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MEED
Dec 2009 Online Content

View all stories from this issue.

  • Abandoned cargo claims falls

    Dubai-based law firm, Al Tamimi and Co. has said that the firm has seen much fewer claims regarding abandoned cargoes for a few months now, suggesting a steady but slow comeback in the shipping sector, Emirates Business has reported. The recent global crisis has resulted in many shipments going unclaimed, as importers were being too cautious in handling their finances or because they were panicking and unable to predict the market, Omar N. Omar, Senior Associate at the firm said.

  • Abu Dhabi bailout of Dubai a short-term reprieve

    Bankers welcome financial support but debt problem lingers

  • Abu Dhabi buys stake in Hyatt Hotels Corp

    Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth funds, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, has bought a 10.9% stake in Hyatt Hotels Corp, Bloomberg has reported. The sovereign wealth fund holds 4.76 million Hyatt Class A shares, which has a market value of about $140.4m. The Chicago-based hotel chain went public last month.

  • Abu Dhabi firm sets deadline for oil management deal

    Adma-Opco to produce 100,000 barrels a day of crude from offshore Sarb field

  • Abu Dhabi firm strikes gold in Sweden

    Abu Dhabi's Royal Falcon Mining, a wholly owned subsidiary of PAL Group, has announced it has confirmed the presence of very high-grade gold and broad zones of gold-copper-bismuth mineralisation near the Swedish capital, Stockholm. The drilling operation started during August this year near the historical mining centre of Falun, which was first mined in around 700 AD, before closing in 1992 after operating for more than 1,400 years.

  • Abu Dhabi has safeguarded its own reputation by bailing out Dubai

    The $10bn bailout will preserve the status of state-owned developers across the region

  • Abu Dhabi holds talks over oil field injection deal

    Offshore operator will ask for prices for construction contract in December

  • Abu Dhabi launches refinery pipeline scheme

    Contractors value deal at $700-800m

  • Abu Dhabi Mafraq to be rebranded as Ramada

    The Mafraq Hotel will be totally rebranded after the Dhs120m construction and refurbishment project is completed, and will reopen as the Ramada Abu Dhabi Mafraq Hotel, Gulf News has reported. The refurbishment will include the hotel's 121 rooms and the construction of an adjoining 129-room wing and chalet block. New facilities will also be added including larger swimming pools, landscaped gardens, a ballroom, car parking and a new conference centre.

  • Abu Dhabi receives bids for football stadium construction deal

    Structure to be built in Baniyas City

  • Abu Dhabi sovereign fund files lawsuit against Citigroup

    Wealth fund tries to back out of $7.5bn Citigroup investment

  • Abu Dhabi steps in to meet Dubai debts

    UAE capital provides funds to meet Nakheel sukuk payments

  • Abu Dhabi tenders wastewater contract

    Utility seeks contractors to build sewers in Mafraq and Bani Yas

  • Abu Dhabi to boost overseas promotions

    Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has announced plans to step up its destination international promotional programme in 2010. ADTA's 2010 International Promotions Programme spans 11 countries and includes first-time participation in three key trade and consumer tourism exhibitions; Spain's FITUR and India's SATTE, both of which will be held in January, and MATTA in Malaysia, which takes place in March.

  • Abu Dhabi to launch low-cost carrier

    An Abu Dhabi-based investment firm plans to launch a new low-cost airline next year in Abu Dhabi, Arabic daily al-Khaleej has reported. The newspaper has not named the firm, but said it has started hiring and plans to operate short- and mid-range flights to regional cities. The new airline will be the UAE's third low-cost airline after Sharjah-based Air Arabia and FlyDubai.

  • Abu Dhabi to open hospitality school

    Plans to set up a hospitality school next year have been unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority as part of its effort to become the Middle East's regional centre for tourism education and training, The National has reported. The tourism authority has 'met and held exploratory talks with seven of the world's largest and most prominent hospitality institutions', Nasser al Reyami, ADTA tourism standards director said. Abu Dhabi wants to welcome 2.3 million hotel guests a year by 2012, compa

  • Acacia Hotel prepares for RAK opening

    Hamra Hotels and Resorts will open its third property in Ras Al Khaimah later this month. Called Acacia Hotel, it is located next to the R AK Investment Authority and is targeting business travellers. The four-star hotel has 214 rooms, 56 suites and 103 apartments, as well as a health club and spa, a swimming pool and an all-day.

  • Adobe to be key target for Malware in 2010

    Antivirus and computer security fir, McAfee has said it expects Adobe software products to be a prime target next year for malicious applications, better known as malware, PC World has reported. 'Adobe has added so much functionality to their software they are suffering the same fate as Microsoft with Internet Explorer. Exploiting Adobe has become the preferred choice of attackers simply because not many people keep their Adobe software patched. It simply is the path of least resistance,' McA

  • Advisers line up project bonds for 2010

    Projects with existing revenue streams to benefit

  • Advisers recommend Dragon Oil takeover

    Emirates National Oil Company values oil and gas firm at $3.9bn

  • Aecom to manage Capital City infrastructure

    Emirates government to be located at the centre of project

  • AES concludes power plant sale

    Acwa Power and Nishat Power to purchase three plants

  • Agency reviews ratings of Abu Dhabi government-linked firms

    Moody’s to gauge levels of state support

  • Agility in talks with US government

    Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility says it is in talks with the US government regarding a settlement in a fraud case, but no deal has been reached yet. A deal has not been reached until now, and there are no guarantees that these negotiations would lead to a solution,' Agility said in a statement on the Kuwaiti bourse Web site on Monday. Several Kuwaiti newspapers carried reports on Monday about Agility seeking a settlement of up to $600m with the US government.

