Omantel Seeks Approval For Debut Islamic Bond

Until now there has been only one issuer of sukuk in Oman, a OMR50 million private placement from Tilal Development Co.

UAE Airlines Suspend Flights To Erbil On Security Woes

Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways have suspended flights to Erbil as ISIL destroys ancient cities in Iraq’s north.

Oman Jails Rights Activist Who Wrote Letter To Obama

Said Jadad found guilty of “undermining the prestige of the state”, was fined and sentenced to three years in jail.

Saudi Commerce Ministry Refers MMG Board Members To Investigations Body

Saudi contractor Mohammed Al Mojil Group has not traded on the Saudi bourse since July 2012.

Snapchat Management Holds Talks With Saudi’s Prince Alwaleed

Prince Alwaleed has previously made investments in technology brands including Twitter and Chinese e-commerce firm JD.com.

Dubai’s Drydocks World Floats Second Debt Restructuring

The firm will ask creditors to amend the terms of its $2.3 billion restructuring deal originally signed in 2012, sources said.

Revealed: Western Publishing Editors In UAE Earn 82% More Than Asian Peers

Overall, salaries in the UAE have risen by 9.97 per cent year-on-year to around $11,224 per month, finds 2015 Gulf Business salary survey.

Bahrain To Investigate Alleged Waste Of $1.1bn Of Public Money

The National Audit Court (NAC) produced the figure in its 2013/14 report, a local daily reported.

Saudi Arabia, UAE Among Top Five Defence Importers In 2014 – IHS

The Kingdom overtook India to become the world’s biggest weapons importer in 2014, research company IHS said.

Egyptian Court Adjourns Trial Of Al Jazeera Journalists To March 19

A court last month released Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed on bail after over a year in detention.

Dubai’s Plans For Affordable Housing Will Help Market Mature – Cluttons

Rents in the emirate have surged more than 50 per cent in the last two years, prompting calls for affordable units in the market.

Chinese Firm Wins Dhs150m Contract For Falcon Island Project In RAK

China Harbour Engineering Company will carry out the marine and infrastructure works for the luxury project.

Oman’s Bank Sohar Cuts Proposed Cash Dividend On Central Bank Advice

The lender said it had revised its proposed cash payout to four per cent from six per cent.

Drop In Shale Output Caused Oil Price Rebound – Kuwait Oil Minister

He said projections showed prices might improve this year, but added that they might also stay between $50 and $60 a barrel.

Saudi Arabia Rejects Rights Criticism After Flogging Of Blogger

A statement said the Kingdom’s constitution ensured the protection of human rights because it was based on Islamic Sharia law.

Louis Dreyfus Ships Big US Ethanol Cargo To Middle East

Dreyfus is sending about 280,000 barrels of ethanol from the Port of New York to Jebel Ali in the UAE.

“Jihadi John” Link Deepens Security Unease In Kuwait

Security officials acknowledge that youths from Gulf Arab states have trekked in their hundreds to fight for ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Saudi King Aims For New Sunni Bloc Vs Iran And ISIL

King Salman is trying to reinforce the need for unity in the Arab region and find a way to work around disagreements over the Muslim Brotherhood.

King Salman Banks On Welfare Spending In Gloomy Oil Era

Saudi Arabia recently announced a new round of bonuses for government employees, a direction that experts believe is opposite to what it should be doing in this time of cheap oil.

Oil No More: The UAE Diversifies

The UAE is weaning itself away from oil and could be almost independent of it by 2021, say senior government officials.

Syria’s Nusra Front Mulls Split From Al Qaeda On Qatar Backing

Sources in Nusra said that Qatar is encouraging the group to go ahead with the move, which would give it a boost in funding.

Egypt Aims For Final Arabtec Housing Deal By Mid-March

Arabtec said last March that it had reached agreement with Egypt’s army to build a million homes at 13 locations around the country.

Fujairah Oil Storage Capacity May Rise 75% By 2020

The Fujairah port, which lies outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Gulf oil export route, has seen a boom in storage facility building since late 2009.

Etihad To Launch Daily Flights To Tehran From April

The carrier currently operates three flights a week between Abu Dhabi and the Iranian capital.

Saudi King Keeps Close Hand On Oil In Remodelling Strategic Team

King Salman is clearly laying the ground for a generational shift in how Riyadh develops its energy and economic strategies.

UAE Ranked Third In Global Muslim Travel Index

The Emirates was the top destination for Muslim tourists in the Middle East, which had five countries among the top 10 in the global list.

Emirates Airline President Plans Talks In Washington Over Subsidy Row

US carriers accuse Gulf airlines of receiving more than $40 billion in government subsidies since 2004.

Qatar, Saudi, Kuwait Among Top 10 Nations Globally For Luxury Spending

Wealthy individuals in the three GCC nations especially spend on imported luxury goods and premium travel, finds new report.

Croatia Mulls Loan From UAE To Refinance Costly Debts

The loan could be worth around $2 billion and enable the EU member to refinance debt.

Sheikh Mohammed Launches Museum Of The Future In Dubai

The museum will produce futuristic inventions and support the UAE’s goals to be the most innovative country in the world.