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MEED
Aug 2009 Online Content

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  • Aabar invests in Algeria car plants

    Abu Dhabi-based Aabar Investments, a public joint stock company, has announced the signing of an agreement with the Algerian government to develop a network of vehicle and engine manufacturing plants in ventures with five German companies including MAN Ferrostaal, Daimler AG, Deutz AG, MTU Aero Engines Holding AG, Rheinmetall, Bloomberg has reported. The group intends to assemble as many as 10,000 cars and trucks a year. MAN Ferrostaal will lead the group, while some of the companies will pro

  • Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank to finance Dubai freezone

    Institution set to provide Islamic loan to Dubai Silicon Oasis

  • Abu Dhabi dismisses radar rumours

    The Traffic Engineering and Roads' Safety Section at the Traffic and Patrols Department of Abu Dhabi Police, has dismissed as baseless rumours being circulated by SMS and Blackberry that speed changes have been effected in the radars at highways, Wam has said. Col. Engineer Hussein Ahmed Al Harethi, director of the section has called on the public not to believe information being disseminated by unofficial sources.

  • Abu Dhabi launches 24-hour hotel licensing system

    The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has introduced a 24-hour online application service for restaurants and nightclubs operating within hotels in the emirate that want to get an entertainment licence. The online system, which starts this week, can also process the necessary licence fee payments. Under the previous manual system it would take between two and six weeks to get a licence.

  • Abu Dhabi set to finalise Louvre prequalification list

    Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Corporation (TDIC) plans to finalise the prequalification list for the contract build the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum on Saadiyat Island by late August.

  • Abu Dhabi signs Sensible AC deal

    Ireland-based LG distributor Sensible Air Conditioning has signed an agreement to distribute the Korean giant's products in Abu Dhabi. "We have successfully set up our business in Abu Dhabi and are well poised to take advantage of the prevailing business opportunities in the Middle East," the firm told Refrigeration and Air Conditioning magazine.

  • Abu Dhabi takes over UK oil pipeline system

    Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) subsidiary Taqa Bratani has taken over the operation of the Brent pipeline system in the North Sea, which transports 8 per cent of the UK's offshore oil production.

  • Abu Dhabi to be AirAsia X hub

    Malaysian budget airline, AirAsia X has chosen Abu Dhabi airport to be its regional hub for refuelling and connecting flights to possible destinations in Europe, Africa and central Asia, as a part of its expansion plans. In October the airline will begin flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur, with tickets sales Available from later this month.

  • Abu Dhabi to hit tourism target, says official

    Lawrence Franklin, the director of strategy and policy at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said the emirate is on track to reach its tourism targets this year, despite a slowdown in its European and business travel markets, The National has reported. The ADTA is aiming for about 1.5 million hotel guests this year, which would be the same tally that it achieved in 2008.

  • Abu Dhabi-Kiev service launched by UIA

    Abu Dhabi Airports Company has announced that Ukraine International Airlines will commence the first direct service from Abu Dhabi to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. The initial flight is scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi International Airport on Friday 25 September 2009, with twice weekly flights due to arrive in Abu Dhabi at 2030 hours on Mondays and Fridays, and depart the following morning at 0155 hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays. In addition to generating traffic between Abu Dhabi and Kie

  • Address Hotels to open properties

    The Address Hotels & Resorts, the five star hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group, has said that its two new hotels, The Address Dubai Mall and The Address Dubai Marina, are on schedule to open later this year. The Address Dubai Mall will feature 244 rooms and 449 serviced apartments, while The Address Dubai Marina will have 200 guestrooms including 28 immaculate suites, and 442 serviced residences.

  • ADMC signs video game deal with Gazillion

    Abu Dhabi Media Company has announced a 50-50 joint venture with US-based Gazillion Entertainment, a video game developer, to create online games for the Arab world, AP has reported. The new JV plans to build an online gaming studio in the UAE capital.

  • ADNH net profits up 17.1% in H1

    Abu Dhabi National Hotels' (ADNH) net profits for the first half of the year has reached Dhs324.2m, 17.1% higher than the corresponding period of 2008, according to a press statement. The company's consolidated revenues reached Dhs950.6m. ADNH has also recently inaugurated its Al Diar Barsha Hotel Apartments, an 87 suite hotel close to Mall of the Emirates. Its five star 438 room Sofitel Jumeirah Beach Hotel is also set for the soft launch.

  • Afico implements planning software

    Saudi Arabia-based Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Co. (AFICO), a Zamil Industrial Investment Company, has announced the implementation of an advanced Wonderware Performance Software solution at its primary manufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The advanced system provides strategic planning and monitoring tools that allow management to accurately monitor the industrial process for efficiency, productivity and effectiveness in real time, and then make immediate adjustments, AFICO has

  • Agility launches Dubai Container Freight Station

    Kuwaiti logistics company Agility has launched its new Container Freight Station (CFS), a consolidation and redistribution service, from its hub in Dubai. The service will be offered to all shippers and consignees who have shipment of less than a container load, the company said.

  • Agility Logistics first half profits up

    Agility Logistics' net profits rose 13.5 per cent to KD78.4m ($273.6m) during the first half of the year.

  • Agility opens Malaysia hub

    Kuwait-based Agility has announced the opening of a new 13,000 sq.m logistics hub close to Kuala Lumpur, boosting the company's total warehousing capacity in Malaysia to over 34,000 sq.m. The new facitlity in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam has 12 loading docks and 14,000 pallet positions and dedicated areas for pick and pack, kitting to line operations, consolidation and deconsolidation, cross docking, RMA programs, and reverse logistics, the company has said. The new facility will become the new

  • Agility Q2 net profit 8%

    Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility has posted an 8.3% rise in second-quarter net profit. The company's net profit in the three months to June 30 was KD38.04m ($132.9m), up from KD35.12m in the same period a year earlier.

  • Air Arabia adds Medina route

    Sharjah-based low cost carrier Air Arabia is introducing service to Medina in Saudi Arabia, with flights starting on September 1. The airline will run two roundtrip flights a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing Sharjah in the mornings. The return flight will arrive back in Sharjah in the early afternoon.

  • Air Arabia diverts Peshawar flights to Islamabad

    Sharjah-based Air Arabia has said in a press statement that its flights to Peshawar airport in Pakistan will be diverted to Islamabad airport beginning August 23, 2009. The airline has stated it is due to security reasons and is the request of the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan. Air Arabia has expressed regrets to any inconvenience caused to its passengers.

  • Air Arabia hotel open by April 2010

    Sharjah-based Air Arabia has said that construction of its 300-room three-star Centro Hotel at Sharjah Airport will be complete by April 2010. The concrete structure for all four floors of the hotel has been completed, and the hotel is anticipated to be completed below budget, the carrier has said. The property includes standard rooms and suites, a full casual-style dining area, in-room wireless internet connectivity and entertainment, gymnasiums and swimming pools, private meeting rooms and

  • Air Arabia net profit up 21% in H1

    Air Arabia has announced its net profit for the first half of this year stood at Dhs193m, an increase of 21% compared to Dhs160m for the first six months of last year. The airline also reported a 20% increase in passengers during the first half of 2009, serving 1,953 million compared to 1.6 million during the first half of 2008.

  • Air Arabia: H1N1 'bigger threat' than economy

    Adel Ali, CEO of Air Arabia has said that swine flu is a bigger threat to the airline industry than the global economic crisis, Bloomberg has reported. 'A lot of people are not travelling because of swine flu,' he has said. 'Swine flu is a bigger threat than the economy.' The carrier's Q2 profits rose 10%, attributed to the addition of new routes.

  • Air Asia X in talks with Gulf buyers

    Malyasia-based AirAsia X is in talks with Middle Eastern investors, including sovereign wealth funds, to sell an equity stake in the carrier, Reuters has reported. 'We need a stronger equity base after 2010,' the budget airline's head Azran Osman-Rani said at the launch of a Kuala Lumpur - Abu Dhabi route, which will run five times per week from November. The stake amount will be decided next year, he added.

  • Air passenger numbers up in Dubai

    Dubai Airport saw a 12.6% increase in passenger traffic in July, its highest monthly growth-rate since May 2008. July was the second month in a row that it has seen a double-digit growth in passenger traffic, following a 10% rise in June. The airport handled 3,768,965 passengers in July. Overall traffic for 2009 is currently up 6% over the first seven months of last year. Cargo traffic rose just under 2% in July, with Dubai Airports Cargo handling 160,289 tonnes of freight in July. However, y

  • Alafco leases A320s to Olympic

    Kuwait company Aviation Lease and Finance (Alafco) will lease two Airbus A320s to Greece-based Olympic Airline, Reuters has reported. Olympic will take delivery of the planes this month, for a period of 72 months.

  • Alec invites subcontractors for airport work

    Al Jaber LEGT Engineering and Contracting (Alec) has invited specialist subcontractors to prequalify for fit out works at the lounges and hotels at the Dubai International Airport Expansion Phase II, which will form part of the main contractor scope of works. (Mac Capital Advisors)

  • Alfanar takes Saudi substation work

    Saudi Arabia’s Alfanar Construction Company has won two major substation contracts worth in total SR364m ($97m).

  • Al-Futtaim awards Cairo Festival City contracts

    The Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group has awarded two contracts totalling $75m for the construction of the first phase of the Oriana residential district at its Cairo Festival City development.

  • Aljaber Engineering wins Doha West pipeline work

    Qatar's Aljaber Engineering has won a QR136m ($37.4m) contract to supply treated effluent to a local farm.

  • Al-Jaber wins Saadiyat villas contract

    Abu Dhabi Tourism Development & Investment Company awards $272m deal to build 295 villas

  • All systems go for Dubai Metro

    The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority has inspected the work progress in Dubai Metro in a recent tour to Al Rashidiya, City Center, Union Square, Financial Center, Mall of the Emirates and Jumeirah Lakes metro stations. The inspection was done by RTA Chairman and Executive Director Mattar Al Tayer, checking on the final touches and finishing works of the floors, functionality of escalators and lifts, and interior lighting. Inspections were also done on tailor-made features for people with s

  • Almeer Technical Services bids low for Kuwaiti maintenance deal

    Kuwait's Almeer Technical Services Company has submitted the lowest bid for a KD25.6m ($89m) maintenance contract for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

  • Al-Qudra receives bids for Ain al-Fayda infrastructure work

    Abu Dhabi-based developer Al-Qudra Real Estate has received bids for infrastructure work at its Ain al-Fayda development in Al-Ain.

  • Al-Tuwairqi steel unit set for 2010 opening

    Saudi-based Al-Tuwairqi Holding Company has said that production at a new steel complex will begin in 2010, which would reduce its steel pellets imports to nil by next year. With a production capacity of two million tonnes, the plant will raise to three million tonnes the steel billets production capacity of the group. The steel complex, which includes a pelletization unit, a direct reduction unit and a melt shop, will be called the Arab Iron and Steel Company, and will be 100% owned by famil

  • Amiantit ends US Perma-Pipe deal

    Saudi Arabian pipe manufacturer Amiantit has cancelled a memorandum of understanding with US-based company Perma-Pipe, to build a pre-insulated pipes factory, following a disagreement over management, according to Al Riyadh daily. Amiantit had previously said the cancellation of the MoU did not mean an end to its plans to invest in pre-insulated pipes.

  • Antonios Projects plans to build Beirut's tallest tower

    Lebanese developer Antonios Projects has released details of its plans to build Beirut's tallest tower.

  • ANZ denies Emirates collusion

    Air New Zealand (ANZ) has denied a report from Australia's Fairfax Media that ANZ staff colluded with Emirates Airline to fix cargo rates between Australia and New Zealand, Emirates Business 24/7 has reported. Rob Fyfe, ANZ CEO, said the airline had signed a cargo Special Prorate Agreement with Emirates Airline to secure additional lift across the Tasman Sea, as it was the logical source for the extra widebody capacity that ANZ required, he added.

  • APL Logistics opens in Dubai Logistics City

    APL Logistics, part of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, is opening a distribution flow centre in Dubai Logistics City's (DLC). It will link specialised multi-country consolidation, distribution and other value-added services with international transportation networks in a 25,000 square meter facility in the free trade zone. The facility is next to a number of light manufacturing sites and is close to Dubai's air cargo terminal, Jebel Ali Port and road links.

  • Aptus Infotech signs deal with 3M

    Aptus Infotech in Oman has been appointed as a distributor for 3M Gulf, providing networking and structured cabling in the Sultanate. It will include optimising network testing, construction, locating and maintenance for faster, more reliable high-bandwidth transmissions to telecommunications service providers. It will also cover fibre to the premises and DSL deployments from central office to a customer's location, enabling customers to better use the existing infrastructure or install new n

  • Aqaba Gateway Group named preferred Ayla port bidder

    Aqaba Development (ADC) in Jordan has said that Aqaba Gateway Group (AGG) is the highest ranking, qualified bidder for the city's new port. According to the Jordan Times, the Ayla New Port Consortium was ranked as the second highest bidder. ADC has also said it will enter into direct negotiations with the preferred bidder in the coming weeks over the terms and conditions of the development and operating agreement for the new port of Aqaba, aiming to sign a deal in October, should the parties

  • Arab companies to get Arabic internet domains

    Arab companies will now be able to have internet domain names in their own language, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has said. Icann's new Internationalised Domain Name (IDN) program allows for the introduction of internet address names formed from non-Latin based languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian. "Companies can establish their brand online in the name they're best known to their target audience," Baher Esmat, ICANN's Manager,

  • Aramco and Shell discover gas in Empty Quarter

    Saudi Aramco and the UK/Dutch Shell Group have discovered gas from the Kidan structure in Saudi Arabia's Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) following drilling work.

  • Aramco boosts capacity at remote Shaybah oil field

    Oil giant completes three-year expansion and construction programme

  • Aramco signs deal to create Dammam energy park

    State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco has signed a memorandum of understanding with Oilfield Service Contracting Company (Oscc) to establish a new energy park in the Eastern Province city of Dammam.

  • Aramex signs Vodafone Malta deal

    Arab logistics company Aramex has signed an agreement with Vodafone Malta to manage its logistics on the island. Under the deal, the Dubai Financial Market-listed Aramex will provide a range of logistics services, including express and freight shipping, inventory management, and provision of warehouse space within its logistics centre located at Mriehel Industrial Estate in Malta.

  • Arkan's Q2 profit drops 78%

    UAE-based Arkan Building Materials Co has said its Q2 profit had plunged 78% to Dhs24.38m ($6.64m) as the company sold less cement, Reuters has reported. Arkan made a loss of Dhs77.1m for the first six months of the year, compared with a profit of Dhs128.14m in the same period of 2008, it said.

  • Asbis to be Lenovo's Saudi distribution partner

    Lenovo Middle East, Egypt & Pakistan has announced the appointment of Asbis as a distribution partner in Saudi Arabia. Asbis has been present in the Middle East for the last ten years and now has 27 people working in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

  • Atlantis names replacement for GM

    Atlantis The Palm Hotel yesterday revealed the name of the person who will take over operation of the hotel following the resignation of General Manager Amadeo Zarzosa last week. Serge Zaalof, a French national, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for Kerzner International, the owner of Atlantis The Palm, and will be based in Dubai, the hotel said in a statement yesterday. Zaalof spent ten years with Jumeirah Group, and also worked for the Hilton and Hyatt hotel groups in the US, UK an

  • Australians start drilling for oil in Yemen

    Australian oil exploration and production firm Oil Search will start drilling for oil in its two Yemen concessions before the end of August.

  • Autodesk appoints Omnix as Saudi distributor

    Omnix International has been appointed as the value-added distributor for Autodesk, which develops 2D and 3D design software such as AutoCad, in Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, Omnix will focus on distributing, implementing and promoting the software, which is aimed at the manufacturing, building and media markets.

  • Avoid laying off Bahranis, Gulf Air CEO told

    Samer Majali, Gulf Air's new CEO, should work on reducing losses at the kingdom's national flag carrier, but avoid laying off nationals in large numbers, Bahraini MPs as saying. "Some jobs will have to be cut as well, there's no doubt about that," Jassim Husain Ali, a member of parliament's financial and economic affairs committee told Reuters. But laying off Bahrainis, except those close to retirement age, would not be accepted by public opinion, he has added.

  • BA cuts Saudi fares for Ramadan

    British Airways has cut the price of its World Traveller economy fares on some routes from Saudi Arabia to Europe and the US during Ramadan. Return economy flights from Saudi Arabia to London Heathrow start from SR1,862, while fares to other major European destinations are available from SR2,317, BA said. Tickets can be bought until September 3, for travel up to March 31. Prices include taxes, fees and service charges, the airline said.

  • Bahrain Air to launch flights to Iraq

    Low-cost carrier Bahrain Air will launch direct flights to Iraq from 28 August, following in the steps of Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air.

  • Bahrain Air to launch Iraq routes

    Bahrain Air, the kingdom's privately owned airline, has announced it has taken the necessary preparations to commence direct commercial flights from Bahrain to Baghdad and Najaf International Airports. The airline will offer a total of seven flights a week; two weekly flights to Baghdad International Airport, and five weekly flights to Najaf International Airport, starting from August 28, 2009.

  • Bahrain and Jordan to buy US missiles

    Jordan and Bahrain are to purchase air-to-air missiles from the US in contracts worth $205m in total.

  • Bahrain awards Sitra engineering deal to Chevron Lummus Global

    Bahrain has awarded an engineering services deal to the US' Chevron Lummus Global for its lube base oil refinery at Sitra.

  • Bahrain Logistics inks Awal lease

    The Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) has signed its first tenant lease agreement with Awal Gulf Manufacturing Company, the Gulf Daily News has reported. Awal Gulf exports to more than 40 countries and will be occupying a land size of approximately 22,000 square metres, BLZ has said. The company is the first among 20 tenants that applied and were selected.