  • Agility 'optimistic' over US contract dispute

    Kuwait-based Agility Logistics is optimistic that it will end the dispute with the US Ministry of Defence over the pricing of food commodities of one of the contracts, Al-Watan Daily has reported, citing sources close to the firm. The financial value of the points of contention of over pricing is around $65m, which is 'is not worthy when compared to the value of the contract,' the sources were quoted as saying.

  • Agrium secures funds for nitrogen facility

    Egyptian Nitrogen Products (ENPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MISR Fertilizer Production (MOPCO) of Egypt, has secured local financing of $1.05bn. The money will be used to build the second and third production trains at the existing MOPCO nitrogen facility in Damietta, Egypt. 'This investment grows Agrium's international presence and is an important step in continuing to diversify our asset base," said Mike Wilson, President and CEO. Agrium owns a 26% stake in the current MOPCO nitrogen fa

  • Air Algeria buys 11 planes

    Carrier signs agreements with Boeing and Avions de Transport Regional

  • Air Arabia doubles service to Dammam

    UAE-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia has announced it will offer an additional seven flights per week to Dammam, Saudi Arabia starting January 17, 2010. The additional flights will depart Sharjah daily at 8am and arrive in Dammam at 8:20am. Return flights will depart Dammam at 9am and arrive in Sharjah at 11:10am. The airline currently provides roundtrip flights seven times a week between King Fahad International Airport in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and its hub in Sharjah, as well

  • Air Arabia increases flights to Goa over holidays

    Low-cost airline Air Arabia has announced an additional eight flights to the coastal city of Goa, India over the holiday season. The UAE-based carrier will offer additional service to Goa on December 17, 23, 24 and 30, 2009. It will also offer supplementary flights to Goa from January 4-7, 2010.

  • Air Arabia offers extra flights to Goa

    Eight additional flights in December and January

  • Air France to fly to Abu Dhabi

    Air France has announced it will launch a new service between Abu Dhabi and Paris, from May 3, 2010. The French carrier will connect Abu Dhabi International Airport with Paris' Charles De Gaulle Airport with five flights per week and will also provide seamless connections to many other destinations in France, Europe and internationally. The route will be served by an Airbus A330 initially configured with business and economy classes and, within a few months, Air France's new Premium Voyageur

  • Air traffic grows in Arab world

    The numbers of international passengers to, from and within the Arab world have seen a 4.9% growth in October 2009, compared to the same month of 2008, according to the Arab Air Carriers Organization. The number of seats offered by Arab airlines to, from, and within the Arab world have also seen an increase by 18.2%, while other airlines increased the number of seats offered by 16.5%, leading to 17.7% year-on-year increase in the total number of seats offered.

  • Al Falak signs distributor deal with BancTec

    Saudi Arabia-based Al Falak Electronic Equipment and Supplies has signed a distribution agreement with BancTec, a global provider of high-volume document and payment processing systems. Under the deal, Al Falak will distribute BancTec's IntelliScan and E-Series document scanning and sorting equipment in the kingdom.

  • Algeria: Adjudication/exploration

    Two lots of sources of raw materials of cement for exploration. Closing date: 15 March 2010

  • Algeria: Aerial truck lifts

    Supply of three aerial truck lifts. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Algeria: Coiled tubing drilling services

    Provision of coiled tubing drilling services. Closing date: 21 January 2010

  • Algeria: Electricity works

    Carrying out electricity works. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Algeria: Mining exploration

    Exploration of 18 mining sites for gold, gold-uranium and uranium. Closing date: 4 May 2010.

  • Algeria: Mining exploration

    Bidding on two mining sites. Closing date: 5 May 2010

  • Algeria: Urea

    Supply of 3,000 tonnes of urea. Closing date: 6 January 2010

  • Algiers awards three out of ten oil production deals

    Bid round echoes poorly received 2008 auction

  • Al-Khafji extends Hout field deadline

    Firm plans to expand Hout oil field facilities

  • Al-Maabar outlines plans for Tripoli hotel and office tower development

    Developer expects 6,000 people to live and work at $375m Al-Waha project

  • Al-Tayyar targets $320m in IPO

    Nasser Al-Tayyar, president of Saudi Arabia's Al-Tayyar Travel Group, has said the firm plans to raise SR1.2bn ($320m) from an initial public offering and plans to spend SR500m over the next two years to expand, Reuters has reported. 'We are offering 24 million shares and expect to raise about SR1.2bn,' he told the news service. With offices in the Middle East, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Canada and the US, the group wants to invest in the UK and is also looking at Australia. The company also

  • Aqaba Container Terminal to expand

    Jordan's Aqaba Container Terminal has announced a terminal expansion project, including a 460-metre extension of the quay, which will increase annual container throughout capacity to a projected 2 million TEUs when fully completed and equipped. The Port's 2009-2013 action plan calls for overall capital expenditure of $235m, bringing total investment since 2006 to $335m. The 500,000 square meter facility will double its wharf length to 1000 metres. Additionally, two super Post-Panamax cranes,

  • Arabtec dismisses talk of Aabar investment

    Market rumours had driven Arabtec’s stock price up 20 per cent

  • Aramex expects profit rise in Q4

    Fadi Ghandour, chief executive of Dubai-based logistics firm Aramex has said he expects fourth-quarter profit to be better than in the same period one year ago, Reuters has reported. 'Our cost base has gone down because of the crisis. Being a non-asset-based company, we have a clear benefit and flexibility in leveraging best costs out there,' Gahndour told the news service.

