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Egypt Implements Temporary Tax Increase For Wealthy

The tax will apply for three years, Egyptian state media reported.

Global Destinations Eye High-Spending Gulf Travellers

Gulf travellers are among the most lucrative and high-yield tourists due to their lavish spending habits, industry experts.

Shortfall In Middle East Oil Investment Could Push Up Prices -IEA

A large part of the investment to increase output will need to come from the Middle East as a rise in non-OPEC production such as U.S. shale oil starts to lose steam in the mid-2020s.

Egyptian Tycoon Sawiris Backs $257m Bid For 20% Of EFG Hermes

EFG Hermes is one of the biggest investment banks in the Middle East.

Egypt Studying International Bond Issue

An official said that the bond issue would mainly be aimed at Gulf Arab investors.

Assad Declared Landslide Victor In Wartime Syrian Election

Assad’s foes have ridiculed the election, saying no credible poll could be held in the midst of a conflict that has killed 160,000 people.

Middle East E-Commerce Sales To Reach $15bn By 2015

E-commerce is booming but limited number of players in the industry and logistical challenges are hindering the sector’s growth.

Saudi King Invites Countries To Attend Donor Conference For Egypt

The monarch said any country that did not contribute to Egypt’s future despite having the ability to do so would “have no future place among us”.

Demand For Middle East Carriers Soars – IATA Report

Middle East carriers saw an 18.6 per cent increase in passenger demand in April, which is the strongest growth for any region.

Drake & Scull Engineering Awarded Two Deals Worth Dhs259m

The deals were awarded by a consortium consisting of UAE contractors Arabtec, CCC and Drake & Scull Construction.

PineBridge Investments Raises $140m For GCC Real Estate Fund

The fund will acquire existing real estate assets, with a focus on the logistics, social infrastructure and community retail sectors.

Top Egyptian TV Comic Says Show Pulled Off Air

Bassem Youssef’s show was alleged to have made fun of the recently concluded presidential elections in Egypt.

Egypt To Collect Foreigners’ Capital Gains Tax On Each Transaction

The expected amount to be collected from this tax will range between 3.5 billion pounds and 4.5 billion pounds, Egypt’s finance minister said.

Egyptian Govt Says It Is $9.8bn Over Budget On Fuel Subsidies

Energy prices in Egypt are among the lowest in the world, and the government spends more than a fifth of its budget keeping them down.

UAE Says Sisi Represents “New Hope” For Egypt

The UAE is one of the main supporters of the government in Egypt and has showered it with aid since its military ousted elected Islamist president Mohammed Mursi last year.

Cashing In On The GCC’s Electronics Boom

With the GCC’s electronics industry witnessing extraordinary growth, competition and challenges loom large, according to retailer Emax.

Egypt Approves New 10% Capital Gains Tax On Stock Market Profits

The tax is part of the first phase of income tax reforms in the country expected to bring in 10 billion Egyptian pounds.

With Sisi Voted President, Will Egypt See A Rise In GCC Investments?

The Gulf states have pledged billions of dollars worth of aid to Egypt since former President Mohamed Mursi’s ouster last year.

Egypt’s Sisi Sweeps To Victory In Presidential Vote

The former army chief captured 93.3 per cent of votes cast as counting nearly came to a close, judicial sources said.

Hikma Buys Boehringer Injectable Drugs Business For Up To $300m

Hikma has also entered into an exclusivity arrangement with Boehringer to potentially acquire all of the assets of the Ben Venue manufacturing facility in Bedford, Ohio.

Egyptians Slow To Vote On Extra Day To Shore Up Sisi

Former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi faces only one rival – leftist Hamdeen Sabahi.

Exclusive: Hotel Star Rating System Obsolete, Says Starwood CEO

Brand was already more important than star rating up to a decade ago, according to Starwood’s president and CEO.

Internet Users In the Middle East To Reach 197m by 2017

Internet penetration will increase to 51 per cent from 32 per cent in 2012.

Iran Confirms First Two Cases Of MERS

One of the patients is in critical condition and the other is currently receiving treatment, authorities said.

MENA M&A Deals Down, But Companies Positive About Volume Growth – Report

Acquisitions are expected to make up a smaller portion of revenue growth value for the current fiscal year, but companies are upbeat about M&A volume growth, according to EY.

Sisi Poised To Win Presidency As Egyptians Vote

Three years after the uprising against Hosni Mubarak, the vote is set to restore a pattern of rule by men from the military.

UAE, Egypt Award Deals To Build Two Wheat Silos

The silos project is part of the UAE’s $4.9 billion aid package announced in October.

Former Army Chief Sisi Poised For Victory In Egypt Election

Sisi’s sole competitor is Hamdeen Sabahi, a leftist politician who finished third in the 2012 election.

UAE To Continue Political, Economic Support To Egypt After Poll

The UAE has welcomed Sisi’s rise and the army’s crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.

Calling All Telecoms Firms In The Middle East

Regional telecom operators are grappling with new business models and growing competition. Enterprise provider SAP says it can help.