  • Bahrain receives bids for Al-Jazayer Beach project

    Consultants line up for coastal resort

  • Bahrain to boost internet services

    Sheikh Ahmad bin Attiya Allah Al-Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the Communication sector, has said the kingdom plans to enhance its internet services by expanding and developing its services on a much wider scale. In particular, it will focus on the use of broadband and mobile services, providing them at affordable prices. The kingdom hopes the move will boost available services to develop the country's communication sector, and attract technology companies into the count

  • Banks complete Zain Saudi Arabia refinancing

    Saudi operation of Kuwait telecoms firm signs $2.5bn refinancing deal

  • Belbadi starts construction work at Al-Bateen Wharf

    The local Emirates Belbadi Contracting Company has started construction work on the estimated AED1.6bn ($435m) Al-Bateen Wharf project in Abu Dhabi.

  • Benq launches eco-notebook U121

    BenQ has launched their latest portable netbook, the 11.6" display Joybook Lite U121 Eco. Joybook lite U121 Eco weighs 1.3kg, with 11.6" LED backlight display, 160GB storage capacity, a bigger and more user-friendly full size keyboard and longer battery life. The company has said the brand is Certified Energy Star, Taiwan/China/Japan Green Labels, and EPEAT Silver, and draws 40% less power than the previous generation courtesy of Intel's least power-consuming processor, the Atom, and the merc

  • Bids for Rabigh 6 power expansion due in October

    Saudi Electricity Company delays project north of Jeddah

  • Boeing 787 Dreamliner first flight expected this year

    Boeing has said that its much delayed 787 Dreamliner aircraft will make its first flight by the end of this year, Reuters has reported. Hopes that the plane would make a demonstration flight at the Dubai Airshow, taking place in November, were dashed earlier this summer by the exhibition's organisers, who said the plane would not be making an appearance. Initial deliveries of the Dreamliner are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010, with a planned production rate of 10 planes a mont

  • Boeing faces more Dreamliner problems

    The Boeing Company confirmed on Friday that it instructed an Italian company, Alenia Aeronautica, in June to stop making fuselage sections for the 787 Dreamliner after small wrinkles were discovered in the carbon composite skin that covers them, the New York Times has reported. A Boeing spokeswoman has said the company had created a patch to fix the wrinkling problem on the mid-fuselage section. Boeing had not disclosed the problem in June because it was not expected to affect the plane's ove

  • Borealis makes $50m in second quarter

    German/UAE owned petrochemicals maker Borouge returned to profitability in the second quarter of 2009, generating Eu35m ($50m) of net profits, compared with a loss of Eu56m during the first three months of the year.

  • BP prepares tender for Libyan oil exploration work

    At least six companies have submitted expressions of interest to the UK's BP for a well service contract as part of the firm's drilling campaign in Libya's offshore Sirte and Ghadames basins.

  • British Airways offers fare cut for Qatar-based customers

    British Airways is offering its Qatar-based customers an opportunity to fly in its first cabin for the same price as a club world (business class) fare when travelling between Qatar and London Heathrow, according to the Gulf Times. The promotion, which is valid on all qualifying full fare club world tickets when passengers book at least three days in advance, enables the airline's customers to book a first class return trip from Qatar to London for just QR19,050.

  • British Museum to advise on Zayed museum

    The British Museum has agreed with Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) to act as a consulting partner on the development of the new Zayed National Museum in the emirate. Services will range from advice on the design and construction of the new museum to educational and curatorial programming and training. The museum's designs by UK-based architects Foster + Partners will be unveiled later this year. The institution is scheduled to open in 2012/2013.

  • Brunei to buy Jordan military vehicles

    Jordan's King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) has said it has signed an agreement to deliver 18 military vehicles to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces by the end of this year. Under the agreement, KADDB will delivery six Al Tha'lab Long Range Patrol Vehicles and a dozen dual-wheel utility vehicle Rangers, including two Armoured Land Cruisers.

  • Bubiyan port tender faces fresh delay

    Kuwait’s Public Works Ministry is delaying the bid deadline for the marine works contract at its new port on Bubiyan island until after Ramadan.

  • Bunya tenders Reem island treatment plant

    Abu Dhabi-based Bunya has invited companies to bid by 10 October for the contract to build a sewage treatment plant (STP) and polishing plant on Reem island.

  • Burullus produces gas from Egyptian offshore field

    Burullus Gas Company has produced its first gas from the Sequoia field, located 90 kilometres off the coast of Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Cairo to buy Chinook helicopters from Washington

    Egypt will buy six Chinook helicopters and other equipment from the US in a deal worth up to $308m, Cairo's second major purchase of helicopters from Washington this summer.

  • Cairo to remove import tariffs on sugar

    The Egyptian government will remove all import tariffs on raw and refined sugar, says Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali.

  • Cargoitalia names UAE agents

    Cargoitalia, the new Italian-owned all-cargo airline has announced the appointment of the Dubai arm of Heavyweight Air Express as its General Sales and Service Agents (GSSA) to market the airline's capacity in the UAE. Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) will provide all handling services, the company has said.

  • CDM and Acwa form partnership

    The US’ CDM and Miahona, a subsidiary of the local Acwa Power Development, have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture to carry out water and wastewater projects in Saudi Arabia.

  • Central Bank of Egypt cuts interest rates

    The Central Bank of Egypt cut interest rates by 0.5 per cent on 2 August.

  • China wins South Azedegan oil field contract in Iran

    National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have signed a deal to develop the South Azadegan oil field, which holds more than 5 billion barrels of crude.

  • Chinese tour groups target UAE

    The UAE is the most attractive destination for Chinese tourists, thanks to the availability of direct flights to Dubai, Xinhua news agency has reported. The first tourist group to UAE would start off on September 15, flying Chinese tourists to the country's beaches and luxury hotels, with shopping at duty-free department stores also on the itinerary designed by various travel agencies, the report said.

  • Cisco profits fall but positive signs emerge

    Cisco Systems has posted a 46% drop in fourth quarter profit, falling to S1.1bn from $2bn, with revenues dropping almost 18% to $8.5bn, compared to $10.4bn for the same period last year. For the full year, Cisco's GAAP results saw profits drop almost 24% to $6.1bn and revenue fall nearly 9% to $36.1bn. Describing it as 'the toughest economic period we've seen in our lifetime', CEO John Chambers said the company had seen orders begin to rise as the final quarter wore on. 'If we continue to see

  • Citadel appoints financial advisers for Saudi copper mine

    Riyadh Bank and WestLB to help develop project at Jabal Sayid

  • Conflict in Yemen displaces 100,000 people

    Fighting between government troops and Houthi rebels intensifies

  • Construction begins on Qom monorail

    Iran has begun work on the country's first monorail in the city of Qom.

  • Consultancy contract for Abu Dhabi metro project nears

    Department of Transport makes recommendation to Executive Council over rail scheme

  • Consultant to review Sonatrach awards

    Algerian state energy giant Sonatrach has signed up US consultant Booz & Company to revamp the way it awards construction contracts.

  • Contract award for Doha airport utility plants

    CAT International Qatar, part of Lebanon's Contracting & Trading (CAT), has won a contract to build three utility plants at the $11bn New Doha International Airport development.

  • Contractors prepare bids for Kuwaiti border post

    Contractors in Kuwait are preparing to bid on 23 August for an estimated KD56m ($192m) contract to design and build a border post at Al-Abdaly on the border with Saudi Arabia.

  • Crude carriers outnumber cargo needs

    There are 20% more very large crude carriers (VLCCs) in the Middle East for hire over 30 days than there are cargoes that need to be shipped, according to Exim News Service. The fleet of VLCCs has expanded by 6% this year to 529 ships, while the Middle East producers in Opec cut their combined output by 3.7% to 19.3 million barrels a day. Oil companies and traders concluded about 50 rentals recently, an Oslo-based analyst has said, adding that there are normally about 90 such bookings a month

  • DAE delivers first Boeing 737-800 to Garuda

    DAE Capital, the aircraft leasing and financial business arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, has announced it has delivered the first Boeing 737-800 to the national flag carrier of Indonesi, Garuda. The delivery is one of eight new B737-800 aircraft to be delivered to Garuda between June 2009 and April 2010, which will form the backbone of the Indonesian carrier's single-aisle fleet for the foreseeable future.

  • Dana Gas discovers fresh gas reserves in Egypt

    The UAE's Dana Gas has made two discoveries with gas reserves totalling 76 billion cubic feet in the Nile Delta region of Egypt.

  • Developer receives bids for Fujairah hotel

    UAE developer Seba Properties has received bids for the AED450m ($123m) contract to build a new hotel resort in Fujairah.

  • Dewa delays Hassyan tender closing date

    Dubai power station bids now due after Ramadan

  • Dnata launches last-minute deals

    UAE's Dnata has announced last-minute travel deals at luxury hotels in London, Italy and Beirut this summer. The special packages include special room rates at London's Milestone and Dukes hotels, the Habtoor Grand Hotel Convention Centre & Spa in Beirut and Abano Grand Hotel, in the Italian spa town of Abano Terme. The special rates for the packages include accommodation, breakfast, taxes, and are valid throughout the month of August.

  • Doha extends Al-Ruwais port tender

    Contractors given more time to prepare for Ruwais port upgrade

  • DP World buys stake in Brazil port

    DP World is partnering with Brazil's Odebrecht to buy a majority stake at Embraport, a port terminal in the Brazilian city of Santos, Bloomberg has reported. The first phase of the project, which is expected to cost around $500m, is scheduled to be completed in 2012 with about one million twenty foot equivalent container units capacity and it will be operated by DP World.

  • DP World first-half profits down 34 per cent

    Global trade slump hits volumes at ports

  • DP World profits fall

    First-half profit at DP World, the Dubai government-controlled ports management company, fell 34% to $188m on weak container volumes. Revenues were down 13% to $1.384bn from $1.598bn for the same period last year. "The first six months of 2009 have continued to present a very challenging operating environment across the portfolio," the port operator said. DP World said it still believes it will meet 2008 expectations for the full year, although warned that trading continues to be unpredictabl

  • DP World throughput down by 10%

    DP World has announced its TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) across its 49 terminals has handled more than 20 million TEU in the first six months of 2009. After consolidation, the terminals reported a throughput of 12.3 million TEU, a decline of 10% against the same period last year. This year, DP World has new terminals at Doraleh, Djibouti and two terminals in Algeria, at Algiers and Djen-Djen.

  • DP World unit receives cranes

    Saigon Premier Container Terminal (SPCT), a joint venture between DP World (80%) and IPC (20%), with DP World as operator, has said it has taken delivery of two quay cranes and four rubber tired gantry (RTG) cranes, the first of three major deliveries expected from Shanghai-based crane manufacturer ZPMC. The quay cranes are capable of handling Panamax vessels, with an out-reach of 39 metres and 14 container rows on board ship.

  • Dream Tours opened in RAK

    Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah has officially opened the emirate's RAK Dream Tours, a new tourism project on the Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah. The new 41,000 sq ft project features two restaurants housed in historic fort tower-like buildings, outdoor dining, yacht trips through the creek, water sports, rides on horse-drawn carriages and sight-seeing tours onboard double-decker buses.

  • Drydocks inaugurates 6,000 T ship lift

    Drydocks World - Dubai, a ship repair, conversion and new building company under the Drydocks World Group, has carried out its first operation on the advanced 6,000-tonne ship lift. The inauguration took place at the industrial precinct in Dubai Maritime City (DMC), which also has another ship lift with a capacity of 3,000 tonnes, which is operational already. (Mac Capital Advisors)

  • DTCM: Dubai hotels show 5% H1 guest increase

    The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has said that hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate received 3.85m guests in the first half of 2009, a 5% increase on the same period in 2008. Dubai currently has 40,943 hotel rooms and 17,204 hotel apartments, a growth of 17% on H1 2008.

  • Dubai appoints board of financial support fund

    Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has appointed Abdulrahman al-Saleh, the director general of Dubai's Department of Finance, as the chairman of the Dubai Financial Support Fund.

  • Dubai beach hotels 'hit 97% occupancy'

    Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has said that five-star beach hotels had recorded 97% occupancy rates, while five-star city hotels have posted 76% occupancy rates during the second week of August. Four-star hotels had recorded 81% occupancy, DTCM has said. Dubai presently has 58,147 hotel rooms (40,943 hotel rooms and 17,204 hotel apartment rooms), a 17% increase compared with the last year's figure of 49,656 hotel rooms, it said.

  • Dubai hotel rates to go up 30% in Q4

    Amine Hamdani, VP Fund Advisory and Indirect Investment of CBRE Hotels has said that Dubai hotels will see rates increasing by up to 30 % in the fourth quarter of this year, Emirates Business has reported. The increase would be backed by better market conditions and the festival season in the latter half of the year, he said. Rates in the emirate have fallen by up to 60% over the past year as the sector responded to slow business figures.

  • Dubai Metro costs rise by 'billions'

    Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and the executive director of the Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has said that the cost of the Dubai Metro project has increased by billions since the $4.2bn (Dhs15.5bn) contract was awarded in 2005, the Business Standard has reported. The first phase of the mass transit system is scheduled to open on September 9. The cost overrun will be announced after the project had been finished, he said. Dubai hopes that once fully operational, public

  • Dubai metro costs soar by 80%

    The chief of Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has said that cost of the emirate's metro project has shot up 80% more than originally planned to Dhs28bn ($7.62bn). Mattar al Tayer attributed the increase to major changes to the scope and design of the project.

  • Dubai mParking now on Du

    Du customers can now pay for car parking in Dubai by text using their mobile phone. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has activated the mParking service with the telco. The service is already available to Etisalat mobile phone users.

  • Dubai Police extend academy deadline

    Dubai Police are extending the closing date for bids for the AED1bn ($272m) contract to build a police training college until 16 August.

  • Dubai property owners keep rents artificially high

    Property owners in Dubai are preventing the rental market from finding a price floor by refusing to reduce rents in line with demand according to Landmark Advisory.

  • Dubai Q2 sales climb 5%

    Dubai Aluminium Co (Dubal) has reported that its sales rose 5% in the second quarter to 275,055 metric tons, compared to 261,972 metric tons in the same period last year, due to continued strong demand in Asia and the Middle East. Inventory levels during the second quarter this year were at the 'lowest ever' level, Dubal said in a statement.

  • Dubai RTA begins Nol sale

    Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said that it has begun selling Nol Silver Cards to meet the multi-modal transit requirements of commuters using the metro, public buses and the water bus in Dubai. The card and the fare system will be activated, together with other services, on the opening day of Dubai Metro on September 9, 2009.

  • Dubai RTA raises water bus awareness

    The Marine Agency at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a campaign to attract passengers to a dedicated water bus service for tourists. The water bus service was launched last year on Dubai Creek, linking Al Shindagha and Al Seef Stations. The other four lines of the water bus offer point-to-point passenger service across the Dubai Creek. The water bus has a capacity to accommodate 36 passengers and the trip takes 45 minutes, with an interval of 15 minutes between serv

  • Dubai World puts Africa projects on hold

    Dubai World has put on hold a number of projects until the tought economic conditions ease, including some tourism projects in Africa and elsewhere, Reuters has reported. The ports and property group has invested in a wildlife game reserve in Zimbabwe, acquired three South African wildlife game parks, and was planning to invest in project in Ethiopia and Rwanda worth $100m and $230m respectively. This included two luxury hotels, to boost its exposure to Africa's tourism industry.

  • Dubai World 'reconsidering' Malaysia deal

    Dubai World, the government-owned investment group, is reconsidering its investment in a proposed $4.5bn Malaysian maritime centre with MMC Corp, Bloomberg has reported. As a result, there has been no fresh progress on a memorandum of understanding signed between the two in September 2007, MMC has said.

  • Ducab reports Q2 improvement

    Power cables manufacturer Dubai Cable (Ducab) has said total sales in the second quarter of 2009 improved by 30% when compared to the first three months of the year. However, despite those improving signs, total sales for the first half of 2009 are down 18% to Dhs1.2bn compared to the same period of last year. The drop has been attributed to reduced real estate activity and the impact on sales value of the lower copper prices.

  • 'Dumping' affecting UAE steel prices

    Ajay Aggarwal, CEO of RAK Steel, a major steel manufacturing mill in Ras Al Khaimah, has said that dumping from Turkish steel manufacturers is hurting the country's local steel prices, Reuters has reported. Prices in the UAE of rebar steel, which is mainly used for construction, are at around $500 per ton compared to $1,500 last year, he has said. UAE authorities imposed a 5% custom duties fee on the metal in February, but many of these companies find ways to escape the custom charges by impo

  • Economic slowdown hitting Bahraini banking sector

    Ratings agency says Bahraini banks face challenging period ahead

  • Egypt applies age restriction to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims

    The Egytian government has stopped all nationals under the age of 25 years and over 65 travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year. The ban also applies to Egyptians who want to perform Umrah in Ramadan. The government said Hajj and Umrah travellers must abide by new health certificates to minimise the risk of spreading swine flu.

  • Egypt hotels deny pricing rumour

    Members of the Egyptian Hotel Association and the Ministry of Tourism have denied a news report in Al-Mal newspaper and notes in investment bank Beltone Financial's daily market report that they had set regulations allowing hotels to reduce their prices by 20% to 25% from October 2009 to October 2010, the Daily News Egypt has reported. 'We have an annual pricing strategy. ...There was nothing like this issued,' Hala El-Khatib, secretary general of the Egyptian Hotel Association has said.

  • Egypt Kuwait Holding sets up chemical fertilizer firm

    Egypt Kuwait Holding has set up a fertilizer and petrochemical company with capital of EGP500m ($90.4m), in partnership with other Egyptian and Gulf investors, Reuters has reported. Egypt Kuwait Holding has a 32% stake in the company, which will produce 1.5 million tonnes of chemical fertilizer a year. It will come onÙ€stream in 28 months.