  • ARPIC, EEI open pipe spool JV

    A new pipe spool fabrication plant in Jubail City has been opened by Saudi Arabia's Al Rushaid Petroleum Investment Group of Companies (ARPIC) and its joint venture partner EEI Corp., Saudi Gazette has reported. The new plant aims to meet strong demand for pipe spool in the kingdom's local market as well as the needs of neighbouring countries.

  • Ashghal to use robot traffic control

    Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal), with the support of Qatar Science Club, has announced it will soon replace manual methods in guiding vehicles at its various road project sites with robots, the Peninsula has reported. The solar-powered robots will control the traffic in Ashghal's major ongoing projects.

  • Australian contractor to build Abu Dhabi golf hotel

    The 148-room hotel will overlook the emirate’s championship golf course

  • Austrian firm plans to boost Yemen oil production

    OMV wins deal to build Habban processing facilities

  • Avaya completes Nortel Enterprise acquisition

    Avaya has completed its take over of Nortel Enterprise Solutions, the enterprise arm of Nortel Networks, in a deal that makes it bigger than Cisco in the telephony market. The acquisition - $900m for the company and $15m for employee retention - gives Avaya added scale, resources and expertise, the company said. It is also expected to be the forerunner to Avaya's private equity owners Silver Lake and TPG capital either selling the company or pushing through an IPO. Around 6,000 Nortel staff h

  • Bahrain flour mill receives $27m subsidy

    Bahrain Flour Mills Company has received about BD10 million ($26.5m) government subsidy this year, and is expected to get BD14m next year, Gulf Daily News has reported. Company deputy general manager Hisham Abdul Shafi stressed the need for the government to continue supplying subsidised wheat in view of the increase in international wheat price, which has reached $292 per tonne this year and is expected to rise in 2010.

  • Bahrain International Airshow set to take off in style

    The debut Bahrain International Airshow takes place in January 2010 organised by Farnborough International. Phil Blizzard talks to Amanda Stainer, Exhibitions & Events Director about the show in terms of what can be expected and with it being so close to the Dubai Airshow how different the Bahrain event will be.

  • Bahrain to tender airport design contracts

    Bahrain Airport Co plans to tender the design contract for two new terminals at the kingdom's international airport within the first quarter of 2010, Passenger Terminal Today website has reported. The new terminals are part of a $4.7bn expansion of the airport that also includes new aprons, separate piers, a people mover system, car parking, road works and infrastructure.

  • Bahrain to tender design contract for airport

    Company to build passenger terminals at a cost of $4.7bn

  • Bahrain: Formula One tent structures

    Supply of temporary tent structures and equipment for the 2010 Formula 1. Closing date: 23 December 2009

  • Bahrain's Salman port to officially open

    Bahrain's Khalifa Bin Salman Port will be officially opened next Sunday, Gulf Daily News has reported. The BD136.3m port, which covers 110 hectares of reclaimed land on the kingdom's northeast shore, began operations in April. It provides services to shipping lines and logistic companies. The port has been designed to accommodate a container capacity of more than 1.1 twenty-foot equivalent units annually, in addition to cruise ship facilities and warehouses.

  • Bargain hunters keep Abu Dhabi property prices low

    Increasing number of real estate projects near completion

  • Barka 2 power and water plant begins operating

    Omani scheme produces 678MW of power

  • Barwa Real Estate repays $700m loan

    Qatar property firm claims slowdown does not affect financial obligations

  • Batelco to offer 16 Mbps broadband package

    Batelco has announced it will launch an up to 16Mbps broadband package on December 16. Batelco, Bahrain's leading telecommunications provider, has announced that it will be launching an up to 16 mbps broadband package on the 16th of December. This new package will be an addition to Batelco's current broadband packages which include speeds up to 10Mbps and are now going to be boosted to up to 16 Mbps.

  • Baytur starts building Saudi teaching hospital

    Contract covers construction of clinic with 800 beds and nine structures

  • Beijing cuts Saudi chemicals duties

    Anti-dumping measures continue but at a lower level of tax

  • Bharti Airtel begins Middle East data services

    Indian mobile operator Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of wholesale data services for the Middle East, Reuters has reported. The company, which owns the i2i submarine cable system and is a consortium partner of the SEA-ME-WE 4 cable, has added over 17 gigabytes per second capacity to the region, and had made investments that connect the India-Middle East-Europe route via three alternative paths on SEA-ME-WE 4, I-ME-WE and EIG submarine cable systems.

  • Bids in for Bahraini power transmission deal

    Eight firms line up for consultancy contract

  • Bids in for Darsait wastewater plant

    Nine firms line up for Haya Water contract

  • Boeing Dreamliner ready for takeoff

    Boeing has said that "final gauntlet" testing on its 787 Dreamliner has been completed, paving the way for its first flight to take off as early as December 15, the Associated Press has reported. The Dreamliner's first actual flight timing is dependent on final internal reviews, taxi testing, Federal Aviation Administration documentation and the weather, the aircraft manufacturer said.

  • Boeing pushes 777 fix

    US aircraft maker, Boeing Co. is recommending that airlines fix thrust reversers on its 777 airliner to ensure heat from the engines will not cause damage, the Associated Press has reported. Replacing insulation blankets, in addition to other changes, will keep the area around the thrust reverser cooler, Boeing said. The new service bulletin applies to 225 aircraft around the world, it said.

  • Borouge to boost production by 1.5m tonnes

    Abdulaziz Alhajri, CEO of Abu Dhabi-based petrochemical producer Borouge has said the company plans to increase its production capacity by 1.5 million tonnes in 2010, Emirates Business has reported. Next year's expansion will be the second-largest contributor to a GCC-wide increase of petrochemical production capacity of 10 million tonnes. Saudi petrochemicals major Sabic will add the largest volume of production capacity in the region in 2010.

