Qatar Slashes Stake In London Stock Exchange Group

Qatar Holding is set to slash its 15 per cent stake in the owner of the London Stock Exchange by a third.

U.S. Blacklists UAE Firm For Flouting Sanctions On Syria

Sharjah-based Pangates supplied petroleum products to Syria from 2012 to April this year, the U.S. Treasury Department said.

BMW Middle East Reports A 25% Increase In Sales For The First Half Of 2014

A total of 15,797 BMW and Mini vehicles were sold in the region with the UAE accounting for half of total sales.

London’s Residential Properties Continue To Woo Middle East Investors

The city’s political stability and rising demand from a burgeoning workforce have been instrumental in attracting international investment to its property market, a new report says.

Emirates Firms Up Boeing 777X Order

Deal first announced as a commitment at the 2013 Dubai Airshow has now been finalised

Djibouti In Legal Dispute With DP World Over Port Concession

DP World owns one-third of Djibouti’s Doraleh Container Terminal.

UAE Citizens To Travel Visa-Free To Kazakhstan From July 15

Kazakhstan is introducing a 15-day visa-free regime for citizens from 10 countries.

Emirates To Drop Kiev Flights

Dubai carrier decides to call time on Ukraine service which launched in January

UK Regulators Quiz Airbus Staff Over Saudi Corruption Allegations

The UK’s Serious Fraud Office reportedly questioned and arrested four former and current employees at Airbus unit GPT Special Project Management.

India, UAE Discuss Strategic Oil Storage Lease – Sources

ADNOC is reportedly planning to take up to two million tonnes capacity in India.

Etihad Seals Codeshare With Brazilian Airline Gol

Deal provides Abu Dhabi carrier with access to Gol’s domestic network as well 14 destinations across Latin America

Senior Iraqi Army Commander Killed In Battle

The official was killed “when mortar rounds fell” in the Ibrahim Bin Ali area, a military spokesman said.

Different Arab money

Jeddah-Based IDB’s New Infrastructure Fund Aims To Help GCC Firms Expand

The fund launched by the Islamic Development Bank has $750 million in commitments from Saudi, Bahrain and Brunei.

Egypt’s Sisi Says He Wishes Al Jazeera Journalists Were Deported, Not Tried

An Egyptian court handed down prison sentences of seven to 10 years to three journalists last month.

UAE Visitors Spent $1.145m In First Two Weeks Of FIFA World Cup- Visa

Middle East travellers have spent around $2.7 million on their visa cards since the start of the tournament, the payments provider said.

Airbus Lags Boeing In Order Race Despite Busy June

The European planemaker posted 515 orders between January and June, or 290 when adjusted for cancellations.

How To Market During Ramadan

Retailers and brands will have to rethink their strategies during the holy month, writes Olga Kudryashova, planning director at advertising agency Cheil MENA.

Gulf Banks Start To Muscle In On Global Bond Deals

The global financial crisis has made the cash-rich Gulf more attractive to overseas bond issuers as a source of investment funds.

More People, Less Water Mean Rising Food Imports For Egypt

Even as Egypt wrestles with dwindling water from its only major source, the Nile, it pushes farmers to grow more to supply the country’s costly subsidised food programme.

30 Seconds On The Business Of…Digital Media Market

Gulf Business speaks to Ali Nehme, managing director-digital, Starcom Mediavest Group, Middle East and North Africa.

Applebees Adds 20 More Outlets To Its Middle East Portfolio

The American chain already has 34 outlets in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and the UAE.

GCC To Spend $150bn On Education – Report

The number of students in the GCC region is expected to grow at a 3% annually between 2013 and 2020 to reach 13.7 million, a new study says.

Etihad Becomes Official Airline Of England Cricket Board

England’s national squads will fly with the UAE carrier and the airline will benefit from a range of commercial rights

Qatar Airways Launches Daily Non-Stop Flights To Dallas/Fort Worth

The new service is estimated to add around $200 million annually to the US destination’s economy.

Mall Of Egypt On Track To Open In Jan 2016 – MAF Properties CEO

Political unrest in Egypt is not affecting work on the mall, confirms George Kostas, CEO of UAE-based retailer Majid Al Futtaim Properties.

Etihad Increases Frequency On Indian Routes

Double-daily frequencies will be operated to Bangalore, Chennai, Kozhikode and Hyderabad.

Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Forms JV To Invest In Africa

The joint venture will invest in direct private equity opportunities in African firms with a focus on consumer driven sectors.

Microsoft Says Disrupts Cybercrime Rings With Roots In Kuwait, Algeria

The operation targeted traffic involving malicious software known as Bladabindi and Jenxcus, which were written and distributed by developers in Kuwait and Algeria.

Bahrain, Oman Most Vulnerable To Fall In Oil Prices

Increasing dependence of the GCC states on oil revenues poses a rising credit risk, a new survey by S&P says.

Facebook Scores Record One Billion Interactions For World Cup

The tournament is set to break new records as the biggest social media event to date.