  • Egypt Lecico posts 24% H1 profit drop

    Egyptian ceramic products firm Lecico has posted a net income of EGP52m ($9.46m) for the first half of 2009, a 24% decline on the same period in 2008, Reuters has reported. Net income for the first six months of 2008 was EGP68m ($12.38m), while net sales stood at EGP515m in the six months to end-June, compared to EGP552m in the same period a year earlier, the company has said. Lecico has two factories in Egypt and one each in Lebanon and France.

  • Egypt orders six Chinook CH-47Ds

    The Egyptian government has ordered six CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters for approximately $50m each, according to website Strategy Page. The price includes electronics, weapons, support and training, spare engines and other spare parts. Egypt received 15 older CH-47Cs in the 1980s, and is in the process of upgrading them to CH-47Ds.

  • Egypt starts gas production from North Bardawil field

    International Egyptian Oil Company holds 60 per cent stake in concession

  • Egypt: Electricity distribution network

    Supply of a low-voltage electricity distribution network to feed irrigation pumping stations. Closing date: 1 September 2009.

  • Egypt: Power station offshore works

    Carrying out the offshore works package for a supercritical pressure power station. Closing date: 7 October 2009.

  • Egypt: Power station pumps and drives

    Carrying out the pumps and drives package for a supercritical pressure power station. Closing date: 11 October 2009.

  • EgyptAir expands Boeing 737 fleet

    EgyptAir has converted its previous order for two 777s into an order for an additional eight Next-Generation 737-800s, according to a press statement. The airline currently has seven 737-800s in operation and it is taking delivery of an additional five 737-800s this year. EgyptAir Chairman Capt. Tawfik Assy has said the airline is pursuing a fleet plan aiming to expand regional markets.

  • EgyptAir inks deal with Rockwell Collins

    EgyptAir has signed an agreement with US-based Rockwell Collins to install an advanced detection system in five A330 aircraft with an option for three additional aircraft. The agreement includes Rockwell Collins' Multiscan Hazard Detection System, which analyzes and determines actual weather hazards, TTR-2100 Traffic Collision Avoidance System, as well as a full communications, navigation and surveillance suite including the GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver.

  • EgyptAir signs 'workers' flights deal with UAE's Janan

    EgyptAir has signed an agreement with UAE-based agricultural investment firm Janan to operate a weekly flight from Cairo to East Owainat in order to serve the movement of workers and investors to encourage agricultural investment in the region, KUNA has reported. The UAE firm will sign a deal with Egypt next week to cultivate 100,000 feddans, about 42,000 hectares, of land with wheat, corn and feed.

  • Egyptian economy grows 5 per cent

    Growth rate supasses government forecasts

  • Egypt's Travco eyes world expansion

    Family-owned Egyptian tourism firm, Travco plans to buy more hotels in the world's biggest capital cities in order to establish an internationally known brand, Reuters has reported. "We have always had the ambition of moving into the city hotels segment, meaning hotels in capitals or important cities like St Petersburg, Frankfurt, Paris, London, New York," Travco Chairman and CEO Hamed El Chiaty said. Egypt's largest tourism firm, last week it bought Germany's Steigenberger Hotels for an undi

  • Emal and Gasco open smelter gas pipeline

    Emirates Aluminium (Emal) and Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (Gasco) have opened a natural gas pipeline that will enable onsite power production at the single site aluminium smelter. The pipeline will give Emal an uninterrupted supply of natural gas, which will be used to supply power to the plant.

  • Emal loses Moody's ratings

    Moody's Investors Service has withdrawn its ratings for Emirates Aluminium (Emal). Emal's Senior Secured prospective ratings of (P) A3 of $2bn bullet bonds and Stable outlook were withdrawn for business reasons, Moody's said.

  • Emal output to top 700,000 tons by Q4 2010

    Duncan Hedditch, CEO of Emirates Aluminium (Emal) has said that the firm plans to raise output at a giant new aluminium plant to over 700,000 tons by the end of 2010, Reuters has reported. Emal is building what would eventually be the largest single aluminium plant in the world with a capacity of 1.4 million tons, expected to come fully online in 2013-2014. The first phase is due to start early next year, Hedditch has said.

  • Emirates A380 to fly to Paris

    Emirates Airline is adding Paris, France to the list of routes served by the Airbus A380 superjumbo, starting from February 2010. The route is currently served by a twice daily service, using a Boeing B777. The morning A380 route will join the current five destinations the double-decker aircraft currently serves - Toronto, London Heathrow, Bangkok, Sydney and Auckland.

  • Emirates announces Ramadan fares

    Emirates Airline has announced an offer for UAE residents to fly to 17 cities for less when visiting relatives and friends during the holy month of Ramadan. The offer features fares starting from Dhs955 for a return economy class ticket inclusive of taxes. Seventeen destinations are included in the special Ramadan offer including Bahrain, Karachi, Amman, Cairo, Mumbai, Damascus, Delhi, Istanbul, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur, Larnaca, Doha, Kuwait, Muscat, Athens, Casablanca and Islamabad. The offer i

  • Emirates citizens' wealth rises 16 per cent in 2008

    UAE GDP per capita up 16 per cent in 2008

  • Emirates denies price fixing charges

    Emirates Airline has denied allegations by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that it has fixing air freight prices. The regulator has said it is taking action against the Dubai government-owned carrier in relation to alleged price fixing between 2002 and 2006. 'Emirates denies the allegations and will be defending the proceedings,' the group said in a statement.'

  • Emirates has the most Boeing 777

    Emirates has declared that it is now the world's largest airline operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, with the recent arrival of its 78th Boeing 777. The airline has another 28 Boeing 777s pending delivery, while its current 777 fleet comprises: three -200s, six -200ERs, 10 -200LRs, 12 -300s, 45 -300ERs, and two 777 freighters.

  • Emirates' offers Ramadan in-flight service

    Emirates Airline has announced it will provide all flights departing close to Iftar with small snack boxes containing baklawa, dates, a laban drink and water to enable its passengers to break their fast immediately. For passengers who are in-flight when the sun sets, specially prepared Iftar meal boxes will be served in Economy class, with a similar selection of foods served to fasting passengers in both Business and First Class, the airline said.

  • Energy majors prepare for Iraq oil roadshow

    Iraq’s Oil Ministry will launch its second oil licensing round in Istanbul on 25 August with 45 qualified companies invited to attend.An international oil company executive says he expects the ministry to relax its terms by publishing the maximum fee it will pay energy majors for each oil field at the Istanbul roadshow.“There now seems widespread consensus that Iraq will publish that service fee in advance so there is a clear idea of where they stand right from the start,” says

  • Epson launches latest four-in-one business inkjet

    Epson has launched into the Middle East its latest four in one compact business inkjet. Called the Epson Stylus Office TX510FN, the multifunction device includes scanning, printing, fax and copying functions, and is Ethernet-ready. Energy Star complaint, it prints a maximum speed of 38 pages per minute.

  • Equate Petrochem opens Styrene plant

    Kuwait's Equate Petrochemical Company has announced the beginning of commercial operations of The Kuwait Styrene Company's new Ethyl Benzene & Styrene Monomer production plant. With a production capacity of 450,000 metric tons annually of Styrene Monomer (SM), the new plant is currently producing on-spec SM and will be run as part of Greater Equate's integrated facility.

  • Etihad adds Hyderabad to Indian routes

    UAE national carrier Etihad Airways will begin flying to Hyderabad in India from November 2009. Initially, it will operate four direct flights a week to Hyderabad, rising to daily flights from the start of 2010. It is Etihad's seventh Indian route. James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said Hyderabad is a key Indian destination not currently served directly from Abu Dhabi: "Etihad has made no secret of the fact that it wants to build up its Indian services and looks forward to expand

  • Etihad Airways introduces new first class suite

    Etihad Airways has introduced its first class suite on board its new Airbus A340-600, which makes its maiden flight between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow today. The private suite comes with leather seats fully upholstered by Italian furniture maker, Poltrona Frau. Etihad unveiled its new first class suite during Arabian Travel Market in May, using it to attract those who want to travel in luxury and are prepared to pay for such a service.

  • Etihad announces record July

    Etihad Airways carried its largest number of passengers in a single month in its history during July.

  • Etihad Cargo launches in Baghdad

    Etihad Crystal Cargo has announced a twice weekly service from Abu Dhabi airport to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. The service begins on September 1 2009 and is set to operate every Tuesday and Thursday, deploying one of its A300 600 freighters with a payload of 42 tonnes on the route.

  • Etihad Crystal starts Iraq service

    UAE-based Etihad Crystal Cargo is launching a scheduled freighter service to Baghdad on September 1. A 42-tonne payload A300-600F will operate the twice-weekly service between the Iraqi capital and Etihad's Abu Dhabi hub.

  • Etihad increases winter flights

    Etihad Airways has said its new winter flying programme, which starts on October 25, will be almost 15% bigger than for the same period last year, with 950 flights planned for each week. From November, its Hyderabad flights will join Chicago and Cape Town as the airline's newest routes. Flights to the Greek capital Athens will increase from three flights a week to five from November 1 and then become daily from January 1 2010. Etihad is adding one flight to Istanbul in Turkey, taking the serv

  • Etihad inks service partner deal in Pakistan

    Etihad Airways said it has signed up Discover the World Marketing, a global travel and marketing representation company, as its service partners for seven offline cities across Pakistan. Under the agreement, the travel agency will represent Etihad in Sialkot, Multan, Hyderabad, Mirpur, Gujranwala, Kharian and Faisalabad. It will sell Etihad's 23 weekly flights from Pakistan from these markets, and handle additional services such as date changes and rebooking through their offices.

  • Etihad to launch flights to Hyderabad

    Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways will launch flights to the Indian city of Hyderabad from November.

  • Etihad, American codeshare approved

    The codeshare agreement between Etihad and American Airlines has received regulatory approval and is due to come into effect this week. Etihad will place its 'EY' code on a number of the US carrier's flights between Europe and the US, and certain domestic services beyond New York and Chicago.

  • European oil prices at 10-month highs

    European crude oil prices reached new highs for 2009 above $75 a barrel on 6 August as traders switched their focus from the US economy to long-term supply and demand issues. Positive economic sentiment also buoyed prices.

  • Ezz Steel profit slumps

    Egypt-based Ezz Steel has reported a 90% decline in first half net profit to EGP101m ($18.25m), compared to EGP1.0bn in the first half of 2008. Net sales were EGP6.4bn, compared to EGP11.1bn a year earlier. "Undoubtedly, 2009 will be a tough year for Ezz Steel Rebars, as with any other steel producer, but Ezz could prove to be quite resilient," Beltone Financial told Reuters.

  • Ezz Steel to invest $475m to increase output

    Egypt's Ezz Steel has said it is investing $475m to set up a new billet production line and a direct reduced iron (DRI) plant. The firm will invest $75m in a new billet production line to be located at its flat steel plant in Suez, east of Cairo, and $400m in a new facility to make DRI also in Suez, Kamel Galal, head of investor relations told Reuters. The DRI plant will have a capacity of 1.8 million tons a year and is set to start in the second half of 2011, he said.

  • Fall in Dubai real estate prices slows

    The collapse in Dubai's residential real estate prices is slowing according to new research from US-based property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

  • FIHC buys 27,000 tonnes of edible oils

    Egypt's state-owned Food Industries Holding (FIHC) has bought 12,000 tonnes of sunflower oil from Glencore at the price of $794.85 a tonne, on a cost and freight basis for arrival in September, Reuters has reported. FIHC has also bought 7,000 tonnes of soy oil from the National Vegetable Oil and 8,000 tons of soy oil from Alex Seeds both for the price of EGP4,600 ($831) a tonne.

  • Financial crisis put GCC port projects at risk

    According to a report by Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz), planned investments worth almost $40bn to expand the cargo-handling capacity of seaports in the Gulf could now be at risk, due to declining oil revenues in the region and concerns about the continuation of the financial crisis, Khaleej Times has reported. Of 20 projects announced, work is in progress on 12, the report said. Saudi Arabia and the UAE each planned five port projects. Construction work is underway on all UAE projects, wh

  • Fire kills contractors near Khursaniyah gas plant

    Greek contractor Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has confirmed several people have died following a fire on 2 August at its residential camp located near Saudi Aramco's Khursaniyah gas plant.

  • Firms ask Adco to delay bid deadline

    Firms preparing to bid for the first construction package of the '1.8 million project' being tendered Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Operations (Adco) to boost the emirate's onshore oil production to 1.8 million barrels a day are asking for more time.

  • Firms bid for Capital City management contract

    Abu Dhabi's Urban Planning Council (UPC) has received bids for a contract to provide project management services on its Capital City District development - one of the largest ongoing real estate projects in Abu Dhabi.

  • Firms expect delays on $500m Oman Oil contract

    Oman Oil will delay bidding on its $300-500m Musandam gas processing project because it has yet to complete the detailed engineering design, one contractor hoping to bid tells MEED.

  • Firms submit prequalifications for Omani water scheme

    Eight companies have submitted prequalification documents for a water scheme in Oman.

  • Firms to tender for Jabal al-Akhdar hotel consultancy role

    Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has invited firms to bid by 27 September for the architect of record and consulting engineer role on the Jabal al-Akhdar resort project in the Nizwa area of Oman.

  • First Energy Bank generates $6m profits

    Gulf Finance House launches Islamic investment institution in 2008

  • Fluor appoints Kuwaiti oil executive to board

    US engineering and construction major Fluor Corporation has appointed a senior Kuwaiti oil executive to its board of directors.

  • Fluor completes Kuwait petrochemicals plant construction

    US engineering firm completes construction of $3bn Olefins II project in Kuwait

  • Fluor completes Olefins II Project

    US-based company Fluor has completed its Olefins II Project in Kuwait. Fluor provided overall management consultancy and front-end engineering and design work for utilities and infrastructure. The multi-billion dollar project was a joint venture of Dow Chemical Company, Kuwait's Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), Bubyan Petrochemical and Qurain Petrochemical Industries.

  • Flydubai adds Djibouti service

    Flydubai is expanding its African network with flights to Djibouti from September 1. The new service will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, the airline has said.

  • Flydubai refunds India route passengers

    Flydubai, Dubai's budget carrier has said it has refunded all its India passengers after the airline was recently forced to cancel plans to launch flights to India, with necessary government clearances not coming through. A senior Indian government official has said that none of the initial destinations sought by Flydubai figured in the existing 'points of call' in the MoU signed between India and UAE last year. However, he has said the three cities (Chandigarh, Coimbatore and Lucknow) were p

  • FlyDubai to launch Djibouti flights from September

    Dubai-based carrier FlyDubai will launch flights to Djibouti from 1 September, the airline's first destination in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Fortune to finish Burj al-Alam piling this year

    Dubai-based developer Fortune Group says it will complete piling work on its AED4bn ($1.1bn) Burj al-Alam project by January.

  • French bid to build UAE nuclear plant

    Electricite de France SA (EDF) is set to join the group of Areva SA, Total SA and GDF Suez SA that's vying to build nuclear plants in the UAE, Bloomberg has reported. EDF Chief Executive Officer Pierre Gadonneix was quoted as saying, the client Abu Dhabi has asked EDF to participate in the project. The French companies are vying to build several 1,600-megawatt civil nuclear reactors in the UAE. The French group is said to compete against General Electric Co and Korea Electric Power Corp.

  • Fujitsu offers Primergy server for SMEs

    Fujitsu has announced its latest Primergy TX100 S1, the successor of the Econel 100 S2. The new Primergy server is the brand's most affordable Primergy server yet, catering to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that need an entry-level server to increase their operational efficiency. With TX100 S1, SMEs can afford to move away from using a PC in combination with an external hard drive for storage and upgrade to a proper business class server.

  • GAC opens Rotterdam centre

    Dubai-based logistics solutions provider, GAC has announced the launch of a logistics and maritime service centre in Rotterdam, a major port city in the Netherlands, to increase efficiency and improve customer services. The new facility aims to bring its ship spares, logistics and freight forwarding operations under one roof at the new 6,500 sq.m office and warehouse complex in Pernis, Rotterdam.

  • Gazprom invites interest in Libyan oil block

    Gazprom Libya has invited companies to prequalify for a contract to supply onshore well testing equipment at Block 64 in Libya's Ghadames basin.

  • GE Energy and Dubal sign service deal

    Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) has signed a seven year service contract with GE Energy, worth over $45m. The agreement aims to cut the cost of aluminium production and increase the reliability and overall performance of 19 GE gas turbines that power the Dubal production complex. The deal covers the supply of parts, performance uprates, repairs and field services for planned outages for the gas turbines.

  • Goldman Sachs rates Air Arabia 'Buy'

    Goldman Sachs has resumed coverage of Air Arabia with a "buy" rating and a target price of Dhs1.34, saying rising oil prices and strong air traffic growth in the Middle East will boost the low cost carrier's earnings. Goldman Sachs is forecasting traffic growth in the Middle East in the next 20 years at 6.8%, a rise at a faster rate than compared to other regions. On August 4, Nomura initiated Air Arabia with a "buy" rating and price target of dhs1.40. (Mac Capital Advisors)

  • Goodrich Dubai adds electronic engine control to servicing

    Goodrich, a global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace and defence industry, has added electronic engine control accessories to its portfolio of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities at its Dubai MRO campus. It covers all electronic engine controls for Rolls-Royce Trent 500, 700 and 800 powered aircraft, such as the Airbus A330 and A340, and Boeing 777, Goodrich said.

  • Google launches Palestine engine

    Internet search giant Google has launched a local Arabic search engine for the Palestinian Territories, which will enable Palestinians to access more relevant data based on their searches, Lebanon's The Daily Star has reported. 'With the launch of google.ps, we bring the total number of Google domains worldwide to more than 160,' the Google Arabia blog has said.

