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ME Holds $500m In Start-Up Funds

Regional investors are ready to provide up to half a billion dollars to promote new businesses in the Middle East, say industry experts.

Emirates NBD Approves 20% Dividend

Emirates NBD said that its shareholders had approved a cash dividend of 20 fils per share for 2011.

Al Futtaim Gets $500m Egypt Mall Loan

The Mall of Egypt will be one of North Africa’s largest shopping centres.

Arab Spring Surge in EU Asylum Seekers

More than two million people left their MENA homes due to the 2011 unrest.

DP World To Repay $3bn Loan Early

The port operator has said that it will pay off its loan, which matures in October, six months ahead of schedule.

Dubai Falls Behind Abu Dhabi For Fraud Detection

While the UAE capital has taken stringent measures to ensure compliance, Dubai and the other emirates are still lagging behind, say experts.

MAF Holding Reports 10% Revenue Increase

Dubai-based mall and hotel firm pulls in profits amid MENA Arab Spring turmoil.

Emaar Apt Sales Fell 85% In 2011

The Dubai-based property developer saw overall revenues for 2011 falling by 33 per cent compared to 2010.

First Gulf Lends $350mn to AKT

The UAE lender’s loan will help Indonesian coal producer AKT to meet its working capital needs.

Emirates ID to Replace Labour Card

Employed UAE residents will not need a labour card from the end of June, an official from the labour ministry has confirmed.

Abraaj Buys 50% Stake In The Entertainer

Abraaj is making the acquisition through its subsidiary, Riyada Enterprise Development.

UAE Hotels See 80% Occupancy

The occupancy rate for hotels in February reduced by 2.4 per cent year-on year, according to STR Global.

Twitter Boasts 140 Million Users

The micro-blogging site, which is celebrating its sixth birthday, is now seeking to find the right revenue model.

Accor To Hire 4,000 Staff In ME

The hotel group targets to have 100 hotels either operating or under construction in the region by 2015.

Bahrain’s SWF Names New CEO

Mumtalakat has appointed ALBA chairman Mahmood Hashem al-Kooheji as its new CEO.

Dubai Aims To Be UAE’s Cultural Hub

The emirate has launched a new cultural district in Downtown Dubai, which will include an opera house, an art museum, galleries and art hotels.

ENBD Launches $1bn Bond

The five-year bond is the third issue by Emirates NBD this year and the second by a UAE bank this week.

ME IT Spend To Grow 6-8% In 2012

EXCLUSIVE: Regional IT spend will grow at double the global rate, according to EMC global CFO.

Bahrain’s GDP Growth Fell To 2.2% In 2011

This is the country’s worst economic performance since 1994, when oil prices fell to $13 per barrel.

Kingfisher To Stop International Flights

India-based Kingfisher Airlines, which operates daily flights to Dubai, said that it was cancelling all its international routes.

DIB Announces 12.5% Dividend

The lender had earlier said that it was advised by the UAE central bank to cut its dividend to 10 per cent.

China, GCC To Boost Trade

High-level ministers from the GCC countries and China have held meetings and decided to increase economic and trade relations between their regions.

UAE Needs To Improve Workers Rights

While authorities have taken steps to improve the rights of workers at Saadiyat island, more is needed, says Human Rights Watch.

Emaar Proposes 10 Fils Dividend

The property developer said that it will discuss the proposal with shareholders during its annual general meeting on April 23.

UAE Cuts Amlak Debt By $1.1bn

However, the UAE Economy Minister said that resuming trade in Amlak stocks will take more time.

Etisalat, Emirates, STC Top ME Brands

Apple tops the global top brands list, which also includes the three entries from the GCC.

NBAD Launches $750mn Bond

The five-year dollar bond is being issued under the National Bank of Abu Dhabi’s $5 billion programme.

Abu Dhabi Issues 17,575 New Trade Licences

The total number of valid trade licences registered in the emirate until late last year reached nearly 103,792.

Etisalat Offers 3G In Afghanistan

The UAE based telecoms operator said that it was the first operator to provide 3G services in the country.

Bahrain’s Arcapita Files For Bankruptcy

The investment house filed for US bankruptcy protection after it failed to reach a $1.1 billion debt deal with creditors.