Exclusive: Rotana To Launch Residences Brand

The first property under the new brand is due to open on The Pearl, Qatar in September.

Arabian Travel Market 2013 – Day 1 Roundup

The most important news and announcements from the opening day of the region’s biggest travel event.

Emirates-Qantas Deal Not A “Reaction” To Competition – Clark

Emirates president Tim Clark said the airlines were not influenced by Etihad’s partnership with Virgin Australia.

SriLankan Airlines Posts 26% Rise In ME Passengers

The national airline carried a total of 463,999 passengers in the last year.

Gulf Airlines Prepare For Boeing’s 777X Offering

Emirates and Qatar Airways are expected to be among the first and possibly biggest customers for Boeing’s latest aircraft.

Citi Taps Wealthy Middle Eastern Family Firms

Citi’s family office unit is part of the private bank business which manages over $250 billion in assets and serves over a third of the world’s billionaires.

Qatari Investor Close To Stake In SolarWorld

A source has said Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) is willing to take a minority stake in the German solar company.

Qatar Buys Stake In India’s Bharti Airtel For $1.3bn

The deal is being channelled through Qatar Foundation Endowment.

Many In Muslim World Want Sharia As Law Of Land

Study finds over three-quarters of Muslims in MENA and South Asia want sharia courts to decide family law issues such as divorce and property disputes.

Facebook’s Q1 Profit Up 58% As Mobile Ads Surge

The social networking site generated mobile advertising revenues of almost $375 million during the first quarter.

Japan Signs Nuclear Technology Deal With UAE, Wants More Oil

Japanese Oil Development Co. owns 12 per cent of the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company oil and gas concession which expires in 2018.

Masdar Eyes Further Investment In UK’s Clean Energy Sector

Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar has signed an MoU with UK’s GIB.

AFC Elects Sheik Salman President

Sheikh Salman secured 33 of the 46 presidential votes available from AFC member associations in Malaysia.

Boeing Closer To Launching 777X Jet

Emirates airline is among customers clamoring for the cost-saving 777X as early as possible in this decade.

Leading Through The Biggest Change In The Gulf

Are you and your organisation ready for the future business environment?

Saudi Embraces US Oil Boom As Kingdom’s Output Steadies

KSA’s oil minister said it is good news that U.S. crude output has jumped to the highest level in around 20 years.

UAE’s Sheikh Khalifa Visits The UK’s Queen

HH Sheikh Khalifa will meet prime minister David Cameron on Wednesday.

Shell Beats Total To Become UAE’s Sour Gas Partner

The 30-year venture puts Shell in position to renew its role in the UAE’s largest onshore oil concession when that contract comes up for renewal next year.

Only 10% Of UAE Indians Have Adequate Retirement Planning

The majority of the NRIs have investments in illiquid assets and expect familial support during retirement.

“All Megatrends In Favour Of Africa” – Experts

The first day of the third Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai began with a heavy focus on investment in Africa.

Saudi-US Relations Can Withstand North American Oil Boom – Experts

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi is giving a major energy speech in the US on Tuesday.

Gold Slips As ETF Holdings Hit Lowest Since Sept 2009

The SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.22 per cent to 1,080.64 tonnes.

Dubai Retailer MAF Close To Finalising Egypt Supermarket Deal

Majid Al Futtaim is eyeing the acquisition of Mansour Group’s Metro chain and discount grocery store Kheir Zaman.

UAE-Poland Mutual Trade Up 13%

The UAE has imported $365 millon worth of Polish products including ceramic and chemical products, machines and mechanical devices, and food products.

Gold Rises 1%, Holds Near One-Week High

Both cash gold and futures sank to around $1,321 on April 16, their lowest in over two years.

Does The GCC Ignore Halal Cosmetics?

Some experts say the GCC suffers from a lack of local halal certification bodies, as buyers opt for European rivals.

M&A Deal Values In MENA Up 100% In Q1

The value of mergers & acquisitions in the region rose to $14.6 billion in the first quarter of the year, finds Ernst & Young.

Boeing Shrugs Off Dreamliner Woes With 20% Q1 Profit

Net income spike provided some respite for the company after the much-publicised grounding of its Dreamliner programme.

Etihad Buys Jet Airways Stake For $379m

The Abu Dhabi carrier is approved to buy 27.3 million shares at 754.74 rupees each on a preferential basis.

Godolphin’s Al Zarooni Hearing Set For Thursday

Eleven Godolphin horses based at Newmarket in southern England tested positive for steroids, including Certify and Opinion Poll.