  • Boubyan assessment underway

    Kuwait's ministry of public works has said that assessment of all phases of the Boubyan seaport project is underway, in order to determine the suitable number of docks the port needs, Kuna has reported. The project consists of four phases, with the first currently underway and includes establishing infrastructure, landscaping, soil treatment and other technicalities.

  • Burgan boosts Kuwait oil rig orders by $108m

    Deal is part of plans to produce 4 million barrels a day by 2020

  • Burj Dubai metro station to open on Monday

    The Burj Dubai metro station will be opened on January 4, 2010, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced. The authority expects the station to be used by about 10,000 passengers everyday, with the daily number set to rise during weekends and holidays to 19,000 persons. The RTA has also announced the deployment of 11 buses to operate on two routes to feed Burj Dubai Station, where six buses will operate on Route F13 at 10 minutes interval.

  • Canadian court approves sale of Verenex to Libya

    Investment authority to buy energy firm’s shares

  • Centamin raises gold resource estimate

    Egytpian mining firm, Centamin has raised the gold resource estimate at its flagship Sukari project in Egypt, Reuters has reported. Stage 1 plant design throughput remains on track to be achieved before the end of 2009, while construction of Stage 2 of the Sukari plant is nearing completion, the company said.

  • Central Bank of Egypt leaves interest rates unchanged

    Decision follows six successive months of cuts

  • Charilaos Apostolides bids low for Bahraini transmission work

    Local firm submits price of $1.4m

  • Cisco wins Tandberg takeover

    Cisco Systems has won its bid to take over Tandberg ASA and now holds 91% of the stock in the Norwegian company, according to the San Francisco Business Times. The $3.4bn acquisition strengthens Cisco's position in the burgeoning market for high-cost videoconference systems known as telepresence. Cisco's telepresence product line is concentrated toward the top of the market, while Tandberg, the second-largest telepresence company, provides them with lower-priced products.

  • Companies line up for Mina al-Fahal refinery deal

    Engineering firms apply to bid for $50m propane recovery unit work in Oman

  • Conference on GCC e-governance planned

    The first Gulf Cooperation Council eGovernment Conference is set to create a strategic plan for regional e-governance in the future during a three-day conference that will be hosted in Oman from December 21-23, according to a top Information Technology Authority official in the country. Speaking at a press conference Saturday, ITA CEO Dr Salim Bin Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, said the conference will provide a platform for closer cooperation and coordinated strategic policymaking to ensure the benefits

  • Construction at Aqaba Port to start by June 2010

    Engineering firm Aecom is designing the marine works

  • Consultants start work on Basra football stadium

    The $500m project will be used for the 2013 Gulf Cup

  • Contractor starts work on Almarkaz in Abu Dhabi

    Mixed-use development includes industrial building and worker accommodation

  • Contractors express interest in presidential palace marine works

    New government buildings will be built on Abu Dhabi Island

  • Contractors prepare bids for Ajman interchange

    Project includes the construction of a bridge and three tunnels

  • Contractors submit bids for Maaden alumina refinery

    Contract retendered after being awarded to Fluor Corporation

  • Contractors submit bids for Marsa al-Seef dredging

    At least five international companies compete to build $2.5bn man-made island

  • Contractors submit bids for Saudi rubber plant

    Three companies compete for tank farm package

  • Contractors to submit Bubiyan Island port bids in 2010

    Kuwait Public Works Ministry delays contract deadline by one month

  • Corodex completes building Abu Dhabi wastewater projects

    Local company is commissioning three plants

  • Creditors must take responsibility for Dubai World, says Department of Finance

    State official says banks must take responsibility for loans

  • Daelim wins Jubail petrochemicals plant contract

    Winning contractor competes against three rival South Korean firms

  • Daelim wins Jubail plastics plant contract

    Deal is worth $425m

  • Darwish wins $108m Sharjah Mall construction contract

    The new mall development will be built in the Al-Khan area

  • Depa JV wins Dubai Metro contract

    Dubai-based interiors contractor, Depa has announced its joint venture Lindner Depa Interiors has won a Dhs245m contract from Dubai Metro. The project involves fitting out 11 stations of Dubai Metro's Green Line, and has an expected completion date in the fourth quarter of 2010, the company said in a statement.

  • Developer changes procurement strategy for Louvre Abu Dhabi

    Contractors will now bid for a fixed price lump sum construction contract

  • Developer to tender Abu Dhabi’s Deerfields mall in January

    The mixed-use development will be built on the highway leading to Dubai

  • Developers express interest in Duqm coal-fired plant

    Contractors will be invited to prequalify in April 2010

  • Dewa investors waive early repayment of debt

    Ratings agency downgrades Dewa securitisation after weaker government financing

  • Dolphin plans to increase gas imports from Qatar

    Abu Dhabi firm and Qatar Petroleum hold talks over pipeline energy supplies

  • Dow Chemical to develop Saudi water plant

    US firm to complete work on plant in 2010

  • DP World buys into Russian port hub

    Russian authorities have granted their approval for DP World to acquire a 25% stake in the management company at a major port on Russia's Pacific coast, AFP has reported. "The purchase by DP World, that is to say Dubai World... of 25% in the Vostochny port management company controlled by Alexei Mordashov has been approved," Igor Artemyev, head of Russia's anti-monopoly commission said. The Vostochny company is majority owned by Russian steel magnate Alexei Mordashov. The value of the investm

  • Dragon Oil shareholders reject Dubai takeover bid

    Emirates National Oil Company valued the oil and gas company at $3.9bn

  • Dreamliner test flight expected in December

    Boeing has set December 22 as target date for the maiden flight of its new 787 Dreamliner, as it has successfully completed the wing test that the jet failed last May, the Seattle Times has reported, citing two sources familiar with the test outcome. Last Monday, the jet had its wings filled with jet fuel for initial engine runs and system tests, which will be followed by taxi tests. The plane is then expected to fly by Christmas.

