GCC IPOs Pick Up In Q2 2012

Four IPOs, valued at over $1.1 billion were issued in the GCC during the second quarter of 2012.

Bahrain Bank Merger Gets Nod

Shareholders of Capital Management House, Capivest and Elaf Bank approve the three-way merger.

Tourists To Abu Dhabi Rise 12%

The number of guests in the emirate’s hotels reached 192,374 during May this year, official statistics show.

Mursi Sworn In As President

A momentous day marks the dawn of a new era for Egyptian politics as Mursi is handed power.

Emirates Adds Saudi Flights For Ramadan

The airline will fly 73 extra flights to Jeddah and Medinah Al Munawarrah from July 20 to September 1.

Dubai Property Market Most Open

The UAE city is ranked as having the most transparent real estate market in the MENA region.

Saudi Aramco To Sell Unit For $1.3bn

The oil giant signs agreement to sell its Vela marine unit to Saudi National Shipping Company.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Meets Obama

The crown prince and the US president discussed regional issues and global energy prices during the meet.

Flydubai Launches Basra Route

Flights to Basra, the low-cost airline’s fifth destination in Iraq, are scheduled to start next month.

Arabtec Group Wins $2.9bn Deal

The Arabtec consortium, that includes Greek and Turkish firms, will build a terminal at the Abu Dhabi airport.

Betting On Libya’s Future

The demise of Gaddifi has unleashed a treasure trove of opportunity, but one that’s fraught with risk.

Nestle To Offer 800 Jobs In Dubai

The Swiss company is opening a Dhs500 million manufacturing plant in Dubai World Central.

Tycoon Nears Deal for Drydocks’ Stake

A firm linked to billionaire Robert Kuok is set to take a stake in Drydock’s Southeast Asia operations, say sources.

Brent Dips Below $93

Key concerns about the European debt crisis offset worries about tighter North Sea supplies.

MAF Eyes $350-500m From Bond

UAE mall developer Majid Al Futtaim Holding plans to issue a dollar-denominated bond this year.

Top 10 Global Spenders In UAE

Visitors from the UK topped the list, spending almost $500 million in 2011, according to Visa.

MENA Women Eye Top Wages

A good salary is the main priority for 59 per cent of women looking for jobs in the MENA region, says survey.

Saudi Women To Enter Olympics

Women athletes from the Kingdom will be allowed for the first time to compete in the London Olympics.

Kuwait Government Resigns – Sources

At least seven governments have stepped down in recent years because of political deadlock.

Qatar Predicts Slow Growth In 2013

The country’s planning authority says that GDP growth is expected to reduce to 4.5 per cent in 2013.

UAE And Brazil Trade Rising

Trade links between the two countries have never been stronger as new figures reveal the growing relationship.

Abu Dhabi Optimism Rises

The emirate has seen consumer confidence rise in the first quarter of the year, say official statistics.

Zawya Sold To Reuters

Global news agency Thomson Reuters buys MENA-based online platform Zawya for an undisclosed amount.

Bank Muscat Plans $251m Stake Sale

The Omani bank plans to use the proceeds from the sale to fund credit expansion and its foray into Islamic finance.

Qatar Seeks $5bn Quota

The Gulf state is looking to increase it’s stake in China’s stock and bond markets along with ADIA.

Obama Calls Morsy On Win

Egypt’s newly-elected President receives support from US equivalent as does his rival Shafik.

Morsy Declared Egypt’s President

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsy has promised a moderate, modern Islamist agenda for Egypt.

Rents Rise In Riyadh and Jeddah

Residential rents rose between four to 13 per cent in the two Saudi Arabian cities, says a new study.

Dubai’s Daman Sells 22.7% Stake

The investment company, which plans to launch an IPO, raised Dhs100 million from the sale.

Tracking Qatar’s Next Move

Qatar’s government is hoping that its nascent non-oil sector will keep the economic engine running.