead of a second bond issue.

Qatar Seeks $5bn Quota

The Gulf state is looking to increase it’s stake in China’s stock and bond markets along with ADIA.

Rents Rise In Riyadh and Jeddah

Residential rents rose between four to 13 per cent in the two Saudi Arabian cities, says a new study.

Dubai’s Daman Sells 22.7% Stake

The investment company, which plans to launch an IPO, raised Dhs100 million from the sale.

JAFZA Repays $2.04bn Sukuk

The free zone has repaid the Islamic loan five months early and consequently received a rating upgrade from Fitch.

UAE Signs Dhs435m Road Deals

Contracts have been signed for the construction of projects in Ras Al Khaimah and Khor Fakkan.

Qatar Buys French Luxury Hotels

Qatar plans to buy four hotels from Starwood for around $940 million, according to French media reports.