  • Google releases 'social' features

    Google has announced the release of two new features called 'Friends Group' and 'Updates' as part of a larger roll out of new social features for users of its home page. The new features are part of a wider Google initiative to add social features to all of its offerings. The 'Friends group' is a list of friends users can create based on a subset of users' Google Contacts to be able to interact and share social gadgets with. The Updates feature lets Google users share their activities with ot

  • Gulf Air adds three Iraqi cities

    Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air is to fly to Baghdad from September 1 and plans to add the holy city of Najaf and Erbil, in northern Iraq, by the end of September. The carrier will initially operate a five times weekly service to Baghdad using an Airbus A320 narrow body plane and hopes to increase this to a daily service in the near future.

  • Gulf Air Baghdad route sales break record

    Gulf Air has said that it has achieved record-breaking first week sales of tickets with its service to Baghdad, which begins September 1. Tickets for the service went on sale on August 6, and sales have exceeded previous first week sales figures of a newly launched Gulf Air destination, the carrier has said. Bahrain's national carrier will fly to Baghdad five times per week.

  • Gulf Air denies plan to dismiss 272 workers

    Gulf Air and its holding company Mumtalakat denied claims by the airline's trade union that the carrier plans to sack 272 staff.

  • Gulf Air installs flight safety system

    Gulf Air has installed an integrated Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) system for the entire fleet, the Gulf Daily News has reported. The new FDM system will use up to the minute digital flight data to improve the quality and safety of all Gulf Air flights, the carrier has said. The data provided by the FDM system would also be a valuable tool in other areas including maintenance and troubleshooting, navigation services, operations planning, environmental impact as well as aircraft performance.

  • Gulf Air may renegotiate Airbus and Boeing orders

    Samer Majali, CEO of Bahrain's Gulf Air, has said the airline may renegotiate its plane orders with Airbus and Boeing, Reuters has reported. The company would "honour the terms of the contract" with manufacturers, but may negotiate amending airplane numbers and sizes, he said.

  • Gulf Air may replace Airbus parts

    Bahrain's Gulf Air said it may review the component requirements of some of its planes after airlines were ordered to replace speed probes on Airbus A330 and A340 jets linked to the loss of an Air France flight, the Gulf Daily News has reported. The decision follows orders from plane manufacturer Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency, which said 'pitot' speed monitors made by the European electronics giant Thales should be replaced by those of the US firm Goodrich.

  • Gulf air passenger traffic continues strong recovery

    Middle East is the only region showing growth

  • Gulf Air signs loan to buy planes

    Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air has signed a $70m Ijara facility with Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB). The four year medium-term facility will be used to partly finance the purchase of eight A320 planes, which are due for delivery in the fourth quarter 2009 and first quarter 2010.

  • Gulf Air to launch Baghdad flights from September

    Gulf Air has confirmed it will commence flights from Manama to Baghdad from 1 September, with routes to Najaf and Erbil to follow.

  • Gulf Air to review aircraft orders

    Bahraini carrier chief plans to make business profitable again

  • Gulf airline investigated for stranding pilgrims

    Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Haj and the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) are looking into whether a Gulf-based airline stranded 2,500 Pakistani Umrah pilgrims past their departure date, the Saudi Gazette has reported. Many of the pilgrims stranded had confirmed return tickets. The airline could be blacklisted if allegations were proven true, the newspaper has said, without naming the carrier.

  • Gulf Craft moves into South Africa

    UAE-based boat and yacht manufacturer Gulf Craft has said it is expanding into South Africa's leisure boating market, Khaleej Times has reported. "A relatively prosperous economy has fostered some surprising results in the South African boating industry. We believe that South Africa yacht market has a lot of potential and this is why we decided to invest in it," Gulf Craft Executive Manager Erwin Bamps said.

  • Gulf Energy Maritime gets Panamax tanker

    UAE-based Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM), the Middle East's largest independent commercial product tanker operator, has taken delivery of Gulf Cobalt, its sixth Panamax tanker. The 75,000 dwt product oil tanker is the second of four Panamax vessels scheduled for delivery this year from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), as well as being the fourth of six newbuilds scheduled for delivery to GEM this year.

  • Gulf Holding to up cement production

    Qatar's Gulf Holding Co. has said that it will increase its cement production from the current 3,500 tonnes per day to 5,000 tonnes per day with its new plant coming online by the end of this year, the Gulf Times has reported. The country's domestic consumption of cement is estimated to be 25,000 tonnes to 30,000 tonnes a day, the company has said. 'There are several giant real estate projects on the list. With such projects, there would be no drop at all in the local demand for cement,' Dr.

  • Gulf Keystone makes Kurdistan oil find

    UK-based Gulf Keystone Petroleum has made an oil discovery at its Shaikan 1 exploration well located 85 kilometres northwest of Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

  • Gulf Keystone raises Iraqi oil field reserve estimate

    Energy major expects Shaikan Block to provide 3 billion barrels

  • Gulf Navigation hit by slump in first half profits

    Gulf Navigation Holding suffered an 89 per cent slump in net profits during the first half of the year, generating AED10.2m ($2.8m) compared with AED93m during the same period in 2008.

  • Gulf Navigation profits down 89%

    Dubai-based oil and chemicals shipping company Gulf Navigation Holding, has said that its first-half profit had dropped 89% as demand for shipping declined. Net income had dropped to Dhs10.2m, compared to Dhs93m a year earlier, the company has said. First half revenues had also declined to Dhs170.1m, compared to Dhs200.8m for the same period of 2008. Operating profit had dropped by 46% to Dhs67.55m. The firm's total assets stood at Dhs2.996bn, up 4.6% compared to Dhs2.865bn for the same perio

  • Gulf Oberoi hotels progressing

    The Chairman of hotel company EIH, part of the Oberoi Group, has said construction of its 252-room Oberoi-branded hotel in Business Bay, Dubai was 'progressing' and that it would open in 2011. Planning for a hotel in Abu Dhabi and in Oman is underway, he said, although no opening dates were given. All three hotels will be managed by The Oberoi Group.

  • Gulf Projects 10 August 2009: Index rises 0.7 per cent

    The MEED Projects - CMI Index rose by 0.7 per cent to reach just over $2.6bn in the week to 11 August. All of the region's markets experienced some growth this week.

  • Gulf Projects 4 August 2009: Index falls 0.9 per cent

    The week to 4 August ended with the MEED Projects - CMI Index falling back after a series of gains in July, leaving it just below the $2.6 trillion mark.

  • Gypsemna to produce plasterboard

    Gypsemna Company, owned by UAE's Jamal Al Ghurair Group has announced the successful commissioning of a plasterboard plant in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. The plant is expected with an annual production capacity of 50 million sqm. of various types of plasterboards to serve the region. The company said its plant has the capacity to produce plasterboards for a wide range of dimensions and sizes, i.e. 8 mm to 25 mm thick, 600 to 1350 mm wide and 1800 mm to 4500 mm in length.

  • H1N1 reduces Umrah trips

    Travel agents believe the H1N1 virus is affecting the number of people booking Umrah trips this year, saying they are seeing a high number of cancellations. Even though agencies are offering a raft of special promotions, some say they have seen demand halve, according to Al-Watan Daily. Ramadan is usually the peak period for Umrah trips.

  • Hardware re-exports from Dubai down 30%

    Re-exports of IT hardware from Dubai to non GCC countries have fallen by at least 30% this year as buyers in Africa and the former Soviet republics choose to deal directly with distributors in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. IT hardware resellers and traders are being buffeted by the fluctuating dollar rate, global recession and in some cases increases in visa charges to enter Dubai. (Mac Capital Advisors)

  • Hashim al-Dabal heads up merged property firm

    Top man picked for new Dubai real estate company

  • Hilal inks Red Hat deal

    Bahrain-based Hilal Computers has signed an agreement with Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions, under which it has become a Red Hat Advanced Business Partner for IT infrastructure. Hilal Computers offers the deployment and support of Red Hat open source solutions including Red Hat Enterprise Linux which offers a wide range of advantages for enterprises in the banking, oil and gas, telecommunications, education and healthcare sectors in the kingdom.

  • Hilalco wins Saadiyat infrastructure work

    The local Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has awarded the local Hilalco an infrastructure works contract on its $27bn Saadiyat Island development in Abu Dhabi.

  • HP denies Injazat sale rumours

    Francesco Serafini, Hewlett-Packard's Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has denied reports that it is planning to sell Injazat Data Systems, the UAE's largest technology outsourcer, the National has reported. Injazat Data Systems remains an important joint venture for HP, he said. Injazat was established as a joint venture between HP-owned US consultancy EDS and Mubadala Development, an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi Government.

  • HP profits tumble as sales suffer

    Hewlett-Packard saw a 19% drop in quarterly profit following a steep sales decline in several of its key businesses. It reported earnings of $1.64bn and revenue of $27.45bn for the quarter ending July 31, 2% off the same period last year. HP is the world's largest PC manufacturer, but saw revenue for the division tumble 18% to $8.43bn. Revenues from its servers and storage division fell 23% to $3.66bn and the printer unit suffered a 20% to $5.66bn. In the software division, operating profit r

  • Ibis hotel to open in Jordan

    The first Ibis hotel will be launch in Jordan in September 2009. Located in the capital city's Tila' Al Ali district, the three-star Ibis Amman will have 158 double and single rooms, 45 connecting rooms, two special needs rooms and three non-smoking floors.

  • IBM eyes water management

    Sharon Nunes, head of IBM's Big Green Innovations initiative has said that IBM is pushing ahead into providing technology services to manage water, a market $10bn market that the company sees growing quickly, Reuters has reported. 'We are actually looking at three different markets, industrial sector, for example food and beverage companies, local and municipal governments, water utilities,' she has said. Big Green Innovations looks at business opportunities in sectors such as water, carbon m

  • IFA Hotels posts $108m profit

    Kuwait-based IFA Hotels and Resorts has reported its year end profits at KD30.85m ($108m), with revenues totalling KD52.8m ($184.67m). Shareholders' equity had increased to KD101.4m ($354.6m), an increase of 50% compared to the same period last year, the hospitality firm has said. IFA's total assets had increased to KD338.26m, compared to KD277.88m for 2008. The company's board of directors has also announced its shareholders will receive share dividends of 10 % bonus shares for this period.

  • IFA reports H1 sales of $100m

    Kuwait-based IFA Hotels and Resorts has said that the company has recorded over $100m in sales for the first six months of 2009 through its global network across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. 'These positive results are driven by successful businesses across all our markets, led by strategies that have promptly responded to fast changing market climates,' said President & COO Werner Burger. The group is expected to hand over projects in Dubai, Lebanon, Thailand and South Africa th

  • IHG brands set to open in Yas Island

    InterContinental Hotels Group brands Staybridge Suites and Crown Plaza hotel are set to open doors later this year on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, the company has announced. Staybridge has 165 suites, located along the Links Championship Golf Course, while Crown Plaza has 428 rooms, a 24-hour Business Centre, 10 meeting rooms equipped with audio-visual equipment complete with natural lighting and outdoor terraces.

  • Indian firm bids low for Omani dam contract

    Oman plans to replenish groundwater aquifers

  • Indian firm wins Gulf transmission projects

    Larsen & Toubro secures orders worth $198m

  • Inflation set to increase in Saudi Arabia

    Money supply grows in July

  • Info2cell signs mobile security deal

    Mobile service application provider Info2cell has partnered with NetQin, a provider of mobile security services, to provide mobile security to customers in Saudi Arabia. The two companies have also agreed to collaborate in delivering an Arabic version of NetQin's Mobile Antivirus and Mobile Communication Master.

  • Injazat to market .ae web domain

    Injazat Data Systems has signed an agreement with the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority's UAE Computer Emergency Response Team to market and register .ae web domains in the country. The UAE has an internet penetration rate of 43%, and under the deal Injazat will try to encourage more online activity from users in the UAE. Ibrahim Lari, CEO, Injazat, said: "This agreement marks a major milestone for Injazat and significantly expands our IT services portfolio.'

  • INTAJ urges tax reconsideration

    The Information and Technology Association of Jordan (INTAJ) along with telecommunications companies have urged concerned governmental bodies to reconsider their decision to increase the income tax on the IT and telecommunications business, the Jordan Times has reported. Increasing the tax to 35% will have a negative impact on the competitiveness of the sector and its expansion, INTAJ has said.

  • Intel buys two software firms

    US-based chipmaker Intel has bought two software companies in the last month, Cilk and Rapidmind, to boost development of applications that take better advantage of its multi-core processors. Both are small companies that employ under than 50 people, Intel said.

  • InterCon opens its 23rd Saudi hotel with Al Khobar Holiday Inn

    InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened its second Holiday Inn hotel in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The 180-room Holiday Inn Corniche is aimed at business travellers, and comes with an all-day restaurant with a live cooking station, a coffee shop, a business centre and two meeting rooms with a capacity of 120 people. It also has a ballroom that can host up to 800 people. The new hotel is the group's 23rd property in the kingdom, with another four hotel's in the pipeline, IHG said.

  • InterCon posts 38% profit drop

    InterContinental Hotels Group, which includes the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, fell 38% to $179m in H1 2009 from $291m in the same period last year, The National has reported. The group's Middle East operations saw an 8.5% fall in revenue per available room (REVPAR) in the first half.'Trading was very challenging throughout the first half of the year and we expect the remainder of 2009 to be tough,' said CEO Andrew Cosslett. The group has 72 hotels in the Middle East.

  • InterContinental Doha West Bay set for 2010

    The InterContinental Doha West Bay will open in December 2010, an official from the Doha InterContinental Hotel has told The Peninsula. West Bay hotel will cater to businessmen and corporate events, offering 60-stories with 540 hotel rooms and serviced apartments. The business hotel will have a conference centre, a club lounge and business centre available to guests.

  • International Power reports 28 per cent rise in Middle East operating profit

    The UK's International Power made an operating profit of $41m in the first half of the year in the Middle East, up from£32m for the same period in 2008.

  • Ipic set to buy in to Papua New Guinea gas deal

    Abu Dhabi fund in advanced negotiations with Australian firm for 3.5 per cent stake in liquefied gas scheme

  • Iran approves North Azadegan oil deal

    China National Petroleum Corporation to develop field holding 6 billion barrels of crude

  • Iran bans lease of Russian-made planes

    Mohammad Ali Ilkhani, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation has said that Iran has banned its airlines from leasing more Russian-made aircraft or buying such planes second-hand after two fatal incidents last month, Reuters has reported. 'Eastern planes would be able to operate in the air sector only when they are brand new and made according to our order [specification],' he has said.

  • Iran expands passenger fleet

    The Iranian Minister of Road and Transportation, Hamid Behbahani, has said that the country has purchased 35 passenger planes during the last year in an effort to renew and expand its fleet, according to Fars news agency. Twenty-nine of the 35 purchased planes are Western-made and the other six have been manufactured in Eastern Europe, he said. The ministry has recently bought five airplanes from foreign companies 'which are all almost brand new,' he has added.

  • Iran invites bids for seismic study

    Iran's Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) is inviting contractors to bid for the tender to gather 3D seismic data for the Golshan and Ferdows gas fields in the south of the country.

  • Iran stops flights to Saudi Arabia

    Iran Air has announced the suspension of all flights to Saudi Arabia effective August 11, Fars news agency has reported. 'In order to prevent a pandemic of influenza type A (swine flu), there won't be any flight from Iran to Saudi Arabia in the holy month of Ramadan,' said Iran Aviation Organisation spokesman Reza Jafarzadeh. Iranian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are to be repatriated by Ramadan.

  • Iran to elect new oil minister

    Tehran is excluding the incumbent oil minister from a shortlist of candidates in line to take up the role in President Ahmadinejad's recently re-elected administration.

  • Iran to review nominations for oil minister

    Ahmadinejad wants Commerce Minister to take on role

  • Iran: Air cooler parts

    Supply, in two phases, of parts for Seo Koatsu air cooler to National Iranian Petrochemical Company. Closing date: 19 September 2009.

  • Iran: Catalyst

    Supply of olefins saturation catalyst. Closing date: 26 August 2009.

  • Iran: Coking coal

    Supply of coking coal. Closing date: 8 September 2009.

  • Iran: Desalination system consultancy services

    Provision of consultancy services for a master plan for evaluation of desalination systems. Closing date: NA

  • Iran: Metallurgical coke

    Supply of metallurgical coke. Closing date: 1 September 2009.

  • Iran: Mud logging unit leasing

    Leasing mud logging units. The services period will be for five years. Closing date: 12 September 2009Open for local and foreign companies.Bid bond is IR 43m or € 3,000.Tender no 3244-33/6-SS/88.Details, from National Iranian Drilling Company, National Iranian Oil Company, Room 122, Contracts Department, Beginning of Pasdaran Boulevard, Kooyee Mellat, Ahwaz, fax (98611) 4443795, email ahkarimi@nide.ir, website www.shana.ir, www.nide.ir.

  • Iran: Sale of high-grade aluminium sows

    Closing date: 13 September 2009

  • Iran: Supply of Catalyst

    Supply of acetylene converter catalyst for Kala Petrochemical Company. Closing date: 2/9/2009.

  • Iran: Supply of control panel

    Supply of parts for SCHORCH electricity control panel to National Iranian Petrochemical Company - Kala Petrochemical Company. Closing date: 21 September 2009

  • Iran: Supply of rotary hose rubber

    Supply of rotary hose rubber, Bowen and oil well draw-workers parts. Closing date: 6 October 2009Three separate tenders for supply of rotary hose rubber TP-7500 PSI STD 7-CARCASS, and parts for Bowen series 150 and oil well draw-workers E-2000.Bid bond is IR17.035m or €1,220, IR8.4m or €592 and IR 6.520m or €500 respectively.Tender no FP/09-88/059 with Indent no 01-22-8745390, FP/12-88/060 with Indent no 08-22-8645612 and FP/12-88/061 with Indent no 08-22-8745310.D

  • Iran: Supply of spare demister spare parts

    Supply of parts for SASBO magna-former reactor flash drum and demister for National Iranian Petrochemical Company – Kala Petrochemical Company. Closing date: 12 September 2009

  • Iran: Supply of spare switchgear parts

    Supply of parts for ABB MV switchgear. Closing date: 21 September 2009

  • Iran: Wastewater collection trunk mains

    Construction and completion of main trunks for a wastewater collection system. Closing date: 29 September 2009.