  • Dubai clamps down on corruption

    New laws follow high profile fraud cases in the emirate

  • Dubai could restructure $46bn debt, say US analysts

    Emirate may ask investors for 50 per cent cut in repayments

  • Dubai Drydocks not included in DW revamp

    Dubai World has said its unit Dubai Drydocks World and its subsidiaries are not part of the firm's wider $26bn restructuring programme and had sufficient financial capacity to service its debt, Reuters has reported. 'Following further review, Drydocks World and its subsidiaries will not be included in the proposed restructuring process for Dubai World and its real estate-related subsidiaries,' Dubai World said in a statement. Drydocks World had been in 'constructive' dialogue with its lenders

  • Dubai Financial Market buys Nasdaq bourse for $121m

    Accord boosts liquidity on emirate’s stock exchanges

  • Dubai Holding has no plans to sell Jumeirah Group

    Gerald Lawless, CEO of Jumeirah Group has said that the luxury hospitality firm will not be sold by Dubai World to pay off debts maturing next year, Reuters has reported. 'Jumeirah and Dubai Holding are part of each other and Jumeirah is not going anywhere,' Lawless said. 'Dubai Holding will be fine.'

  • Dubai Holding has nothing to declare

    State-backed company reassures stock exchange over listed bonds

  • Dubai may offer more services on Nol card

    Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority is considering adding more services on the public transport Nol Card, Khaleej Times has reported. A delegation from the authority has visited the card's production centre in Hong Kong and discussed increasing services on the card, RTA said without specifying what extra services could be added.

  • Dubai Metro Green line on schedule

    Mattar Al Tayer, executive director of the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has said that Dubai Metro's Green Line is running on schedule with the completion rate in construction in its stations ranging from 50% to 80%. The Green Line will be ready to open and begin operations in the second half of 2010, he said.

  • Dubai Metro Green line to open in second half of 2010

    Extension to rail route delays deadline

  • Dubai Metro ridership grows

    Dubai Metro has seen a continuous rise in ridership, with nearly six million passengers having travelled on the Red Line in the three months since it opened on September 9, according to the latest figures from the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) Rail Agency. In September a total of 1,198,699 people made a journey on the metro. The figure rose to 1,762,816 passengers in October, and in November it reached 1,904,956. The Mall of the Emirates was the busiest station with 929,116 passengers

  • Dubai officials visit UK and US investors

    Heads of the Supreme Fiscal Committee seek to restore confidence

  • Dubai plans air con pedway network

    Dubai is planning to build a network of air conditioned walkways in an effort to encourage people to use public transport. Called pedways, the Roads and Transport Authority will use them to link major buildings , shopping centres and bus and metro stations. They will be both over and under ground, and include retail outlets along their route. 'We want to see a 20 per cent increase in pedestrian traffic and a 30 per cent decrease in pedestrian fatalities in the next three years as part of the

  • Dubai port firm to expand Aden

    Design work set to begin in 2010

  • Dubai Red Line open by end February

    Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said that work at most of the Dubai Metro's Red Line stations was more than 80% finished, and that they will be open for business by the end of February, The National has reported. "We still don't know if we will open them all at once or over a period, but they will be open by the end of February," said Peyman Younes Parham, the rail line's director of marketing and communications.

  • Dubai Silicon Oasis inks deal to tackle electronic crimes

    Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the region's integrated innovations hub for high-tech industries, has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT), an initiative by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). According to the MoU, DSO will benefit from the CERT expertise to facilitate detection and prevention of a wide range of cyber crimes and ensure security over the Internet, as well as providing support and protection of d

  • Dubai Taxi Corp net profit up 48%

    Dubai Taxi Corp at Roads and Transport Authority-Dubai has recorded a 48.4% rise in net profits during the first nine months of 2009 to Dhs68.37m, compared to Dhs46.07m in 2008. Operational revenues had also seen a rise of 27% to Dhs580.78m from Dhs457.18m in 2008.

  • Dubai World aims for bank deal on debt repayments in January

    Debt-laden company holds first meeting with creditors

  • Dubai World crisis taints emirate's image

    The Gulf’s reputation has been damaged by the Dubai World debt crisis. It could have been avoided

  • Dubai World starts restructuring $26bn debt

    Company in talks with banks over Nakheel and Limitless loans

  • Dubai World to meet bankers tomorrow

    Meetings will begin talks on standstill agreement

  • Dubai World's Jafz makes bond payment

    Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafz), a unit of Dubai World, has made a scheduled coupon payment on its Dhs7.5bn sukuk, Reuters has reported. "They paid it, the rate was 4.175%," a source, who asked not to be identified, told the news service. Last week, Dubai World announced it wanted to delay payments on its debt, sending stock markets around the world down. However, today the company issued a statement saying most of the businesses within the holding company, which includes Jafz, were financially st

  • Dubai's economic recovery will be hit by debt restructuring

    Moody’s says employment and confidence levels will fall in 2010

  • Dubai's RTA inks deal for vehicle testing and licensing

    Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said it has signed an agreement with Emarat General Petroleum Corp. (Shamil) to provide vehicle testing and licensing services in the emirate. Through this agreement, Shamil will provide all necessary licensing and testing services including traffic file opening, vehicle registration, renewal of number plates retention, transfer of vehicle registration, issue of export certificate, issue of vehicle registration card (lost/damaged), issue of clea

  • EFG-Hermes revises Emirates growth forecast in 2010

    Weak private sector consumption and slow credit growth to hit gross domestic product figures

  • Egypt aims to boost broadband penetration

    Egyptian communications minister Tarek Kamel has announced a plan to increase broadband penetration fourfold in the next four years to 4 million households, Reuters has reported. 'Egypt needs to invest $1bn within the next four years for broadband penetration within a plan that I'm going to announce in the first quarter of 2010 for boosting access in Egypt,' Kamel said.

