MEED: Middle East news, data and analysis
MEED.com is a premium subscription site providing business news, tenders, data and analysis. MEED also features research service MEED Insight, project tracking database MEED Projects and MEED Events.
Latest News
Etihad Airways orders two freighters
The deal is worth $423m
Saudi Arabia awards two contracts on North-South railway
North-South railway deals cover maintenance workshops for locomotives
Mostorod refinery scheme to go back to banks
Egyptian refinery project takes on new shareholders and targets financial close by March
Al-Muhaidib/Besix joint venture wins Jizan grain silos contract
Partnership will build grain silos project with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes
Contractors submit bids for Petrokemya plant
Thermoplastic plant in Jubail will be the first of its kind in the region
EU agrees on Iran oil embargo
Embargo takes effect from 24 January, but existing oil delivery deals will be allowed to run until July
Dubai Economic Department to present revised 2015 growth plan
The new plan is expected to involve a significant change in the emirate’s ambitions
Al-Rajhi prepares to tender $3bn steel project
Local company sets ambitious timeline for huge steel complex in Saudi Arabia
Marafiq aims to close $1.2bn loan in February
Bank group in place and pricing set for 15-year corporate loan
Dubai Holding subsidiary repays $500m debt
Repayment is first of Dubai’s $11bn debt due in 2012
MEED news alerts
MEED Comment
Oil contractors remain wary
With fears that Iraq is set for another round of sectarian strife, risks and costs in the country are spiralling
Few expect UAE market to change
Firms realise that the days when inefficiency is absorbed by double-digit economic growth are gone
Saudi liquidity to benefit borrowers
Downward pressure on pricing in the local market is likely to continue, making loans even more attractive
Slowing China resets priorities
With China’s economy forecast to slow further in 2012, petrochemicals producers will need start looking for alternative export markets
Al-Rajhi plans gather pace
The huge steel complex will make a big contribution to the kingdom’s industrial diversification
Special Report
UAE Special Report: Ownership law to boost capital markets
The approval of a new companies law by the UAE parliament in December is a major step towards what could potentially be the biggest shake-up in the country’s corporate history
Analysis
Syria agrees to extend Arab League observer mission
Damascus agrees to allow monitors to extend mission to 23 February
The risk from China’s slowdown
The cooling of the world’s second-largest economy poses a threat to energy and petrochemicals exporters
Islamists win landslide victory
Solving Egypt’s economic woes and reassuring investors will be top priority for the country’s newly elected members of parliament over the coming months
Bypassing the Strait of Hormuz
Any closure of the strategic oil transit route will hurt Iran, the Gulf and the rest of the world
Supporting the Syrian regime
The Kremlin, a close ally of Damascus since the Soviet-era, has doggedly resisted Western attempts to impose meaningful sanctions on Syria by the UN
Interview: Sir Nigel Rodley, Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
The inquiry commissioner was disturbed by the human rights violations in Bahrain last year, but applauds the decision to initiate an investigation into what happened
Starving Tehran of cash
Sanctions that for years had little effect are now having a real impact on day-to-day life
Gulf Projects Index
Iran and Iraq boost Gulf projects sector
GCC index grows 0.2 per cent as Oman, Qatar and the UAE all record an increase in value
New Research
MEED Awards
Rewarding commitment to quality
On 21 May 2012, Abu Dhabi will host MEED’s Quality Awards for Projects 2012, recognising best practice in project delivery in a variety of sectors. Entry for the awards is now open
Digital Library
Click on the image to browse MEED's online archive of past magazines and supplements
Latest Tenders
Libya Projects
Company Profile
Conares Metal Supply
The steel pipe manufacturer hopes to hit revenues of $500m in 2012, despite weaker regional demand
Economic Data
Click on the country name to see more economic and demographic data.
| Country | 2010 | 2011f | 2012f |
| 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.2 | |
| 4.1 | 3.1 | 5.1 | |
| Egypt | 5.1 | 1 | 4 |
| Gaza/ West Bank | 9.3 | 9 | 10 |
| Iran | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Iraq | 0.8 | 9.6 | 12.6 |
| Jordan | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.9 |
| Kuwait | 2 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Lebanon | 7.5 | 2.5 | 5 |
| Libya | 4.2 | na | na |
| Morocco | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4.6 |
| Oman | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| Qatar | 16.3 | 20 | 7.1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3.7 | 7.5 | 3 |
| Sudan | 5.1 | 4.7 | 5.6 |
| Syria | 3.2 | 3 | 5.1 |
| Tunisia | 3.7 | 1.3 | 5.6 |
| UAE | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| Yemen | 8 | 3.4 | 4 |
|
f=forecast;
na=Not Available. Source: IMF |
|||
People and contacts
Haitham Saleh
Haitham Saleh is general manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Qatar
Ian Bosward
Ian Bosward is programme director, Doha Expressway and major highways programme, KBR
Mohamed Abdah
Mohamed Abdah is director, transportation & infrastructure planning department, Municipality & Urban Planning Ministry
Follow us if you want to interact with MEED, telling us you agree or disagree with our views, read the opinions of our journalists when they are travelling around the Middle East, or to simply have a live update of selected MEED news and blogs.