  • Iraq 2010 budget to be put forward by October

    Iraq’s Finance Ministry will submit the country’s 2010 budget for parliamentary approval by October this year.

  • Iraq agrees freezone deals

    The Iraqi government has signed several agreements to create seven free trade and industrial zones with Turkey, Iran, Syria and Jordan, Aswat al-Iraq news agency has reported. The country's Ministry of Industry has signed agreements to set up three Freezones with Iran: one in the north, another in the middle and a third in the south; while two zones will be created with Syria: in Anbar and in Mosul. On August 5, the Iraqi government authorized the trade minister to negotiate and sign a draft

  • Iraq and Egypt develop closer economic ties

    Iraq and Egypt will pursue closer economic and commercial ties following the signing of four memorandums of understanding in Baghdad.

  • Iraq appoints acting director general at South Oil Company

    Iraq's Oil Ministry has appointed Dhiya Jaafar as acting director general of the state-run South Oil Company (SOC) following the departure of Fayad Nema.

  • Iraq charters three Airbus planes for European routes

    Iraqi Airways has signed an agreement to operate three aircraft owned by the German charter airline Blue Wings.

  • Iraq relaxes oil licence terms

    Companies baulked at ministry’s tough bargaining stance in first bidding round

  • Iraq to impose internet crack-down

    The Iraqi government has decided to crack down on Internet Service Providers and ban sites that incite violence or carry pornography, AP has reported. The plan to strengthen government control of content and usage will require internet cafes, and later the service providers as well, to obtain licences that are subject to government review and cancellation if compliance requirements are not met.

  • Iraq to raise property tax threshold

    The Iraqi government has agreed to extend the tax-free threshold for property in the country to ID50m ($43,000).

  • Iraq: Banking supervision department restructuring

    Restructuring of the banking supervision department of a bank. Closing date: 15 September 2009.

  • Iraq: Electricity substation

    Carrying out a site survey, detailed design, procurement and construction of an electricity substation. Closing date: 28 September 2009.

  • Iraq: Substation consultant engineering services

    Provision of substation consultant engineering services for an electricity sector reconstruction project. Closing date: 24 August 2009.

  • Iraqi Airways signs Blue Wings lease plane deal

    The Iraqi transport ministry has signed a lease agreement with German carrier Blue Wings for three Airbus A320s. The planes will be used by Iraqi Airways to re-open services between Baghdad and Europe, including flights to London and have 165 seats available on-board. Flights to London are believed to be resuming this month, although it is not yet clear into which airport Iraqi Airways will fly.

  • Iraq's Southern Cement hits record production

    Iraq's Ministry of Industry and Minerals has said that despite the shortage of electricity supply, state-owned Southern Cement has managed to achieve a record production of 387,000 tonnes during the first half of the current year. "This accounts for 70% of its planned production for this year," the ministry said.

  • ITSM solutions Axios wins Abu Dhabi deals

    IT Service Management (ITSM) solutions has announced it has won several new deals in Abu Dhabi, with its latest new customer wins. Axios said it will provide the assyst ITSM solution to Daman Health Insurance, Al Jaber Group, and and National Bank of Abu Dhabi. The company has also said it has etablished a new office in Abu Dhabi.

  • Jazeera Airways adds Abu Dhabi route

    Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways will fly direct to Abu Dhabi from October 25. Jazeera will be the first low-budget airline to operate non-stop flights to the UAE's capital. It currently operates non-stop flights to Dubai six times a week.

  • Jazeera Airways announces $8m loss

    Jazeera Airways lost KD2.2m ($7.7m) during the first half of 2009. The firm blamed its withdrawal from a second hub in Dubai for increasing its second-quarter losses.

  • Jazeera Airways posts KD2.2m loss in H1

    Jazeera Airways has reported KD20m in revenues for the first half of 2009, with a loss of KD2.2m for the period. The airline has attributed revenue impact on the restructuring of the network from a dual hub to a single hub operation in Q2 2009. The airline has a firm order for 30 additional aircraft to be delivered over the coming years with the last fleet installment scheduled for delivery in 2014.

  • Jebel Ali Hotel undergoes renovation

    Jebel Ali Hotel has announced the hotel is currently at the centre of a major refurbishment programme to restore and renovate the rooms, restaurants and meeting facilities. The 260 revamped rooms, outlets and conference facilities of the hotel will open again in December 2009. The rest of the resort at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa and Palm Tree Court & Spa hotel remain fully operational and open for guests.

  • Jeddah airport contracts awarded

    Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has said it has awarded seven contracts for the expansion of King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Gulf News has reported. The contracts involve site preparation for the airport's expansion which is being implemented in three phases. The expansion includes aircraft hard stands and paved areas, lighting, fuel delivery systems and storm water drainage, in addition to a new support services building, renovation of the existing

  • Jessica Biel can be dangerous for your PC

    Searches on Jessica Biel are more likely to land on a site that has tested positive for online threats than any other celebrity, according to software security developer McAfee. Combinations of her name, such as 'Jessica Biel downloads' or 'Jessica Biel screen savers' have a one in five chance of returning a site that contains spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware, it said. Beyoncé was found to be the second most dangerous name to search for, as cybercriminals try to draw

  • Jet Air in lease talks with Gulf, Oman Air

    India's private airline Jet Airways has said it has converted the wet lease of its aircraft, where airplanes are given along with the crew and maintenance obligations, to Turkish Airlines into dry lease, which comes without staff and other frills. The airline is also holding talks with Gulf Air and Oman Air for similar conversion. While the lease term with Gulf Air will expire in October this year, the agreement with Oman Air continues until October-November.

  • Jordan forms tender committee for Amman-Zarqa railway

    Transport scheme on hold after government terminates deal and implements restructuring plans

  • Jordan inks $14.7m airport security MoU

    Jordan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese government to provide the kingdom with a $14.7m grant to support the security development project at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), The Jordan Times has reported. The project includes the installation of advanced security equipment, such as large-scale X-ray inspection and explosive detection tomography systems, and hand-held metal detectors for cargo and passengers. The security equipment is to be installed next year

  • Jordan Lafarge ups prices

    Jordan Lafarge Cement Factories Co. has increased its pre-tax sale price of cement by JD1.2 per tonne, The Jordan Times has reported. The company has attributed the decision to last Thursday's update of industrial fuel prices, which increased by 4.5% and for diesel by 3.5%.

  • Jordan Phosphate Mines H1 profit dips

    Jordan Phosphate Mines Co has reported JD67.2m net profit in the first half of this year compared to JD75.2m during the same period of last year. Total assets had reached JD556.8m, while its shareholders equity amounted to JD446.8m, compared to JD417.1m at the end of 2008, the firm said.

  • Jordan Phosphate seeks $90m loan

    Jordan Phosphate Mines Company is seeking loans for the development of a new phosphate terminal, MEED has reported. The company is asking from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a division of the World Bank, a $90m loan, which will be split into a $30m tranche and a $60m tranche. The project is valued at $180m, which would need the construction of a 4 million-tonne-a-year rock phosphate terminal at Jordan's Aqaba port complex.

  • Jordan reviews oil block auction

    Jordan's state-run Natural Resources Authority (NRA) will look again at whether it can auction off two large oil blocks after failing to receive any bids by its 2 July deadline.

  • Jordan to finalise BP gas deal by end of August

    Jordan expects to finalise an exploration deal for its Risha gas field with the UK's BP by the end of August.

  • Jordan tourism increases

    According to figures released by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), revenues generated by the kingdom's tourism sector increased by 2.3% to JD1.115bn to the end of July, compared to JD1.09bn for the same period of 2008, the Jordan Times has reported. The number of overnight stays between January and July were up 4%, with just over two million visitors spending at least one night in the country so far this year. The rise in tourists is due to the number of visitors from Arab countries and Jorda

  • Jordan tourist numbers up

    According to Jordan's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the number of tourists visiting the kingdom during the first seven months of this year rose by 4% to 2,075,190, compared to 1,998,482 during the same period last year, The Jordan Times has reported. The number of overnight visitors also rose by about the same percentage, reaching 1,830,010 compared to 1,758,998. Income generated from tourism rose by 2.3% for the same comparative period, the ministry's data showed.

  • Jordan: Landfill gas recovery consultancy

    Provision of design and build engineering consultancy services for a landfill gas recovery system. Closing date: 14 September 2009.

  • Jordan: Petra gateway construction

    Construction of the Petra gateway project comprising a new visitor centre including an amphitheatre and a reception (Rebid). New closing date: 29 September 2009.

  • July passengers up at Abu Dhabi airport

    The Abu Dhabi Airports Company has reported a 10.3% increase in passenger numbers for July compare to the same month in 2008. More than 900,000 passengers, with a total of 923,124 people have travelled through the airport in July. London has noted as the busiest destination with 50,900 passengers, followed by Bangkok with 40,465 passengers. Doha took third place with 37,361. In fourth and fifth place came Cairo and Bahrain with 36,108 and 35,773 passengers respectively.

  • Kaspersky opens Dubai HQ

    Security software developer Kaspersky Lab has set up its regional headquarters in Dubai. The company will offer technical support, partner management and marketing activities from its new HQ, located in Dubai Internet City. The move is part of Kaspersky's growth plans. Since 2007, the company says it has grown 400% in the Middle East and wants to push its way into the top three anti-virus software providers in the region.

  • KBR wins Yanbu refinery utilities deal

    State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco and US oil major ConocoPhillips have awarded an engineering and procurement deal to US contractor KBR for work on its planned 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Yanbu refinery on the Red Sea coast.

  • Kharafi National wins Kuwaiti wastewater work

    Ministry awards contract to upgrade and expand network in Jahra

  • Kindgom H1 profit slumps, but investment continues

    Dubai-based Kingdom Hotel Investments, the hospitality firm controlled by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has reported a 61% drop in first-half profit, Bloomberg has reported. Net income fell to $8m from $20.6m a year earlier. Sales dropped 11% to $103.3m after revenue per available room fell 18%. Sarmad Zok, Kingdom's CEO, said the company will spend $367m between now and the second half of 2011 on building five new properties, the first of which will open in Beirut by the end of the year. After

  • Kingdom Hotel Investments issues trading update

    UAE-based Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) has said its system RevPAR had declined 18% for the first six months of the year, 13% on a currency neutral basis, reflecting global economic conditions and strong first half 2008 comparables. The Middle East saw a 14% RevPAR decline on a reported and currency neutral basis. The Mövenpick Beirut continued to perform well with RevPAR expansion as the city continued to benefit from increased political stability, KHI has said.

  • Kraft Bahrain cuts water wastage

    Kraft Foods has said its cheese and beverage plant in Bahrain has managed to reduce water usage by 33% by overhauling the cleaning process. As part of its overall sustainability goals, the snack giant has managed to save three billion gallons of water by adopting new manufacturing and cleaning methods throughout its global plants network.

  • KSE to auction Gulf Glass

    A total of 3.2 million shares of Kuwait's Gulf Glass Manufacturing Company, making up 8.33% of its capital, are set to be auctioned at an initial price of KD 2.1m by the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) on Wednesday, Kuna has reported. Securities Group and Al Sharq Holding Company would join the auction as a seller and a buyer respectively, the KSE has said.

  • Kurdistan to take stake in merged exploration company

    The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is to acquire a 17 per cent stake in a UK/Turkish company that is searching for oil in northern Iraq.

  • Kuwait administration building award wins approval

    Kuwait's Central Tenders Committee (CTC) has approved the award of a KD71m ($248m) contract to the local First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Company for the construction of a new administrative building for the Public Authority for Applied Education & Training (PAAET).

  • Kuwait Airways' Engineering generates KD8.06m

    The Engineering Department at Kuwait Airways generated KD8.06m in revenue for fiscal year 2008/09 fiscal year, handling maintenance and logistics for some 56 airlines outside Kuwait. Topping the company's clients list were Emirates and the Qatar Airlines, as well as 16 Arab cargo companies.

  • Kuwait and China plan to build $9bn refinery on Donghai Island

    Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) and Chinese state refiner Sinopec have decided on a new location for their $9bn refinery in China.

  • Kuwait delays bid deadline for education ministry building

    Kuwait's Public Works Ministry has set a new bid deadline of 30 August for its estimated KD75m ($205m) contract to build new Education Ministry headquarters.

  • Kuwait delays Mina Abdullah water scheme

    Kuwait's Electricity & Water Ministry is delaying the deadline for bids for the construction of water pipelines from its Mina Abdullah water complex until 29 September.

  • Kuwait delays oil booster station bid deadline

    State oil and gas operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has postponed the bid deadline to 13 September for a major new contract to build a new oil booster station in North Kuwait by a month after making amendments to the tender documents. The previous closing date was August 16.

  • Kuwait extends Bubiyan port tender

    Kuwait’s Public Works Ministry is extending the bid deadline for the marine works contract on its port project at Bubiyan Island until 18 October.

  • Kuwait Finance House teams up with US property investor

    Kuwait Finance House (KFH) has launched a joint venture with US apartment building owner UDR to capitalise on lower real estate valuations in the US.

  • Kuwait issues tenders for road projects

    Kuwait’s Public Works Ministry has invited prequalified contractors to bid by 23 August for two contracts to build roads.

  • Kuwait launches first private power and water scheme

    Kuwait has invited companies to submit expressions of interest for a consultancy contract for the country’s first independent water and power project (IWPP).

  • Kuwait receives bids for airport runways

    Kuwait's General Directorate of Civil Aviation has received bids for a contract to build runway works, aircraft hangars and approach roads at Kuwait International airport (MEED 30:7:09).

  • Kuwait releases $800m booster station tender

    Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has tendered a major new construction contract to build a new oil booster station in West Kuwait worth an estimated $800m.

  • Kuwait selects nuclear chief

    Kuwait's National Committee for the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy has appointed Adnan Shehab Eddin as its secretary general, according to a report by state news agency Kuna on 3 August.

  • Kuwait set for $20bn surplus

    Kuwaitcould run a budget surplus of KD6bn ($20bn) in 2009-10 on the back of higher than expected oil prices, according to the National Bank of Kuwait.

  • Kuwait tenders three education centres

    Contractors invited to bid for centres around Kuwait City

  • Kuwait: Building construction (Hawally)

    Design, construction and maintenance of an educational building. Closing date: 18 October 2009.

  • Kuwait: Building construction (Mubarak al-Kabeer)

    Design, construction and maintenance of an educational building. Closing date: 4 October 2009.

  • Kuwait: Casing and tubing

    Supply of casing, tubing and accessories for an oil company. Closing date: 13 September 2009.

  • Kuwait: Construction and maintenance works

    Minor construction and maintenance of an electricity and water authority’s installations and facilities. Closing date: 15 September 2009.

  • Kuwait: Construction works (Al-Siddiq)

    Construction, completion and maintenance works. Closing date: 18 October 2009.

  • Kuwait: Electrical cut-outs

    Maintenance of electrical cut-outs and accessories at electrical power and water distillation plants. Closing date: 10 November 2009.

  • Kuwait: Fuel ignition control system

    Replacement of a steam boiler fuel ignition control system at a power and water distillation plant. Closing date: 29 September 2009.

  • Kuwait: Landscaping and irrigation works

    Carrying out agriculture landscaping and irrigation works. Closing date: 4 October 2009.

  • Kuwait: Pipelines

    Supply of pipelines for an oil company. Closing date: 15 September 2009.

  • Kuwait: Transformer station battery and charger maintenance

    Maintenance of batteries and chargers at a secondary transformer station. Closing date: 27 September 2009

  • Kuwait: Transformer stations

    Supply of main transformer stations and replacement of nine transformers. Closing date: 4 October 2009.

  • Kuwait: Water coolers

    Supply of central water coolers. Closing date: 29 September 2009.

  • Kuwait: Water purification plant works

    Carrying out removal, backfilling and rehabilitation works for a water purification plant. Closing date: 18 October 2009.

  • Kuwaiti firm to build hotel in Basra

    Kuwait-based company Al-Nukhba has won a $35m contract to build a hotel at Basra International Airport in Iraq, Aswat al-Iraq news agency reports. "The hotel will be established according to the international Holiday Inn standards. It will include four restaurants, swimming pools, meeting halls, a movie theatre and a business centre," the commission's head, Haydar Ali said. The project, the first of its kind in Iraq, is scheduled for completion in eight months, he added.

  • Kuwait-led consortium in line for $700m Aqaba port contract

    The Kuwaiti-led Aqaba Gateway Group (AGG) is the preferred bidder for the contract to build a $700m port at Jordan's maritime hub on its Red Sea coast.

  • Lafarge Egypt to complete $380m loan

    French cement group Lafarge expects to complete a $380m syndicated loan for its Egyptian operations this week, after receiving offers from banks totalling nearly $500m.

  • Lamprell profits drop 34 per cent in first half

    Lower demand for offshore construction and repair services hits UAE firm

  • Larsen & Toubro bids low for Al-Sawadi substation

    India's Larsen & Toubro is the low bidder for the contract to build a new substation in the Al-Sawadi area near Muscat.

  • Lebanon tourist numbers up

    Lebanon's tourism ministry has reported a record 1,007,352 visitors for the month of July, the majority of which included some 325,000 Lebanese expatriates and roughly as many Syrians, according to Breaking Travel News website. The figure also included a small but rapidly growing number of Europeans, with close to 79,000 arrivals in July from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Saudi Arabians and tourists from other Arab states are also on the rise. Reserv

  • Lebanon: Road construction

    Construction and completion of an overpass road for an urban transport development project. Closing date: 28 September 2009

  • Libya approaches contractors for Al-Jurf oil field

    Libya's state-run energy company Mabruk Oil Operations is asking companies to express their interest in an engineering and procurement deal covering the second-phase development of its Al-Jurf oil field, 160 kilometres northwest of Tripoli.

