Etisalat To Cut Rates By 30%

UAE telecoms operator Etisalat will reduce international call tariffs from the second half of 2012.

Saudi Signs $3bn BAE Deal

The Kingdom’s defence ministry will be buying military aircraft from UK defence company BAE.

Eurozone Crisis Is Worst Global Risk

The OECD has warned that a worsening of the crisis could have “serious consequences” for the global economy.

Egypt Begins Landmark Election

Egyptians begin voting to elect their president in a poll believed to be the country’s first independent one.

Qatar’s Property Market Stabilises

As Cityscape Qatar begins, experts say that despite oversupply in the market, demand is catching up.

GCC Family Offices Growing

A new study shows family businesses are investing more in their corporate assets than their personal ones.

KSA Shielded From Eurozone Crisis

Saudi Arabia’s spending is on track as the Kingdom has seen limited impact from the Eurozone fallout.

TAQA Eyes Turkey Investments

The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) is studying energy investments in Turkey.

New Guidelines For Saudi Journalists

Journalists in the Kingdom have to be accredited by the Saudi Journalists Association, the Cabinet has said.

US Firm Plans 500 Hires In Abu Dhabi

Digital Domain Media Group is opening up an animation and visual effects studio in Abu Dhabi’s twofour54.

Dubai Duty Free Ups Loan To $1.5bn

The airport retailer has increased the size of its loan facility because of high demand, an official has said.

10 Reasons Why Dubai Is Back

Gulf Business rounds up ten indicators that show that the emirate is back on the growth trajectory.

Abu Dhabi Picks Banks For Merger

Four banks have been chosen as advisors for the proposed merger been Aldar and Sorouh, according to sources.

GCC SWFs Pull Out Of Europe

Gulf sovereign wealth funds are reducing international investment and focussing on the region, says a new study.

Drake & Scull Eyes $300m Iraq Deal

The contract will be an oil and gas project to build a pipeline in Basra, said the company’s CEO.

Euro Fears Curb Gulf Rebound

Mounting concerns around a Greek exit from the Euro have dampened Gulf economic sentiment.

New Dhs500m SME Fund In UAE

The fund, launched by NBAD and Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, targets Emirati entrepreneurs.

UAE’s Non-Oil Trade Up 23%

The country’s non-oil trade increased to Dhs927.7 billion in 2011, according to official statistics.

Nakheel Plans New Housing Project

Financing has been secured for the new project on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, said Nakheel’s chairman.

UAE To Settle Nationals’ Debt

The UAE government will settle the personal loans of citizens whose debts are less than Dhs5 million.

Oman To Raise Oil Output

The Gulf State plans to increase crude production by 30,000 barrels per day this year.

Facebook Listing Falls Flat

The social networking site’s IPO fizzled out on day one, dampening high expectations and expert predictions.

Dubai RTA Awards Dhs38m Deals

The contracts are part of Dubai’s Dhs1 billion five-year plan to improve internal roads in the city.

Saudi Shares Drop 2% On Global Fears

Saudi bourse and oil drops to a three month low as fears of the Eurozone crisis affect the Gulf.

UAE Faces $30bn Debt Wall In 2012

According to the IMF, UAE’s state-related entities have a “significant” amount of debt maturing in the next few years.

Aramco Invites Bids For New Refinery

Saudi Aramco’s new refinery in Jizan will have a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day when ready.

Saudi Index Falls 10% Since April

The Kingdom’s Tadawul index has dropped on global economic fears and political instability in the Eurozone.

Facebook To Increase IPO Size

The social networking site reportedly plans to float an additional 85 million shares in its IPO.

Oil Prices To Stay Over $100: Experts

A fall below that level will lead to a cut in Saudi’s oil output and force high-cost oil projects to shut down.

Greece’s Exit Will ‘Rattle’ GCC

If Greece leaves the Euro next month the impact will be indirect but significant for the Gulf, say experts.