  • Egypt assesses bids for oil and gas rounds

    Contracts cover 11 exploration blocks

  • Egypt to build largest tyre factory in Middle East

    Taher Salama, head of Egypt's state-owned Transport and Engineering Company (Trenco) has announced plans to build the biggest car tyre factory in the Middle East at a cost of EGP600m, Reuters has reported. Located in El-Amerya, west of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, the new factory will be able to produce half a million tyres annually and will take two years to build. Egyptian, Arab and foreign investors will take part in the factory's financing.

  • Egypt tourism revenues fall 3.1%

    Egypt's tourism revenues have recorded a 3.1% fall for the year to November, compared to the previous year's performance, Reuters has reported. However, the results were higher than expected due to strong arrivals from Europe as winter approached, according to a tourism official. About 11.45 million tourists visited Egypt in the first 11 months of 2009.

  • Egypt unveils new tourism campaign

    Egypt's Ministry of Tourism has launched a new advertising campaign, 'Egypt: where it all begins', which highlights the Pyramids, Sphinx and other uniquely Egyptian attractions while not failing to mention Egypt's 'aquatic paradise', Daily News Egypt has reported. Tourism to Egypt was down 3.5% at the end of November, according to Omayma El-Husseini, Ministry of Tourism spokesperson. Total tourists to visit the country as of November 2009 reached almost 11.5 million, with expectations that th

  • Egypt: Airport terminal building

    Renovation and development of a second terminal building at an international airport. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Egypt: Ammonia plant

    General contractor for ammonia plant. Closing date: 20 January 2010

  • Egypt: Power plant equipment

    Supply and erection of equipment for a two-by-210MW power plant. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Egypt: Power station turbine shafts

    Supply of three turbine shafts for a gas-fired combined-cycle power station. Closing date: 10 February 2010

  • Egypt: Thermal power plant feedwater heaters

    Supply of feedwater heaters for a supercritical thermal power plant project. Closing date: 14 February 2010

  • Egypt: Train coaches

    Supply of 20 new power train coaches. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Egypt: Wastewater treatment plant project

    Design, finance and construction of a secondary treatment stage, on a public-private partnership 20-year contract, for a wastewater treatment plant. Closing date: 29 December 2009

  • Egyptian core inflation runs at 6.6 per cent

    Inflation is down by 23 per cent on August 2008

  • Egyptian inflation declines 0.1 per cent

    Food prices fall 0.3 per cent between October and November

  • Eithad inks Alitalia MoU

    The national airline of the UAE, Etihad Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alitalia confirming the airlines' plans to operate a code-share agreement from the start of the summer season in April 2010. The agreement will enable Etihad customers to fly to two new Italian destinations, Rome and Naples. Furthermore, Alitalia customers will be able to fly directly from Italy to Abu Dhabi and will have greater access to the airline's expanding network.

  • Emaar and Dubai Holding cancel merger plans

    Agencies downgrade two companies in early December

  • Emirates Aluminium begins production

    Emirates Aluminium (Emal), a joint venture between Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company and Dubai Aluminium Company Dubal, has announced that it has officially started producing aluminium at the world's largest single smelter, Wam has reported. 'Original estimates indicated that the energising of the first pot in the smelter's pot room would only take place in the first quarter of 2010, but exceeding those expectations had long been a goal of the Emal construction teams,' Emal CEO Duncan

  • Emirates does not need state help to repay $1.7bn debt

    Carrier has 151 planes on order worth $50bn

  • Emirates nuclear corporation becomes independent state agency

    Government set to select a contractor for power programme

  • Emirates opens luxury lounge in Johannesburg

    Emirates Airline has announced the opening of a new luxury lounge in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is the carriers' first exclusive lounge in Africa and the sixth to be opened this year. The lounge has a seating capacity for 135 guests and contains flat screen televisions, international and local newspapers and magazines, as well as a state-of-the-art business centre with free internet access.

  • Emirates takes delivery of sixth A380

    Emirates Airline has announced it has taken delivery of its sixth Airbus A380 aircraft. The new aircraft has 14 first class private suites, 76 business class and 399 economy seats. The arrival of the sixth A380 brings the airline's all-wide bodied passenger fleet to 142 aircraft.

  • Emirates to begin flights to Amsterdam

    Flights to the Netherlands start on 1 May next year

  • Emirates to fly A380 to Jeddah

    Emirates Airline has announced that its Jeddah route will be served by an A380 superjumbo beginning February 1, 2010. The service, which will run four times a week to the Saudi city, will be the airline's eighth A380 service. The carrier already flies the world's largest plane to Sydney, Auckland, Heathrow, Bangkok, Toronto, Seoul and from December 29, Paris.

  • Emirates to fly daily to Prague in 2010

    Emirates Airline has announced that it plans to launch daily flights to the Czech capital Prague from July 1. 'We have been keen to add Prague to our six continent network, and now the time is right to start up our 24th European destination,' Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. The Dubai-based carrier also said it will begin flights to Tokyo from March 28 and Amsterdam from May 1.

