Kuwait’s KIPCO Q4 Net Profit Gains 2%, Raises Cash Dividend

Net profit in the three months to Dec. 31 was KD14.3 million.

Why Dubai Must Prevent Another Tower Blaze

A spate of high-tower fires sends out a worrying picture of Dubai to the world.

UAE’s Arabtec Wins $253m Of Saudi Oil And Gas Work

The projects include upgrading liquefied gas and refinery facilities for national oil firm Saudi Aramco, the company said.

Ten Workers Killed In Abu Dhabi Building Fire

The blaze gutted the two-storey building, which contained seven shops on the ground floor.

UN Team Investigates Saudi Surge In Cases Of Deadly MERS Virus

The virus has infected close to a thousand people, killing some 360 of them – the vast majority in Saudi Arabia.

Kuwait’s Agility Plans Up To $100m Africa Spend In 2015

Target markets include Ghana, Mozambique, Angola and Nigeria, as they are benefiting from blossoming oil and gas sectors.

Emirates Hires Banks For UK-Guaranteed Sukuk Of Up To $1bn

Sources said the deal could close by the end of the first quarter.

Arms Exporters Eye Big Deals At UAE’s IDEX, Mideast’s Largest Defence Show

The Middle East is the largest market driver in the industry with billions of dollars spent annually on buying military equipment.

Fire Rips Through Dubai Marina’s Torch Tower

No fatalities were reported at the time of publishing.

Kuwait’s Investment Dar Confident About Debt-For-Assets Deal

Its original debt deal was signed in 2011 and covered around KD1 billion.

UAE Named Second Largest Market For M-commerce

Almost 57 per cent of online shoppers in the UAE made a purchase via a smartphone in the last 12 months, a new study says.

Oman’s Bank Nizwa Aims For 2015 Merger With United Finance Co

The potential deal is the latest sign of consolidation after the start of merger talks in 2013 between Bank Dhofar and Bank Sohar.

ADCB To Meet Investors From Monday For Potential USD Bond

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) will meet investors in Europe, it said.

Dubai’s Arqaam Capital Sounds Out Advisers Ahead Of Flotation

Arqaam has offices in five countries in the MEA and offers brokerage, asset management and corporate finance advisory services.

Stock News: Saudi Arabia Down, Egypt Firms As Oil Slides

Brent oil traded below $59 per barrel as U.S. crude inventories were expected to hit record highs.

Dubai Parks And Resorts Appoints Seven-Member Management Team

The new senior managers are expected to help the Dhs10 billion project open as scheduled in 2016.

Air Arabia To Begin Flights From Ras Al Khaimah To Qatar

The airline will fly four times per week to Doha, bringing the total number of destinations from its Ras Al Khaimah hub to nine.

Qatar’s Nakilat Q4 Profit Rises 14%

Nakilat made a profit of QAR201.6 million in the last quarter of 2014, up from QAR176.5 million a year earlier.

Dubai’s Ruler Launches New Projects Featuring Snow Fountain, Vertical Gardens

The new projects will be developed by the Wasl Asset Management Group across Dubai.

UAE Telco Du Q4 Net Profit Falls 10%

The firm made a net profit of Dhs512.7 million in the last quarter of 2014, down from Dhs570.3 million in the year-earlier period.

Qatar Recalls Ambassador To Egypt Amid Dispute Over Libya Air Strikes

Doha expressed reservation at Egypt’s unilateral decision to carry out air raids in Libya without consultations with other Arab states.

Saudi Aramco Seeks $10bn Loan From Banks – Sources

Sources said the loan would be structured as a revolving credit facility, giving Aramco flexibility to opt when it wants to withdraw cash.

Saudi Crude Oil Exports Drop To 6.934m bpd In December

Exports fell by 362,000 barrels per day from 7.296 million bpd in November 2014.

Dubai Project ‘Living Legends’ On Track For 2015 Opening

The much-delayed residential project located in Dubailand is set to deliver first 150 villas in Q2 2015.

Falling Oil Prices Will Not Affect UAE Banks’ Growth- ENBD CEO

Banks in the UAE are much stronger than they were during the financial crash of 2008, the chief executive of Dubai’s largest lender said.

Malaysia’s MSM Scraps Pact With Dubai’s Al Khaleej To Build Sugar Refinery

Due to the fact that the project is of “national interest”, MSM decided to build it without a partnership, it said.

Qatargas, Pakistan Close To 15-Year LNG Supply Deal – Sources

The first shipment is expected to be received by March, according to sources.

Saudi Arabia Clamps Down On Visa Trading

The Ministry of Labour said that it will set a limit on the number of workers that each firm is permitted to transfer within a year of recruitment.

Majority Of GCC Workers To Change Jobs Over Low Pay Rises In 2015

The majority of employees expect a pay rise of five per cent while only a fraction of employers are set to award that level of increase this year.

France In ‘Final Stage’ Of Talks To Sell Rafale Jets To Qatar

France said last June it was confident of winning a deal soon to supply fighter jets to Qatar.