  • Libya: Coil tubing, nitrogen pumping and stimulation services

    Provision of coil tubing, nitrogen pumping and stimulation services. Closing date: 31 August 2009

  • Libya: Hi-Line cleaning and maintenance

    Provision of Hi-Line cleaning and maintenance for Waha Oil Company. Closing date: 10 September 2009Provision of-Line cleaning and maintenance for Waha Oil Company. The firm is intending to utilise two hi-line crews to perform cleaning insulators and maintenance for power system substations located in oil fields and the Es-Sider terminal owned by Waha Oil Company.Prequalification.Details from Secretary of the Tenders Committee, Tel: + 218 21 3331116. Ext: 2241/2239/2298 Fa

  • Libya: Infilling well surface facilities

    Engineering, procurement and construction of surface facilities for oil and gas wells. Closing date: 25 August 2009

  • Libya: Inland transport services

    Provision of inland transport for an oil exploration campaign. Closing date: 6 September 2009

  • Libya: Mud engineering services

    Provision of mud engineering services for onshore oil exploration wells. Closing date: 2 September 2009

  • Libya: Oil exploration civils

    Carrying out civil works for oil exploration drilling. Closing date: 31 August 2009

  • Libya: Oil exploration equipment and services

    Provision of plant equipment and personnel services for an oil exploration campaign. Closing date: 6 September 2009

  • Libya: Oil exploration permanent packer equipment

    Supply of permanent packer equipment and installation services for an oil exploration drilling campaign. Closing date: not stated

  • Libya: Oil operation aviation support

    Provision of aviation support services for onshore and offshore oil operations. Closing date: 31 August 2009

  • Libya: Oil well flowline

    Engineering, procurement and construction of a dedicated flowline for oil wells. Closing date: 25 August 2009

  • Libya: Oil well PVT analysis

    Provision of PVT analysis for oil exploration and appraisal wells. Closing date: 7 September 2009

  • Libya: Oilfield medical services facilities

    Supply of complete oilfield medical services facilities for drilling and workover rigs. Closing date: 31 August 2009   

  • Libya: Tubular running services

    Provision of tubular running services for a onshore exploration wells. Closing date: 30 August 2009

  • Libya: Waste management

    Provision of waste management for an onshore exploration well. Closing date: 6 September 2009

  • Libya: Well bore cleanout services

    Provision of well bore cleanout services for BP. Closing date: 11 September 2009

  • Limitless project in Pakistan will not go ahead

    Dubai-based Limitless will not build the multi-billion-dollar real estate project it planned to develop on the outskirts of Karachi in Pakistan.

  • Limitless still evaluating bids for Dubai light rail

    Limitless is still evaluating bids for the contract to design and build a light railway system at the Downtown Jebel Ali development in Dubai, some four months after its bid deadline.

  • LinkdotNet users get full Windows Live access

    Egypt-based LinkdotNet and Microsoft have signed an agreement to give LinkdotNet users full access to Windows Live's online services at no extra cost. Windows Live services include Hotmail and MSN Messenger, online file storage facilities, a blog and personal webpage, photo and video editing programs, online parental controls and a Windows Live toolbar to add to the user's browser.

  • Local consultant bids low for Dubai water work

    NJS Consultants Company plans to supervise emirate’s water transmission pipeline project

  • Local contractor wins entertainment city infrastructure

    Infrastructure award at Qatar’s Lusail development

  • Maaden signs SR95m deal

    Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) has said that it has signed a SR95m contract with Al-Olayan Descon for the construction of a new mineral processing plant in Madinah, the Arab News has reported. The agreement involves the building of mine infrastructure at the Al-Gazalah Magnesite (Magnesium Carbonate) deposit, 160 km southwest of Hail, to extract mineral and supply the plant. Work at both sites will begin as soon as the logistics are in place, Maaden has said.

  • Maersk Line introduces new direct service

    Maersk Line has introduced a direct service, called ME2, from India and the Middle East to the West Mediterranean and back. It will be through a slot exchange agreement with Kuwait-based United Arab Shipping on its Mina Service. The ME2 service rotation covers the ports of Valencia, Genoa, Jeddah, Jebel Ali, Port Qasim in Pakistan and Nhava Sheva in India.

  • Maersk Oil appoints Qatar manager as chief executive officer

    Denmark's Maersk Oil has appointed the group's Qatar head as chief executive officer (CEO) following the resignation of incumbent Thomas Thune Andersen.

  • Mammut wins civil defence project

    The UAE’s Mammut Contracting Group has won an AED87m ($24m) contract to build a civil defence training centre for Abu Dhabi’s Interior Ministry.

  • Man Turbo wins $85m Abu Dhabi compressor deal

    Germany's Man Turbo has won the Eu60m ($85m) contract to supply compressor units to Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Operations (Adco) for its development at the Bab gas field.

  • Mantrac rolls out Riverbed installation; claims 75% cost reduction

    Caterpillar dealer Mantrac Group has said it expects to save almost $300,000 per year, after installing 11 Riverbed Technology Steelhead appliances at its head office in Egypt as well as 10 branch locations. The group expects bandwidth costs to go down by almost 75% and for the investment to deliver a return on investment within 10 months.

  • Maritime Industrial Q2 revenue up

    UAE-based Maritime Industrial Services Co. (MIS) has said that its Q2 revenue rose 62% to $132.5m, compared to the same period last year, reflecting progress on six new-build rigs in production during the quarter versus three at the same time last year. Net income grew by more than 600% to reach $10.2m, compared to the same period last year, as both gross and net margins improved, MIS has said.

  • Masdar delays bidding deadline for Abu Dhabi headquarters

    Contractors given more time to prepare zero carbon city tenders

  • Masdar signs BASF partnership

    Abu-Dhabi-based Masdar and German chemical company BASF have signed a strategic partnership agreement for collaboration on the construction of Masdar City, the world's first carbon-neutral and zero-waste city. BASF is named as a 'preferred supplier' of construction materials and system solutions for the city's construction. The chemical company will also open an office in Masdar City once it is completed.

  • Mashaaer posts KD3.1m H1 profit

    Kuwait's Hajj and Umrah Services Company (Mashaaer) has posted a KD3.1m net profit for the first half of this year. Total assets grew 5% during the first half of 2009, the company's chairman and managing director Khalid Al-Ahmad added.

  • Media One hotel to open in October

    Media One Hotel, located in Dubai Media City, has announced it is to open its doors in October of this year. The new property will target professionals based in and around Media City. The hotel occupies the first 23 floors of the 43 story Media One tower, a mixed use development comprising a hotel and offices, and will offer 260 guest rooms, a collection of cafes, bars and restaurants, a gym, outdoor pool and terrace. The hotel also features a fully equipped business centre, seven meeting roo

  • Microsoft appoints Landsteinar as SPLA partner

    Landsteinar GCC Dubai has been appointed by Microsoft as an authorized SPLA partner. As per the new agreement, Landsteinar will offer Microsoft SPLA licensing schema on a 'pay as you go' software leasing basis, charging only for the number of users per month.

  • Microsoft banned from selling Word

    A Texas district court has ruled in a patent infringement case against Microsoft Corp. in favour of Canadian software firm i4i Ltd and filed an injunction preventing the software giant from selling the 2003 and 2007 versions of Word, Reuters has reported. The court has also ruled that Microsoft would have to pay more than $290m in damages to i4i, which makes software for manipulating documents, for infringing the patent. The patent relates to XML, or extensible markup language, which is used

  • Microsoft reverses free Office Live domains decision

    Microsoft has said it will now charge Office Live Small Business customers an annual domain registration fee - including those companies it had promised free web site registrations for life. Last year, Microsoft said new Office Live Small Business customers would pay for domain renewals after the first year, but promised that early customers would get their domains registered free of charge "in perpetuity".

  • Middle East contracts awarded: August 2009

    More than $6bn worth of contracts have been awarded across the Middle East up to 31 August 2009, according to this selected checklist compiled from MEED reports

  • Middle East traffic up 13% in July

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported the Middle East with a 13.2% increase in air traffic in July, while the global air traffic has declined by 2.9% compared to the same period last year. The report further noted that the Middle East was also the only region to experience growth in air cargo traffic, climbing 1% in July over the same month last year.

  • Mid-market Traders Hotel opens in Abu Dhabi

    New Abu Dhabi business hotel Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri opened its doors for its soft launch yesterday. The 301-room hotel includes a 'Traders Club' executive floor with a private lounge and targets the growing mid-market travel sector. The hotel is part of Shangri-La Asia and is being managed by Al Jaber Group, the third such agreement between the two in the UAE.

  • Mitsubishi joins Shell gas deal in Iraq

    Deal will result in firms gathering gas from major southern fields

  • Mobile connectivity set up on 40% of Emirates fleet

    AeroMobile has said that 40% of Emirates Airline aircraft have been equipped with AeroMobile's mobile connectivity service, according to website FlightGlobal. The service allows passengers to make and receive voice calls and send and receive short messages using their cell phones. Emirates began offering the service in March 2008. Emirates had recently begun gate-marketing the product in Dubai, the company has said. Emirates' AeroMobile traffic as a whole indicates that 35% of usage occurs on

  • Monetary fund positive over Saudi economy during downturn

    IMF says that Saudi Arabia has strong fundamentals, but urges greater transparency int he financial sector.

  • More banks sign up for Shuweihat financing

    Twelve banks now have credit approval to give loans for the $3.2bn Shuweihat 2 power project in Abu Dhabi, bringing closer a conclusion of the $1.1bn commercial bank loan for the scheme that banks have been working on since May.

  • More fibre to connect Jordan to Saudi Arabia

    Mada Communications Jordan has completed the installation and operation works of the fibre optic cable to connect Jordan to Saudi Arabia, via the Al-Omari eastern border gate. The new cable serves as a parallel line to the existing fibre-optic line which passes through Aqaba on the Red Sea to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, to ensure a continuous online connection. The line is connected to the Saudi Telecom network and reaches the international marine (undersea) cables at a 10GB per second speed, whi

  • Morocco plans oil shale power project

    Rabat calls for expressions of interest for feedstock plant

  • Morocco: Electromechanical counters

    Supply of low-voltage electromechanical counters. Closing date : 30 September 2009

  • Morocco: Independent power project

    Independent power project. Closing date: 30 September 2009

  • Morocco: Power plant extension

    Extension of a power plant. Closing date: 1 October 2009

  • Movenpick opens Tala Bay in Jordan

    The Movenpick Hotels and Resorts has announced the opening of its five-star resort in Tala Bay-Aqaba, Jordan. The resort offers 306 rooms, eight restaurants and bars, meeting and conference facilities and a shopping arcade. It also has three large swimming pools, a water slide, a lazy river, a diving centre, children's activity centre and an open-air amphitheatre.

  • Mubadala sets bid deadline for Rosewood hotel

    Abu Dhabi-based developer Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality has set a deadline for bids of 17 September for the contract to build the Rosewood Abu Dhabi hotel on Sowwah Island.

  • Mustang Engineering buys stake in Saudi energy joint venture

    US services company targets engineering and project management deals

  • National Air to extend cargo flights

    US-based National Air Cargo has announced it will extend its weekly DC-8 cargo aircraft from Sharjah, UAE to Hahn, Germany before returning back to the United States. Cargo to be transported to Hahn includes garments, technology products, perishables and other time-sensitive air cargo, the company has said. The new flight has been scheduled to expand the all cargo transport options to Europe and to provide a service to Middle Eastern sea-air transport brokers, the cargo company has said.

  • National Contracting wins three contracts worth $55m

    The local National Contracting Company (NCC) has won three contracts worth SR204m ($55m) for transmission projects in Saudi Arabia.The first contract is for the connection of the number 9025 substation in West Qassimto the 132-kV transmission grid. The project is worth SR79m and is due to be completed in October 2010.Under a second contract, NCC will build a new 115/13kV substation at West Khobar. Construction on the SR 65m scheme is scheduled for completion in October 2011.

  • National River Port Management Company appoints new head

    Egypt's National River Port Management Company (NRPMC) has appointed Michael Power as its new chief executive officer.

  • Netgear launches home theatre net kit

    Netgear Middle East has launched its latest home theatre internet connection kit in the Middle East, the XAVB1004. The new powerline networking kit turns electrical power outlets into high-speed internet network connections, thereby allowing multiple Ethernet-enabled entertainment devices to hook up to the internet and the home network simultaneously. The firm expects the new kit to enjoy popularity among regional consumers, who are 'becoming more interested in high-performance applications s

  • Netgear launches SMB ReadyNas 3200

    Networking and storage company Netgear has launched ReadyNAS 3200, a 12-bay high-density network storage system for small and medium businesses (SMB) in the UAE. It supports up to 24TB of capacity and features include redundant power supplies and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and is aimed at companies wanting online server consolidation or backup. "The demands of today's business often drives SMBs to adopt enterprise-scale solutions, although they lack the resources required to support the comp

  • New Apple OS due for Middle East

    Apple Mac operating system X v10.6 Snow Leopard will go on sale in the Middle East during the first week of September. Apple said the OS includes 'hundreds' of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. Additionally, system applications such as Finder, Mail, iCal, iChat and Safari are 64-bit. It will be available from Arab Business Machine's Authorised Premium Resellers, Authorised Resellers and Authorised Retailers. It costs from $38 as an upgrade f

  • New buses for Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport (DoT) has launched four additional local routes in Al Ain, starting this month, and plans to replace 40 of the ageing Chinese buses serving the emirate's capital. The total fleet of buses in the capital will reach 500 by the end of 2009, and around 860 by the end of 2010, DoT said.

  • New factories open at Dubai Industrial City

    Dubai Industrial City has announced the opening of two new factories in the industrial zone. The Capital Industries factory has a 60,000sqft plot area in the city's Mineral Zone and will manufacture pre-cast concrete structures for a wide range of construction applications including precast columns, beams, half slab, and pre-stressed planks. The MeFab factory manufactures pressure vessels, single and double vault tankers and pressure pipes in steel, metal and stainless steel which are used i

  • New senior management at Barwa

    Youssuf bin Rashed al-Khater is the new chief executive officer (CEO) at local developer Barwa Real Estate Company. He is joined by Mohamed bin Abdul Aziz al-Saad who becomes the company's new deputy CEO.

  • No cement shortage in Qatar, says QNCC

    The Qatar National Cement Co has denied that cement is in short supply in the country, The Peninsula has reported. Qatar's largest cement-maker was able to meet at least 90% of the local requirement by itself, with only 10% was imported, QNCC's general manager Mohamed Ali Al Sulaiti said. QNCC has begun operating its new plant at full capacity and this has raised its total production capacity to 15,000 tons a day, he added.

  • Nokia to ship PC netbook

    Mobile phone giant Nokia plans to release an Intel- and Microsoft-based PC netbook, tapping into the fast growing market. The Nokia Booklet 3G will use Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 7 OS and Intel’s Atom processor to offer up to 12 hours of battery life, with a weight of 1.25 kilograms. Detailed specifications, market availability and pricing will be announced in early September Nokia said. Low-cost, low-powered netbooks are the fastest growing segment of the consumer PC industry.

  • Off plan property sales in Dubai plummet

    People are no longer buying off plan property in Dubai and banks are refusing to provide financing for projects that are more than six months away from being finished.

  • Offtec inks Visa Jordan security deal

    Jordan-based Offtec, a subsidiary of Offtec Investment Group, has signed an agreement with Visa Jordan Cards Services to provide Visa Jordan's new cards personalisation centre with the latest solutions to issue all types of smart cards (Chip) including Visa, MasterCard or Amex. Under the agreement, Offtec will also provide, deploy and integrate systems including Entrance Access Control, Mantrap Entrances, Bullet Proof Windows, Vault Doors, Safes and Surveillance Cameras.

  • Oil falls on US stocks, China fears

    Inventory rise in US, fears of China industrial cutbacks, pull oil back to $70 a barrel

  • Oil price rises to $70 a barrel

    US crude oil prices fell below $70 a barrel for the first time in a week on 11 August, and continued to trade lower as reports from an international agency forecast lower than anticipated demand for the remainder of 2009.

  • Oman Air launches routes to Germany

    Oman Air has is to launch non-stop flights from Germany to the Sultanate starting from September. Initially, it will fly to Frankfurt four times a week, adding a three-times a week flight to Munich from October. Other new routes from Muscat launching in October will additionally include Paris, Maldives and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

  • Oman awards first phase of oil and gas data project

    Oman has appointed US-based Halliburton to oversee the first stage of its project to collate all available geographic data for the oil and gas sector.

  • Oman extends airport bid deadline

    Oman has extended until August 31 a deadline for international firms, including French Vinci and Indian Larsen & Toubro, to bid for the construction of a new terminal at Muscat's main airport, the Gulf Daily News has reported. The tender, which contractors say is worth about $1.4bn, has already been pushed back twice this year. 'Bidders need more time to prepare for the new changes,' an Oman tender board official has said.

  • Oman extends Salalah airport terminal deadline

    The closing date for the Salalah airport terminal building is being extended to 21 September to give bidders more time to prepare their proposals. The previous closing date was 17 August. There have been several extensions to the bid deadline.

  • Oman invites firms to bid for Duqm airport package

    Tenders issued for latest part of Duqm development

  • Oman issues Darsait wastewater tender

    State-owned Haya Water, formerly Oman Wastewater Services Company, is inviting bids for the construction of the Darsait wastewater treatment plant.

  • Oman oil export revenue falls 47 per cent

    Oman's oil export revenues for the first five months of the year fell more than 47 per cent compared to 2008 despite a 7 per cent increase in output, MEED estimates.

  • Oman plans new oilfield steam injection development

    Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is planning to treble production at the Amal oil fields in the southeast of the country by using steam technology.