  • Emirates to launch Amsterdam flights

    Emirates Airline has said it will launch a daily, non-stop service from Dubai to Amsterdam from May 1, 2010. The airline's 23rd route into Europe will be operated with a combination of 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft, with a three-class configuration.

  • Emirates to receive two A380s

    Dubai-based Emirates Airline has announced it will take delivery of two Airbus A380 superjumbos in December, Reuters has reported. The two A380s will be deployed to Seoul from December 14 and Paris two weeks later, the airline said.

  • Enterprise application software market rises in Mideast

    The Arab Middle East and North Africa (MENA) enterprise application software (EAS) market has shown dynamic year-on-year growth, largely escaping the worst effects of the global economic crisis in 2008, according to the latest research from IDC. EAS license and maintenance (L&M) expenditure in the MENA region grew 10.9% year on year in 2008. Saudi Arabia has maintained its lead of the MENA EAS market, with 31.0% share, just ahead of the UAE, with 28.7% share. The OGCC grouping of Bahrain, Kuw

  • Etihad and ANA sign code-sharing deal

    Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has signed a code-sharing agreement with Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA). Under the deal, ANA will place its two-letter 'NH' code on the four weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Nagoya due to be operated by Etihad Airways from February 1, 2010. In turn, Etihad will place its 'EY' code on ANA operated flight between Nagoya and both Sapporo and Fukuoka. The code-share agreement will be extended from March 28, 2010 to cover domestic services operated by ANA betwe

  • Etihad increases flights to Beirut

    Etihad Airways has said it has increased its flights to Beirut from 14 to 18 flights per week from January 1, 2010. The additional four flights per week will offer passengers increased connections to some of the carrier's key destinations, including its newest destination, Colombo, four times per week.

  • Etihad joins sustainable fuel users group

    Etihad Airways has announced it has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), an airline-led industry working group which aims to accelerate the commercialization and availability of sustainable biofuels. SAFUG members are bound by stringent criteria for the development of non-fossil fuels, including undertaking the development of plant sources in a manner that is non-competitive with food, with biodiversity impacts minimised and without jeopardizing drinking water supplies.

  • Etihad to fly daily to Kathmandu

    The airline currently operates four weekly flights to Nepal

  • Etihad to fly daily to Kathmandu

    Etihad Airways has announced it will increase its Abu Dhabi-Kathmandu services from four to seven flights per week from January 2010. The additional flights came in response to growing load factors of between 80% and 90% on the route, the carrier said. The airline has also announced the appointment of Ken Marshall as its country manager in Nepal.

  • Etihad to increase flights to Dublin

    Etihad Airways has announced plans to increase its flights to Dublin, moving from its current daily service to 10 flights per week from March 28, 2010. The airline currently operates a two cabin A330-200 to Dublin, configured to carry 262 passengers. With the increase in services, Etihad also plans a new lounge at Dublin airport, set to open in 2010.

  • Ezz Steel to sign loan agreement

    Ezz Steel, Egypt's largest steel producer will sign an agreement this week with the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr for a EGP2bn syndicated loan, Daily News Egypt has reported. The loan will be used to finance the new production line at El-Ezz Flat Steel facility to produce direct reduced iron in Suez.

  • Final bids in for Jubail plastics deal

    Taiwanese and South Korean firms both submit bids on 19 December

  • Firms delay Shah gas deal as difficulties mount

    Sources blame deteriorating relationship between joint venture partners

  • Firms prepare bids for Aramco’s petroleum institute project

    Development is part of $60bn investment programme

  • Firms prepare bids for Saudi rubber plant

    Three companies compete for tank farm package

  • Firms submit revised bids for $40bn Abu Dhabi nuclear deal

    French and US teams propose lower prices for power contract

  • First Energy Bank appoints adviser for Saudi Polysilicon project

    Bahrain’s Gulf International Bank to advise on $1bn debt and equity raising

  • Fitch maintains negative outlook on five Dubai banks

    Ratings agency assesses Dubai World debt restructuring

  • Fitch rates Sabic at 'A+' with stable outlook

    Fitch Ratings has given Saudi Basic Industries Corporation's (Sabic) ratings 'A+' in its Long-term Issuer Default (IDR), senior unsecured 'A+' and Short-term IDR 'F1'. Outlook on the Long-term IDR is stable. The outlook reflects Fitch's expectation that Sabic will remain committed to its modest financial policy. The ratings also reflect the remaining execution risks of Sabic's sizeable $14.5bn investment programme up to 2011, Fitch said.

  • Five bids in for Riyadh’s PP11 power project

    Saudi Electricity Company plans to sign a power purchase agreement

  • Flydubai receives plane for Bahrain flight

    Flydubai has announced the delivery of its sixth aircraft, the latest Boeing 737-800NG. The aircraft will be used to serve the airline's inaugural Bahrain flight on December 13 and will also operate the new Kathmandu route starting on December 15. The airline's next aircraft is due in March 2010.

  • Flydubai slashes fares by 50% until December 15

    Low-cost carrier Flydubai has announced that it is slashing its fares by up to 50% off on all routes under a new promotion that begins mid-day today and ends December 15. The carrier said passengers will be able to book one way fares to and from Dubai at half price including all taxes and one piece of hand baggage. In addition, the price of flights transferring through Dubai has been trimmed by 20% throughout the promotion. The sale will lower the cost of one-way flights from Dubai to as low

  • Fonterra to buy majority stake in Saudi New Zealand Dairy

    The world's largest exporter of dairy products, Fonterra Cooperative Group has reached a final agreement to take full ownership of Saudi New Zealand Dairy Products, Bloomberg has reported. The company will buy the 51% stake from partner Saudi Dairy & Foodstuff for $33m, the New Zealand-based milk processor said in a statement. The deal is subject to Saudi regulatory approval.

