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Saudi Booms But Closing Deals Is Challenging

While experts say the Kingdom is the best performing market in the region, they also warn investors to be patient while doing deals.

Banque Saudi Fransi sets up $2bn Sukuk

The bank reported a ten per cent year-on-year rise in first quarter profit earlier this year.

SABIC Sees Drop In Q1 Profit

Saudi Basic Industries Corp recorded a five per cent year-on-year fall in net profit during the first quarter of the year.

Tamweel Posts 33% Drop In Q1 Profit

The UAE-based mortgage lender recorded a net profit of Dhs18 million during the first quarter of the year.

UAE Urges Iran To End Island Standoff

The UAE Foreign Minister has said that the dispute with Iran concerning Abu Mousa could spiral into an international issue.

Nokia Has 46% ME Handset Share

Nokia leads handset sales, but Apple secures top spot for mobile advertising impressions.

Mubadala To Manufacture Parts For Boeing

This is the first time Boeing has signed a direct outsourcing deal for parts production in the Arab region.

NBK Posts $292m Q1 Net Profit

National Bank of Kuwait reported a 0.3 per cent rise in Q1 profits year-on-year.

Giordano Unveils Expansion Plans, Web Store

Global fashion store will launch 14 more regional stores this year.

Dubai’s Residential Market Back On Track

Property prices in the city are hitting early 2008 levels, and the rental market is also positive, says a new report.

Nakheel Posts 33% Rise In 2011 Profit

The Dubai-based developer reported a net profit of Dhs1.3 billion for 2011.

Bahrain Is “Not Syria” Says Circuit Boss

Formula One teams taking part in the Bahrain Grand Prix will not be at risk, circuit chairman Zayed Al Zayani has said.

Bank Muscat Q1 Net Profit Up 20%

Bank Muscat, Oman’s largest lender by market value, posted a net profit of $86.7 million for the first quarter of the year.

SABIC Approves SR15bn Dividends

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation will be distributing a dividend of SR5 per share to shareholders for 2011.

Saudi’s Al-Tayyar Group Plans 30% IPO

The travel firm had to cancel a similar sale two years ago due to a lack of demand.

Al Ghurair appointed DIFC Authority chairman

Mashreq bank chairman Abdul Azuz Al Ghurair is also vice chairman of DIFC’s higher board of directors.

Dubai Issues 17% More Licences In March

The majority of the licences were issued to businesses in the tourism sector, said Dubai’s Department of Economic Development.

QNB Buys Stake In Libyan Bank

Qatar National Bank has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Libya’s Bank of Commerce and Development for an undisclosed sum.

Saudi Denies Reports of Sweden Arms Plant

The Kingdom stressed that it has not signed any deal with Sweden to help build a weapons factory in Saudi.

GCC States Plan Meet Over Disputed Island

The meeting in Riyadh will discuss the dispute between the UAE and Iran over Abu Musa island, sources said.

UAE Central Bank Posts Dhs3.7bn Net Profit

The bank plans to distribute 55 per cent of its 2011 net profit to the ministry of finance, reported WAM.

Oil Market Fundamentals Easing: IEA

Increasing output from OPEC and slow global demand are easing fundamentals, said the International Energy Agency.

Mubadala Reports $1.1bn Net Loss

The Abu Dhabi-based investment company attributed the loss to negative fluctuations in its financial investments.

Arabtec Nominates Aabar Execs To Board

Dubai-based builder Arabtec has nominated four top Aabar executives to its board.

Saudi GDP Grew 6.6% In Q4 2011

The Kingdom’s oil sector expanded 6.1 per cent during the fourth quarter of the year.

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.

QIA Plans $10bn Indian Investment

Qatar Investment Authority said it is looking to invest $10 billion in India, but is waiting for policies to change in the country.

Sheikha Lubna Eyes China Investment

The two countries are set to strengthen bilateral trade ties, according to the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade.

Oman May Issue $518m Bonds

Oman plans to issue sovereign bonds worth OR200 million this year, but is waiting for the right time, according to officials.

Saudi Banks Post Rise In Q1 Net Profit

Al Rajhi Bank, SABB, Saudi Hollandi Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi recorded a rise in net profit during the first quarter of the year.