  • Oman receives bids for Sohar jetty

    The Port of Sohar has received bids for the contract to build the deep-water Jetty serving the Vale Industrial Complex.

  • Oman receives bids for Sohar jetty

    Oman's port of Sohar has received bids for the contract to build the deep water Jetty serving the Vale Industrial Complex, MEED has reported. The project involves the construction of a 600-metre long jetty and new harbour basin that will serve a pelletizing plant and iron ore distribution centre that is being built by Brazilian mining company Vale.

  • Oman tenders interior road contract

    Ministry plans to improve transport network access

  • Oman: Airfield infrastructure works

    Carrying out airfield infrastructure works at an airport. Closing date: 28 September 2009

  • Oman: Pesticides

    Supply of pesticides to control palm date dubas. Closing date: 28 September 2009

  • Oman: Power station expansion

    Expansion of a power station. Closing date: 21 November 2009

  • Oman: Road upgrade work

    Closing date: 12 October

  • Oman: Steam surface facilities (off plot)

    Carrying out the off-plot construction contract for the Amal steam surface facilities. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Oman: Steam surface facilities (on plot)

    Carrying out the on-plot construction contract for the Amal steam surface facilities. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Oman: University college

    Construction of a university college. Closing date: 5 October 2009

  • Opec forecasts falling oil demand in 2010

    The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) predicts demand for oil produced by its members will continue to fall in 2010, in its monthly report published on 11 August.

  • Operational profits up at QIMC

    Qatar Industrial Manufacturing (QIMC) has reported net profits of QR80.9m for the first half of 2009. Operational profits rose 25% compared to the corresponding period last year. QIMC additionally said it plans to launch QR373m worth of projects during the current year. CEO Abdul Rahman bin Abdulla Al Ansari said the company is reviewing the economic viability of some projects, but added that its aluminium plant, which is due to begin operations in the third quarter of 2010, is expected to ha

  • Palestinian industrial production rises in second quarter

    Industrial production in the Palestinian Occupied Territories grew 0.7 per cent during the second quarter of 2009, driven by improvements in the power and water sector.

  • Poland shipyard deadline missed

    A Qatari investor has missed the midnight deadline to pay for stakes in two shipyards in Poland, Bloomberg has reported. The Qatari investor, whose name hasn't been made public, defaulted on a $129m payment for Polskie Stocznie SA, which holds assets in the Baltic ports of Gdynia and Szczecin. The investor is still in talks with the government, Shahzad Shahbaz, CEO of QInvest, which is advising the bidder, has said. A Qatari fund may be in talks to buy the ports instead. Poland must sell the

  • Prequalification starts for buildings at Al-Ain Wildlife Park

    Contractors have been invited to prequalify for a contract to build a resort hotel, villas and staff accommodation at the Al-Ain Wildlife Park & Resort project in Abu Dhabi emirate.

  • ProServ inks EasyVista resell deal

    Jordan-based ProServ has said that it has been appointed by IT management solutions group Staff&Line as a Professional VAR for the Middle East and will resell EasyVista, Staff&Line's integrated software suite for IT Asset and IT Service Management. ProServ covers 16 countries including Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. ProServ also has sub reseller relationships with companies in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

  • Qatar aims for 'green' deserts

    Qatar is in a bid to to turn deserts into 'green' lands by converting them into pastoral space and dry lands into arable zones, The Peninsula has reported. Qatar's Ministry of Environment has recently inked an agreement with the Damascus-based Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zone and Dry Lands (ACSAD) to help Qatar make this project a reality. ACSAD is a specialised Arab organisation which works on developing scientific agricultural research in arid and semi-arid areas. ACSAD will also su

  • Qatar Airways elected to IATA committee

    Qatar Airways said it has been elected as a member of the International Air Transport Association's Environment Committee, one of the IATA's six groups focusing on various industry-related issues. Qatar's national flag carrier will join a select group of international carriers to advise relevant IATA bodies on environmental matters.

  • Qatar Airways signs maintenance deal

    Qatar Airways has appointed Lufthansa Technik to perform C4-Checks on its Airbus A320 Family and A330 aircraft, the Gulf Times has reported. A total of 24 C4-Checks programme will be carried out by Lufthansa Technik over two and a half years. The maintenance checks will be performed on nine Airbus A320-family narrow-bodied and 15 Airbus A330 wide-bodied planes.

  • Qatar Airways to add flight on Zurich route

    Qatar Airways said it will add an extra flight on the Doha-Zurich route commencing October 25. The new Saturday departure out of Zurich will be operated with an Airbus A330, in a two-class cabin configuration. The Qatari airline also operates five-flights-a-week to Geneva.

  • Qatar awards schools contract

    Three contractors win work around Doha

  • Qatar delivers gas to Italian terminal

    Qatar has delivered its first gas shipment to Italy's new offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal as part of a 25-year supply agreement.

  • Qatar invites bids for airport extension

    Doha International Airport's steering committee has invited four pre-qualified groups to bid by October 14 for a contract to build an extension to the passenger terminal, known as the north node or phase 3a, MEED has reported. The terminal extension is a five-level structure with a total floor area of 127,000 square metres, where the ground floor will accommodate passengers for transfers; the first floor is for departures, and the second for arrivals. The third and fourth levels will house a

  • Qatar may buy Indonesian aircraft

    Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, Rozy Munir has said that talks were underway between the countries for the sale of the CN-235 aircraft to Qatar, the Gulf Times has reported. The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-turbo-prop aircraft developed jointly by CASA (Spain) and IPTN (Indonesia) as a regional airliner and military transporter. The aircraft manufactured in Indonesia are used by the Indonesian air force.

  • Qatar receives Boeing C-17

    The Qatar Emiri Air Force has said it has received the first of two C-17 Globemaster III airlifters, which it ordered from Boeing in 2008. Qatar was the first Middle Eastern country to order the new airlifter, which will enable its air force to transport troops and equipment and to support humanitarian operations throughout the Middle East and South Asia, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Malki, head of Qatar's airlift selection committee has said. The UAE announced on February 24 that it will also acquire

  • Qatar Shipping Q2 profit down

    Qatar Shipping Co, which is merging with Qatar Navigation, has posted a 53.4% fall in Q2 profit to QR80.8m, Reuters has reported. Net income in the first half of the year was QR158.58m, down from QR375.03m in the same period last year, when it booked a one-time QR114m gain on the sale of a vessel, the firm has said. First half profits fell 39% as the firm posted a loss on investments of about QR17m from a QR76.9m profit in 2008.

  • Qatar Shipping to establish marine services group

    Firm to provide cargo loading and handling facilities

  • Qatar: Boat landing facilities

    Construction of new boat landing facilities for Qatar Petroleum offshore platforms. Closing date: 4 October 2009

  • Qatar: Oil field F&G system maintenance

    Provision of maintenance support services for F&G systems in oil fields. Closing date: 18 October 2009

  • Qatar: Seabed survey

    Balymetric survey of Qatar Petroleum operating areas. Closing date: 27 September 2009.

  • Qatar: Well testing services

    Provision of surface oil well testing equipment and services.

  • Qatar:Electric golf carts

    Supply of six electric golf carts for Qatar Petroleum.Closing date: 28 September 2009Open for authorised companies.Fee is QAR100.Tender no STC/ST09MT0131Details from Materials Department, Qatar Navigation Plaza Building, C Ring Road, Ground Floor, Room No 30, Doha, Qatar.

  • Qatar's Nakilat starts ship building operation

    Qatar Gas Transport (Nakilat) and Damen Shipyards Group BN of the Netherlands are to form a joint venture to build marine-vessels from next year, as the LNG shipper looks to expands its revenue sources, Bloomberg has reported. Nakilat and Damen plan to build ships as big as 120 meters long, including luxury yachts and coast guard boats, at the Ras Laffan port north of Doha in Qatar. The venture, in which Qatar Gas will have a majority stake, will be completed by the end of this year. Nakilat

  • QNCC H1 profit climbs 38%

    The Qatar National Cement Co (QNCC) has reported a 38% rise in net profits in the first half of this year over the corresponding period in 2008. Total revenue from sales was QR871m, up 23% over the corresponding period last year, the company said. Sales had reached 19,000 tons a day, compared to 14,000 tons in the same period last year, while sales of washed sand grew to 27,000 tons per day, compared to 21,000 tons in the corresponding period in 2008.

  • Q-Ship moots fleet expansion

    Qatar Shipping Company (Q-Ship) has said the fall in prices of ships has created a golden opportunity for the company to expand its fleet through purchases, the Peninsula has reported. 'We expect the prices of vessels to fall further and we will choose the right time for buying ships. The company sold half of its fleet for some QR670m at the peak of the market. The same vessels that the company sold can be bought at half of the selling price,' K. K. Kothari, Q-Ship's CEO has said.

  • Ramadan train service launched in Jordan

    Jordan's Public Transport and Regulatory Commission (PTRC) and Jordan Hijaz Railway will launch a train service on a daily basis between Amman and Zarqa during Ramadan, the Jordan Times has reported. The measure seeks to reduce traffic jams during the holy month, PRTC has said.

  • RasGas boosts gas output

    Qatar's Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas) has started producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from train six, boosting the company's overall output to 28.5 million tonnes a year (t/y).

  • Riyadh to award $1.4bn railway contract

    The Saudi Railways Organisation has asked six prequalified international consortiums to prepare bids for the second main construction contract on its high-speed railway between Mecca and Medina, Meed has reported. Bidding on the $1.4bn operations, signalling and maintenance contract will begin after Ramadan finishes in September. Prequalification for a contract to build the four stations on the railway will begin before the end of the year.

  • Rotana denies image use

    Rotana has issued a statement in response to media coverage of an image from a UK natural landmark being used to promote its Cove Rotana resort in Ras Al Khaimah, saying that the image was not used by the group or published on its website. The image of Durdle Door was used on another website aimed at promoting the area around the resort, according to the statement. 'Rotana does not use stock pictures to illustrate or promote any of the hotels in its portfolio,' the group said.

  • Rotana opens hotel in Makkah

    Rotana Hotel Management has opened the Al Marwa Rayhaan in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is the first hotel to open under the brand 'Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana'. The Al Marwa Rayhaan has 400 rooms and suites and three restaurants.

  • Royal Air Maroc pilots set to strike

    Royal Air Maroc's pilots plan to strike for a third time after failing to resolve their dispute with management.

  • Royal Air Maroc starts talks with pilots to avert strike

    Union aims to stop carrier recruiting foreign staff

  • Royal Air Maroc to hold talks over strike action

    Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has agreed to talks with staff representatives following two strikes by airline pilots in late July.

  • RTA abras carry over nine million commuters

    Over nine million commuters used the motorised abra service to travel across Dubai Creek in the first seven months of 2009, accounting for over 455,000 trips, said the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) Marine Transport Agency. March proved to be the busiest month, with 1,481,655 passengers ferried in 74,083 trips, followed by May (1,445,120 passengers) and July (1,407,379).

  • RTA kits buses with safety systems

    The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) says it has equipped its new fleet of buses with a range of features to improve safety. It includes the i-Shift gear system, designed to increase driver comfort and reduce the risks of accidents and an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to give drivers better control of the bus, increasing its stability reducing the risk of skidding or sliding. Buses also come with emergency exits, alarm systems, fire extinguishers and first aid kits.

  • RTA launches Metro information site

    Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a website giving details about Metro timings and facilities. The Geographical Information System (GIS) of Dubai Metro (metrogis.rta.ae) provides information about the distance and time it is expected to take travelling between stations, park and ride facilities for metro commuters, integration points with other transport modes such as buses and abras, in addition to showing detailed images of the metro stations and functions of the GIS

  • RWI inks Qatar rubber deals

    Rubber World Industries (RWI), manufacturer of closed-cell rubber insulation 'Gulf-O-flex', has signed several deals with Qatar-based contractors totalling QR1.1m. Under the agreements, RWI will deliver more than 2,345 cubic metres of its high quality rubber insulation products, including 'Gulf-O-Flex' tubes, sheet rolls and rubber foam tape. The list of contractors includes Jaid Trading & Contracting, Penta Trading Group LLC, Rashid Al Mulla Sanitary & Building Materials Company, Rodha Khali

  • Sabic offers 'green' composites

    Sabic Innovative Plastics has announced the introduction of two products in a new line of LNP Thermocomp specialty compounds that use curauá fibre and wood flour natural reinforcements. Compared to traditional reinforcements such as glass fibre, natural fibres offer several environmental benefits; the new products are renewable, biodegradable and require less energy to produce, Sabic has said. Furthermore, they are lighter in weight than glass and other traditional fibres, helping to reduce e

  • Sabic sets up $1bn joint venture for acrylics plant

    Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) has signed a letter of intent to form a $1bn joint venture with Japan's Mitsubishi Rayon to build a plastics plant .

  • Sabic signs acrylic glass JV

    Saudi Basic Industries (Sabic) is entering a joint venture with Japan's Mitsubishi Rayon to produce material for acrylic glass. With an annual output capacity of 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes, the Saudi-based factory is expected to become one of the largest for producing methyl methacrylate. Prior to establishing the joint venture, Sabic is expected to take a stake of between 10% and 20% in Lucite International, owned by Mitsubishi Rayon, reported Reuters. Acrylic glass is used in various consume

  • Sabic's UK LDPE plant nears completion

    Sabic UK Petrochemicals' heavily delayed low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant in Wilton, near Middlesbrough, England, will finally come online in September. The UK arm of Saudi Basic Industries, it is expected to reach full capacity next year. It will be the largest LDPE plant in the world, producing up to 400,000 tonnes a year.

  • Sama plans fleet expansion

    Saudi Arabia's low-cost carrier Sama Airlines is planning to expand its fleet and add more destinations in the near future, the Arab News has reported. 'We are currently reviewing options for adding new aircraft to our fleet and adding new destinations including the subcontinent,' Faisal Al-Duhaim, Sama's director of marketing has said.

  • Saudi Arabia stops travel from UAE using ID cards

    Saudi Arabia has suspended the implementation of the agreement allowing travel between Saudi Arabia and the UAE using national ID cards instead of passports, the Arab News has reported. "The Kingdom has taken the step because the map appearing on the ID cards of UAE citizens is not in line with the border agreement between the two countries signed on August 21 1974," the Saudi government said.

  • Saudi banks have $5bn exposure to Saad and Al-Gosaibi

    Standard Chartered report claims sector’s financial profiles remain strong

  • Saudi Cable buys majority stake in Turkish firm

    Saudi Cable, a power and telecom network equipment maker, has agreed to buy a 79% stake in Turkish electronic equipments maker Elimsan for SR123.75m ($33m), Reuters has reported. Two unidentified banks will finance about 91% of the deal's cost over a five-year period, while the remainder will be funded from Saudi Cable's own cash, the company said.

  • Saudi Electricity awards restructuring study

    BC Middle East to examine utility’s transmission and distribution businesses

  • Saudi to retender Landbridge project

    Saudi rail authorities have confirmed they are retendering the $7bn Saudi Landbridge coast-to-coast rail link project on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, MEED has reported. A source close to the Saudi rail authorities has told MEED Riyadh it will now finance the scheme. The project will link the kingdom's Gulf and Red Sea coasts via the capital.

  • Saudia threatened with legal action over plane auction

    Saudi Arabian Airlines has been threatened with legal action by a Saudi businessman, after he bought a plane from the airline at a public auction and later found it had been stripped bare. Accroding to the Saudi Gazette, the man has said he will demand SR100m if the plane does not come fully equipped, as it was when he first inspected the aircraft.

  • Saudi's Umrah firms to provide hotel doctors

    Saudi Arabia's Umrah companies have been told they must employ resident doctors at hotels of over 400 rooms in a bid to step up measures to combat swine flu ahead of the pilgrimage season, the Saudi Gazette has reported. The doctors are required to monitor the health of Umrah pilgrims staying at each location and immediately refer suspected cases of swine flu to Ministry of Health hospitals.

  • Scaled down opening for Dubai Metro

    Only 10 stations ready for opening day

  • Scepticism grows over infrastructure privatisation plans

    Six years after announcing it planned to use private capital to finance its trans-Arabian railway, Riyadh has decided to use public money instead.

  • SEPC starts LDPE plant

    Saudi Ethylene and Polyethylene (SEPC), a joint venture between LyondellBasell Industries and Tasnee & Sahara Petrochemical, has said it has started up its low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant based on the Lupotech T process technology. Located in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, the plant has production rates of up to 57 metric tonnes per hour, which equates to an annual capacity of 450 KT, making it the largest facility of its kind in the world.

  • Sewedy H1 profits down 30%

    Egypt-based Sewedy Cables, the largest Arab cable maker by market value, has posted a 30% drop in first half net profit to EGP369m as volumes grew but prices slipped, Reuters has reported. Export revenue fell 41% to EGP1.94bn, out of total revenue of EGP4.64bn, the firm has said. Gross profit from turnkey projects grew 38% to EGP132m from EGP96m in the first half of 2008, and gross profit from electrical products expanded 8% to EGP119m, Sewedy has said.

  • Sharjah orders for new gas cylinders

    The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) has signed a contract with Haifa Industrial for large supply of liquid gas cylinders that comply with SEDD standards. Haifa will provide SEDD with 7,086 48-litre liquid gas cylinders with an overall value of Dhs900,000 due for delivery before the end of 2009. The new cylinders are set to replace currently used in the emirate that are due to expire.

  • Shell renews Dubai fuel concession

    Shell Markets Middle East has announced the renewal of the Aviation Fuel Concession Agreement at Dubai International Airport. Under the terms of the concession, Shell will continue to supply aviation fuel to customers at Dubai International Airport, currently the sixth largest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic.

