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Qatar To Lend Egypt $2.5bn Extra In Aid

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani has said $0.5 billion will be a grant while $2 billion a deposit.

Iraq Is Finally A Viable Investment Opportunity

Nine years after the US-led coalition toppled Saddam Hussein there are signs that companies are moving to long-term investments in Iraq.

UAE Employees To See 5% Pay Rise In 2013

Workers in Saudi Arabia are expected to see the biggest salary hikes in the region at six per cent, says new study.

Egypt Committed To IMF Talks – New Finance Minister

Egypt is holing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to get a $4.8 billion loan.

Turkey To Talk To Qatar About LNG Plant

Turkey is planning to build an LNG terminal on the Gulf of Saros to meet increasing demand.

Turkey, UAE Sign $12bn Power Production Investment Deal

The project, located in Turkey’s Afsin-Elbistan region, is expected to start production in 2018.

Over 60,000 Dead In Syria Conflict – UN

More than one-in-five deaths occurred in the city of Homs, says UN-commissioned study.

Wealthy Gulf Investors Begin To Eye Africa

Africa’s vast lands, fast economic growth and a sense of political stability are all attracting regional investors.

Global Banks Rethink Middle East Model As Deals Slump

International banks are shrinking their regional businesses as deal activity dries up.

TAQA Buys 53.2% Stake In Iraqi Kurdistan Oil Block For $600m

Abu Dhabi National Energy Co(TAQA) confirmed that production was expected to begin in 2013.

Top Cities For Middle Eastern Property Investors

Property investment company IP Global lists the prime global locations for regional real estate investors and explains why they are attractive hotspots.

Emirates Gears Up for Double Daily A380s to New York and Paris

The expansion dovetails with the opening of Concourse A, the world’s first purpose-built A380 concourse, at Dubai International Airport in January

Most Popular Stories In 2012

Gulf Business rounds up a list of the 20 most popular stories on our website this year.

Saudi Arabia’s 2012 Budget Surplus At Record 14.2% Of GDP

2013 revenue projected at a conservative SAR829 bn, according to Emirates NBD, as spending on education and healthcare to increase.

Emirates And CAE Investment Tops $260 million

The Emirates CAE Flight Training Centre services over 200 aviation clients and trains more than 10,000 pilots and technicians a year

Qatar Airways Sues German Emirati JV For $600m

Airline claims Lindner Depa Interiors was to build 19 airport lounges at New Doha International Airport by the summer “but failed to complete the project on time”

Global Demand To Boost GCC Debt Market In 2013 – StanChart

Attractive interest rate levels and abundant secondary liquidity in the market are expected to drive demand.

Egypt’s Leader Signs Contentious Constitution Into Law

President Mohamed Mursi has enacted a new, bitterly contested constitution, which won about 64 per cent majority in a two-stage referendum.

Air India Expands GCC Operations In 2012, Looks To Grow

The Indian carrier recently launched the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft between Dubai and New Delhi.

Egypt Slaps New Controls On Travelling With Cash

Travellers going to and from the country can now carry only up to $10,000 in cash.

Iraq’s Asiacell Seeks To Raise $1.35bn From IPO

Asiacell will sell 67.503 billion shares at a price of at least 22 Iraqi dinars per share.

Stocks News- Kuwait Drops The Most In 3 Weeks

The fall in the index was led by Kuwaiti investors selling out profitable positions ahead of holidays.

Yemen Sets 2013 Budget With $3.2bn Deficit

The forecast deficit is 21 per cent higher than the deficit originally projected by the government for 2012.

Saudi and UAE Will Remain Regional IPO Hubs In 2013

Capital markets in the MENA region raised $2 billion in 2012, up around 134 per cent from 2011, says Ernst & Young.

Over 65% Of MENA Workers Eye New Jobs In 2013

Almost half of the region’s employees are planning to request a higher salary for 2013, finds new survey.

Top 10 GCC Travel Trends In 2012

Airline partnerships and new hotel launches marked a busy year for the region’s travel industry.

UAE Warns Citizens To Avoid Lebanon Travel

The warning has been issued because of the “difficult and sensitive political circumstances in Lebanon,” says ministry.

GCC Locals Buy More Property Within Region

Inter-GCC real estate ownerships rose 20.5 per cent last year, according to official statistics.

Egypt’s Constitution Approved In Vote

The Muslim Brotherhood said 64 per cent of voters backed the charter after two rounds of voting.

Emirates NBD To Buy BNP Paribas Egypt For $500m

The Dubai bank will also make an offer to minority shareholders for the remaining 4.8 per cent.