Oman

Oman news and analysis, tenders, contracts awarded, commentary and economic data.

Oman News

Sohar rolling mill to diversify Subscription Required

18-Mar-2010 | By Kevin Baxter

Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company plans to increase production

Rio Tinto Alcan calls for Middle East co-operation Subscription Required

18-Mar-2010 | By Kevin Baxter

World’s largest aluminium company says partnerships are the way forward

Rival bidder enters race to buy Shadeed Iron & Steel Subscription Required

17-Mar-2010 | By Kevin Baxter

Emirates Steel and unknown Indian company make rival approaches for Omani plant

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Oman Analysis

Joseph Daher EVP Operations Almabani

Almabani General Contractors Subscription Required

Issue No 46 19-25 March 2010 | By Christopher Sell

The Saudi Arabian firm is focusing on its home market this year to increase revenues

Global trade slowdown hits maritime carriers Subscription Required

Issue No 46 19-25 March 2010 | By Karen Thomas

Middle East maritime industry finds its growth constrained by the financial crisis

Adnan Yousif al-Baraka, CEO, Al-Baraka Banking Group

Al-Baraka Banking Group Subscription Required

Issue No 44 5-11 March 2010 | By James Gavin

The Islamic bank is seeking fresh markets after emerging intact from the global crisis

Oil prices: Caution is the watchword Subscription Required

Issue No 43 26 February - 4 March 2010 | By James Gavin

Oil price conservatism is likely to remain a key theme of Middle East states’ budget calculations

Oman Special Reports

Trucks in a mining quarry

Special Report: Metals & Mining - Gulf states target copper

Issue No 46 19-25 March 2010

The Middle East is well placed to take advantage of a anticipated surge in global copper prices. Saudi Arabia is leading the way in mining its copper deposits, with two new mines in the kingdom scheduled to start commercial production by the end of 2011, the largest of which, the Jabal Sayid project, will produce 57,000 tonnes a year of copper in concentrate.

Glass of water in desert

Special Report: Power & Water - Region struggles to ensure access to scarce water supplies

Issue No 44 5-11 March 2010 | By Sophie Evans

The Middle East is struggling to cope with growing demand for fresh water. While the reasons for water shortages vary across the region, the issue that all governments around the Middle East are having to tackle is the same: how to guarantee access to shrinking supplies of fresh water.

Dollar sign illustration

Special Report: Banking - Public sector projects raise hope

Issue No 41 12-18 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

The Gulf’s governments are turning to new financing strategies to fund crucial infrastructure projects with public-private partnerships (PPPs) an increasingly popular model in the region

Construction workers on Dar al-Arkan's al-Qasr project in Riyadh

Special Report: Construction - Contract awards raise hope in the Gulf

Issue No 33 29 January - 4 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

The outlook for the region’s construction sector in 2010 looks mixed. The Gulf’s major economies, such as Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, are surging out of the financial downturn, but $575bn worth of projects remain on hold across the GCC

Arab teacher at a drawing board

Special Report: Education - Gulf invests in high-tech future

Issue No 2 8-14 January 2010 | By Sophie Evans

The Middle East has taken big strides to improve the quality of university education in recent years, investing billions of dollars in a modern infrastructure

King Abdullah Science Technology University

Special Report: Construction - Industrial schemes prompt hope

Issue No 50 11-17 December 2009 | By Melissa Hancock

Dubai-based real estate developer Nakheel has become the focus of the problems in the emirate’s construction market in recent weeks, as it tries to restructure a $3.5bn sukuk (Islamic bond) before the repayment deadline of 14 December.

Oman Data

Tapping the demand for copper Subscription Required

Issue No 46 19-25 March 2010 | By James Gavin

The region has huge potential for copper mining, with Saudi Arabia becoming the latest country to show growth in the market

Roads: Making the right links Subscription Required

Issue No 43 26 February - 4 March 2010 | By Bernadette Redfern

From Qatar’s $20bn road building programme to Kuwait’s $3.7bn Subiya Causeway and major ring road schemes, road building is enjoying a renewed focus in the region as governments concentrate on improving transport infrastructure.

Oil prices: Caution is the watchword Subscription Required

Issue No 43 26 February - 4 March 2010 | By James Gavin

Oil price conservatism is likely to remain a key theme of Middle East states’ budget calculations

2009 Review: Trends - Gulf aluminium producers take advantage of low gas costs

24-Dec-2009 | By Sophie Evans

With access to cheap gas feedstock, regional producers are boosting their capacity while rivals cut back.

Finance 2010: Reasons for cautious confidence

Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2010 | By James Gavin

Banks in the region have fared well amid the global downturn but must start lending to boost business

King Abdullah Financial District

Projects 2010: Market begins to recover in the region

Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2010 | By Sophie Evans

Contract awards are expected to pick up significantly in the year ahead, with more than $500bn worth of projects currently being tendered across the region as clients take advantage of lower construction costs

Oman Contracts Awarded

Middle East contracts awarded: 9 March 2010 Subscription Required

9-Mar-2010 | By Clynton Wratten

Almost $2.4bn worth of contracts have been awarded across the Middle East up to 9 March 2010, according to this selected checklist compiled from MEED reports

Middle East contracts awarded: February 2010 Subscription Required

1-Mar-2010 | By Clynton Wratten

Almost $3.5bn worth of contracts have been awarded across the Middle East in February 2010, according to this selected checklist compiled from MEED reports

Sembcorp starts work on Salalah power and water project Subscription Required

11-Feb-2010 | By Karin Maree

Plant to start operating commercially in 2012

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