  • Silver Air halts operations

    Silver Air, the Dubai-based private charter company, has announced the suspension of its operations effective yesterday 'due to a complete re-organisation of the company', Emirates Business has reported. The decision comes only nine months after it had secured its air operator's certificate from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). In an e-mailed letter to all Silver Air employees, Tim Lee, Commercial Director of Silver Air, said: 'Following meetings with our chairman and his advisors

  • Sipchem to begin SR4bn phase 2

    Saudi International Petrochemical Co (Sipchem) has said that a SR4bn ($1.07bn) second phase of its development plans will start operations in September, Reuters has reported. The second phase of Sipchem's projects consists of an acetyls complex that will produce 450,000 tonnes of acetic acid, 330,000 tonnes of vinyl acetate monomer and 345,000 tonnes of carbon monoxide annually.

  • Skype plans Bahrain HQ

    Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has said that the Luxembourg-based internet telephony company Skype has contacted the watchdog to set up its Middle East headquarters in the kingdom, the Gulf Daily News has reported. 'Their interest is serious and negotiations are ongoing,' TRA chairman Dr. Mohammed Al Amer has said.

  • Software piracy in Jordan dips below regional average

    Jordan has witnessed a steady decline in software piracy rates since 2003 managing to reduce piracy to 58%, which is below the regional average for the first time, a Business Software Alliance (BSA) spokesperson said. According to a study released a in January 2008 by IDC, a 10% decrease in software piracy over the next four years would create an additional 436 jobs, $47m in local industry revenues and $14m in additional tax revenues for federal, regional and local governments, BSA added.

  • Sohar airport to be upgraded

    Oman's government has invited bids for Sohar Airport's key airfield infrastructure project, the Oman Observer has reported. This phase includes building a 4,000-metre runway with turning loops at the ends, in addition to a full-length taxiway with high speed exits. With a width of 75 metres, the runway will be designed to handle some of the largest aircraft in operation today, including Airbus' Superjumbo A380. Other works envisaged in this package are airside roads, power and water networks,

  • Sohar International Development to award deep-water jetty deal

    Four groups shortlisted for contract

  • Sonatrach creates Saharan oil and gas exploration firm

    Algeria’s state energy giant Sonatrach has signed an agreement to jointly develop oil and gas fields in the Sahara desert with the national oil companies of Thailand and Vietnam.

  • Sonatrach makes gas discovery in Algeria

    State energy giant explores southeastern Illizi basin

  • South Koreans win $1bn housing work in Libya

    South Korea's Sungwon Corporation has won a $996m contract to build houses in Tobruk, Libya.

  • Spam, botnets and malware rise 'alarmingly'

    Security software company McAfee reports that spam volumes have leapt 141% since March globally, the longest streak of increasing spam volumes yet recorded. In its Q2 Threats Report, it also highlights the rise of botnets (up 16%) and the threat from Auto-Run malware. Describing the increases as alarming, Mike Gallagher, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of McAfee Avert Labs, said: "The expansion of these infections is a grave reminder of the potential harm that can be caused

  • SpiceJet appoints Sharaf Travel as agent in UAE

    India's low-cost airline, SpiceJet has appointed Sharaf Travel as its first General Sales Agency in the UAE. As per the agreement, Sharaf Travel will promote, advertise and sell SpiceJet tickets in the UAE.

  • Spinneys signs IT infrastructure deal with Dell

    Dell and IT services and consulting firm NTS have won a Dhs2.34m contract from the wholesale division of UAE supermarket chain Spinneys, to update its IT infrastructure. Spinneys wants to increase the efficiency of its supply chain that provides products to its retail outlets. It is implementing a range of Dell kit, including 27 PowerEdge servers, two EMCCX4 storage area networks, a storage tape library and ProSupport four-hour mission critical services.

  • STS opens Bahrain office

    Specialized Technical Services (STS), a Jordanian IT service and enterprise solutions provider, has announced the opening of its new office in Bahrain, as part of its expansion strategy in the region. It is the group's third direct office in the GCC, along with its two current offices operating in Saudi Arabia and UAE.

  • Sudan awards Afra substation deal to South Koreans

    LS Industrial Systems to build plant and Daeong Industrial Machinery to finance project

  • Sudan: Rural water supply and sanitation project

    Borehole drilling, installation of hand pumps and small water distribution systems. Closing date: 4 September 2009

  • Suez Canal issues July revenues

    Egypt's Suez Canal Authority has said the country's revenues from the waterway had dropped 22% to $382.9m in July compared to the same month last year, Reuters has reported. The figure is the highest for monthly receipts from the canal so far this year. The previous high for 2009 was June's figure of $348.2m.

  • Sun reports $147m loss

    Sun Microsystems Inc. has reported a $147m loss, or 20 cents per share, in the three months ending June 30, which is Sun's fiscal fourth quarter, AP has reported. Sun has made a profit of $88m in the year-ago period. Oracle Corp. is set to takeover Sun in a $7.4bn deal,scheduled to be completed after approval from European antitrust regulators.

  • Swiss-Belhotel inks new Oman deal

    Swiss-Belhotel International has recently announced its further expansion in the Middle East with the signing of the third Oman-based property in Al Khuwair City, Central Muscat. The soon-to be built four-star business hotel will include 141 deluxe rooms, business and meeting facilities, an all day dining restaurant and a specialty restaurant as well as a fitness club with a roof deck pool. The hotel is targeted to be operational within next 24 months.

  • Syria tourism up 23%

    According to official statistics by the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, the numbers of Arab and European tourists visiting the country climbed by 23% in July compared to the same month last year. Bahrain accounted for 55% of the tourists, followed by Saudi Arabia at 47%, Kuwait at 42%, Qatar 37% and the UAE at 21%, the statistics indicated.

  • Syria: Air filter dry cleaning machines

    Syrian Railways seeks cleaners

  • Syria: Auxiliary towing car dolly

    Closing date: 14 September

  • Syria: Extension of power plant

    Extension of power plant. Closing date: 7 September 2009

  • Syria: Manufacture and supply of materials for transmission lines

    Manufacture and supply of materials for transmission lines. Closing date: 30 September 2009

  • Syria: Spare parts for rail equipment

    Closing date: 28 September

  • Syria: Spare parts for skid type GE product type

    Closing date: 7 September

  • Syria: Supervision of extension of power plant

    Supervision of extension of power plant. Closing date: 10 October 2009

  • Syria: Supervision on the extension of a power plant

    Supervision on the extension of a power plant. Closing date: 1 October 2009-08-25

  • Taqa profits fall 71 per cent in second quarter

    Net profits at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) fell 71 per cent in the second quarter of 2009 after commodity prices decreased.

  • Taqa takes stake in North Sea energy assets

    Taqa Energy, a subsidiary Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), is continuing its recent run of acquisitions in the North Sea by taking a 15 per cent stake in assets owned by the multinational L11b group.

  • Tariq al-Ghanim bids low for Kuwait oil deal

    Kuwait's Tariq al-Ghanim Trading Company has submitted the lowest bid for a contract to maintain crude oil and water tanks for state oil and gas operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

  • Tasjeel launches express renewal service

    Tasjeel, an Emirates National Oil Company and Dubai Roads and Transport Authority joint venture for quick vehicle testing and registration services, has announced the introduction of a 'Drive Thru Express', a new service specifically for registration renewal of vehicles that are three years old or less. The service allows motorists to have their vehicles registered in just five minutes with no inspection required. Currently a three-month pilot project, 'Drive Thru Express' is available at the

  • Tehran issues well tender for South Pars gas development

    The state-run National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) is inviting contractors to bid for a well completion services contract after winning a $1bn contract last year covering drilling on phases 17-18 of the South Pars gas field development.

  • Teikoku Oil to issue Libyan drilling tender

    Japan's Teikoku Oil Company will issue a tender covering the provision of a drilling rig and associated services as part of its exploration work in Libya's Ghadames basin.

  • Ten stations to open on Dubai Metro

    The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed that 10 stations will open on the Dubai Metro on September 9, when the service begins operations. The 10 will be between Rashidya, which is expected to attract large numbers of commuters from neighbouring emirate Sharjah, and Nakheel Harbour, near Ibn Battuta Mall. Jebil Ali station will open later, as the RTA believes passenger numbers for the station will be lower. The remaining 29 stations will opened in batches of three, four or

  • Tender Libya: Geotechnical Investigation Consultant

    Topographical survey and geotechnical investigations required for the construction of a gas oil separation plant (GOSP). Closing date: 6 September 2009Akakus Oil Operations is the development operator of Areas NC115 and NC186 in the Murzuq basin, 700 kiloemtres south of Tripoli.Expressions of interest.Details from Abdula Owen, Engineering Superintendent, Akakus Oil Operations, El-Tahaddi Street (Off Airport Road), PO Box 91987, Tripoli - Libya

  • Tender Libya: Wireless telemetry system

    Provision of a wireless telemetry system for real time well test downhole data acquisition and sampler actuation services. Closing date: 31 August 2009Provision of a wireless telemetry system for real time well test downhole data acquisition and sampler actuation services for BP’s forthcoming oil exploration drilling campaign in the Ghadames and offshore Sirte basins. Expressions of interest.Details from BP Exploration Libya, PSCM Manager, Abdelaziz Bin Omar Street, Noufleen, Tr

  • Tenders issued for marina projects at Mina Zayed

    Mubadala Development has issued tenders for marina projects at Mina Zayed, on the tip of Abu Dhabi island, The National has reported. The marina is tentatively called Marina Zayed, and is expected to house 500 berths for superyachts up to 180 metres. Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi's main port, is set for a major redevelopment as shipping activities are being shifted to Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone on the Abu Dhabi coast closer to Dubai.

  • Tenders issued for Zayed museum enabling works

    The local Tourism Development & Investment Corporation is inviting contractors to bid for the enabling works contract on the Zayed National Museum project on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island.

  • Three Omani airports out for tender

    Omani officials have said that foreign firms, including South Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industries, Greece-based Consolidated Contractors and India's Dodsal, have qualified to bid for three airport contracts in the Sultanate, Reuters has reported. Bids submissions for Salalah airport in the south of Oman is due on September 21, with bids for Duqm and Sohar airports due on September 28. "The Salalah airport will be converted from domestic to international, while the new Sohar airport is for airfie

  • Topaz completes RAK Cement installation

    Topaz Engineering has completed the installation and commissioning of complete Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) works in the Coal Mill building for RAK Cement. The E&I works included the supply, installation and testing of cables, cable trays, profibus cables, MLDB (main lighting distribution boards) panels and light fittings in the total Electrical and Instrumentation package. The contract also comprised the installation of 11 KV sub stations with HV switchgear, distribution transformers

  • Torah Cement H1 profits up

    Egypt's Torah Cement has reported an 8.6% rise in net profit to EGP178.3m ($32.45m) in the first six months of 2009, compared to EGP164.3m in the same period of 2008, Reuters has reported. Torah Cement is a subsidiary of Suez Cement, which is itself majority-owned by Italy's Italcementi.

  • Travco completes Steigenberger deal

    Egypt-based Travco Group International Holding S.A.E has completed the strategic acquisition of Steigenberger Hotels AG, the company has said. The acquisition is viewed by the company as stepping-stone to worldwide presence, and entry into the city hotel business, particularly in the German, Austrian and Swiss markets. The group is also set to launch Travco Travel - a joint venture with TUI AG to cater to guests needs, offering over 1000 buses and 200 luxury limousines.

  • Two luxury hotels to open in Doha by year-end

    Two of the five luxury hotels designed to be linked to the City Center building in Doha, Qatar will open by the end of this year, The Peninsula has reported. The five luxury hotels, two of which will be attached to the east side of the shopping mall and the others on the west, include two Marriott hotels — the Marriott Courtyard and the Renaissance Hotel — the Doha Shangri-La, the Doha Rotana Hotel and a new Merweb. The Renaissance Hotel and the Marriott Courtyard will open by the end of the

  • UAE bank loans fall 0.2 per cent in July

    Risk aversion weighs on bank loan growth

  • UAE bans reflective material on cars

    The UAE's Ministry of Interior has imposed a ban on the use of chrome, silver and golden thermal reflective films, paints and stickers on vehicles, Khaleej Times has reported. The ban is aimed at protecting the lives of drivers and for the safety of the roads nationwide, the ministry has said.

  • UAE IT market worth $3.15bn

    According to a Business Monitor's report, UAE IT spending is projected to remain in positive growth territory, despite the current economic slowdown, reaching $3.15bn in 2009. Government spending and investment will provide support, and there will be continued opportunities in sectors such as construction, banking and telecoms, the report has said. The report has also said that a number of short-term factors give concern, including the impact of a falling population on consumer spending, but

  • UAE to purchase Hellfire missiles in $526m deal

    The UAE will purchase 326 Hellfire missiles from the US in a deal worth up to $526m.

  • Unemployed targetted in cyber attacks

    Software security developer Symantec said the unemployed are being targetted in spam and phishing attacks, as cybercriminals try to take advantage of the global economic downturn. In its Mid-year update; 2009 Security trends report, it said it is additionally seeing an increase in the number of malware attacks each month, that social networks are still a popular target and that spam is hitting record levels. It has also seen the large scale distribution of a small number of threats, such as t

  • US agency extends Agility contract

    US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has extended its contract for warehouse and distribution services with Agility Defense & Government Services (DGS), the public sector arm of Kuwait-based Agility. The contract runs out of the Defense Distribution Center, Kuwait/Southwest Asia (DDKS). Under the one-year extension, Agility DGS will use its Kuwait facilities to provide DLA with a warehouse management system to support operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.

  • US commission accuses Abu Dhabi man of insider trading

    The US' Securities & Exchange Commission has filed a civil action against an Abu Dhabi man for alleged insider trading.

  • US contractors target offshore energy deals

    Two US energy contractors have created a new consortium to bid for offshore oil and gas projects in the Middle East and North Africa.

  • US firms to manage Barwa New Cairo project

    Doha-based Qatar Project Management Company (QPM) has awarded the contract to manage the construction of the $6.9bn Barwa New Cairo project in Egypt Berger Hill to a US-based joint venture of Hill International and Louis Berger.

  • Virgin names Fursan as Saudi agent

    Virgin Atlantic has appointed Fursan Travel as its off line General Sales Agent in Saudi Arabia. Fursan Travel is part of the Al Rajhi Group, headquartered in Riyadh and has 85 branches in the country.

  • Voltas moots more MidEast expansion

    Ishaat Hussain, Chairman of India's Voltas, air-conditioner manufacturer and services company, has said the firm is seriously contemplating setting up a subsidiary company in Saudi Arabia, after its Abu Dhabi factory has commenced operations. Places such as Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia are better placed to ride the global downturn and large-scale projects to develop their national economies continue to be undertaken, Hussain said at the company's AGM in Mumbai.

  • Wataniya Airways posts H1 loss

    Recently launched Kuwaiti airline Wataniya Airways has reported a KD5.9m loss for the first half of this year. Wataniya Chairman Abdulsalam Al-Bahar, said the results were not unexpected, because the airline was began operations only six months ago and does not yet have a full fleet. "It's a year set out for expenditures and not revenues, and such results were normally expected," he said.

  • Wataniya Airways reports $20m first half loss

    Wataniya Airways lost KD5.9m ($20.6m) during the first half of its financial year.

  • Websense blocks Yemeni ISPs

    Websense, a US-based web security gateway software company, has said it has blocked two ISPs in Yemen, YemenNet and TeleYemen, from receiving updates after it has emerged they were using its filtering technology in a government-mandated censorship scheme, the UK-based The Register has reported. Websense maintains a policy of not selling to 'governments or Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that are engaged in any sort of government-imposed censorship,' the company has said.

  • Western Digital launches new mobile hard drives

    Western Digital has announced avaialbility on select distributors and resellers two new mobile hard drives that reach new capacity extremes, offering one terabyte model - the industry's highest-capacity 2.5-inch drive available. The 333 GB-per-platter technology enables the new WD Scorpio Blue SATA 2.5-inch hard drives to offer mobile storage device and notebook users 1 TB capacity. A 750 GB WD Scorpio Blue model also will be available.

  • Work starts on Adnoc headquarters' foundations

    The local Arabian Foundations has started work on the enabling works package for the new corporate headquarters for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).

  • Yahoo, Hotmail top Jordan users poll

    A new survey by Arab Advisors Group has revealed that 79.1% of internet users in Jordan use Yahoo and 69.5% use Hotmail as their email account provider. A total of 61.6% of respondents reported that MSN Messenger was their preferred chatting medium, while 54.6% have said they use Yahoo Messenger for online chatting, according to the survey. 'Arabic was the preferred language for reading and listening on the internet amongst respondents. However, English was the preferred language for writing

  • Yemen currency reserves reach four-year low

    The Central Bank of Yemen’s foreign currency reserves can only cover eight-and-a-half months of imports, a record low for the Arab world’s poorest country.

  • Yemen investment risk increases

    Investment risk in Yemen is increasing because of the country's "deteriorating political situation", according to a leading risk consultancy.

  • Yemen signs water deals with Japan

    Yemen's Environment Minister Abdulrahman al-Eryani has signed a draft of the designs for 19 water projects with the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (Jica).

  • Yemen: Road construction supervision

    Provision of construction supervision consultancy services for rural road projects. Closing date: 11 September 2009

  • Yemeni oil revenues drop 75 per cent in first half of 2009

    Sanaa’s oil export revenues fell 75 per cent in the first half of 2009 because of a 26 per cent drop in the country’s production and a big decrease in oil prices compared with the same period a year ago.

  • Zayani signs leasing deal with Electricity & Water Authority

    Zayani Leasing, a Saudi Arabia-based leasing company, has signed an exclusive lease contract with the Electricity and Water Authority for 11 Mitsubishi forklifts and three 2.5 ton Mitsubishi RB25N Reach Truck Warehouse Trucks, two 1.5 ton FD15NT and 5.0 ton FD50K Diesel Forklifts each and four 3.0 ton FD30NT Diesel Forklifts. Zayani Leasing handle vehicle management, including checks, repairs and maintenance, warranties and administration, the firm said.

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