  • Fonterra to buy Sadafco stake in Saudi dairy processor

    New Zealand's Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world's biggest exporter of dairy products, has announced plans to buy out its partner in a Saudi Arabian processing venture, Bloomberg has reported. The firm has a conditional agreement to buy the 51% of Saudi New Zealand Dairy Products Co. owned by Jeddah-based Saudi Dairy & Foodstuff Co. (Sadafco). The processing venture makes cheese and milk powder.

  • Foster Wheeler wins work on Manifa development

    US firm to provide steam power equipment

  • French team holds talks over buying Areva

    Schneider Electric and Alstom plan to purchase power transmission and distribution business

  • French win Dubai substation deal

    Contract involves supplying 11 new substations by early 2011

  • GAIC relocates plant to Saudi Arabia

    Gulf Automobile Industry Corp (GAIC), which produces cars, pick-up trucks and the Camel forklift, has moved its Abu Dhabi factory to a three million square metre facility in Saudi Arabia as part of its expansion plans for 2010, Saudi Gazette has reported. "The move to a larger manufacturing plant was necessary to meet the demand for our products and while it makes sense to be in Saudi Arabia, our biggest market, the UAE continues to offer us strong sales potential," Chairman Nasser Hamad Al H

  • Gama readies Sharjah operation

    UK-based business aviation services provider Gama Aviation is set to launch charter services before the end of 2009 from its new facility in the Middle East, Flightglobal website has reported. The firm, which had opened a sales office in Sharjah last June, has recently added two more managed business jets - a Bombardier Challenger 605 and an 850 - to its single-aircraft fleet in the region. 'We are growing the business gradually in the Middle East and expect to add up to five more aircraft to

  • Gaza/West Bank: Energy auditing services

    Provision of consultancy services comprising energy auditing at selected municipalities. Closing date: 27 December 2009

  • Gaza/West Bank: IT hardware equipment and software

    Supply of IT hardware equipment and software for an electricity utility management project. Closing date: 15 February 2010

  • Gaza/West Bank: Prison construction

    Construction of a new prison facility. Closing date: 14 January 2010

  • Global semiconductor sales up in October

    The US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has said that global semiconductor sales rose 5.1% in October, Reuters has reported. The increase is attributed to electronic equipment manufacturers boosting production for the holiday season. For the month, worldwide semiconductor sales rose to $21.7bn from $20.6bn in September. However, sales for October fell 3.5% from a year earlier, SIA said. "Inventory management throughout the supply chain has been very tight, and this may extend th

  • Gulf banks begin to reveal exposure to Dubai World

    Total disclosures currently amount to $718m

  • Gulf currency may take 10 more years to implement

    Kuwaiti parliament questions emir over alleged fraud

  • Gulf Projects 14 December 2009: No change to index

    The MEED Projects index remained unchanged in the week to 14 December.

  • Gulf Projects 21 December 2009: Index rises 2.2 per cent

    The MEED Projects index recorded a growth of 2.2 per cent in the value of projects planned or under way across the region in the week to 21 December.

  • Gulf Projects 7 December 2009: Index rises 1.7 per cent

    The MEED Projects index rose by 1.7 per cent in the week ending 7 December.

  • Hardware spend to hit $2.5bn by 2013

    A report by research firm IDC has projected hardware spending to grow by 39.23% to about $2.5bn (Dhs9.2bn) in 2013 from $1.8bn in 2009, Gulf News has reported. Of the estimated total PC sales of 1.76 million in 2009, notebook sales are expected to be 1.22 million followed by desktops at 269,825 and netbooks at 265,640 units, the report said.

  • Hill wins more Doha management work

    US-based project manager will work on the Silhouette Tower

  • Hill wins Qatar project management contract

    US-based firm with manage the construction of a new shopping mall

  • Holiday Inn Dubai gets HACCP certified

    Holiday Inn Dubai-Al Barsha has been awarded the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System certificate. The HACCP award testifies that the hotel operates in line with the top health and hygiene regulation for hospitality services. 'The F&B department worked incredibly hard to ensure everyone was familiar with their duties regarding HACCP, both in its adoption and implementation. We're pleased to be officially certified,' said Hotel General Manager, Reda Moukhtar.

  • Hotel investment to increase in 2010

    According to an annual review of transactions by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, the total value of global hotel investment transactions has declined by 64% in 2009, but the market is expected to rebound in 2010, Breaking Travel News website has reported. The firm predicts transactions for next year to be in the $11bn-$13bn range, with single hotel transactions being the driver for growth, rather than large portfolios. Asian conglomerates, along with Middle Eastern and Asian sovereign wealth funds

  • Hyundai signs $1bn gas processing deal

    Contract is part of $10bn Abu Dhabi integrated development

  • IATA: MidEast passenger demand up

    The International Air Transport Association has said that Middle Eastern carriers saw the highest passenger demand increase among the regions at 14.3%, compared to 18.2% in September. Capacity of the region's airlines had outpaced the growth in demand by climbing 15.3% in October.

  • IBM may set up research centre in Dubai

    IBM is among 50 leading companies in detailed discussions with the Dubai free zone TechnoPark to set up a research and development centre, the National has reported. TechnoPark is the science and technology free zone owned by Economic Zones World, a unit of Dubai World, and is located near the Jebel Ali Port. The free zone is being built across 2,100 hectares of land and plans to house 60,000 permanent residents and employ more than 133,000 people. IBM, the world's largest computer-services c

  • IHG plans 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels in Saudi

    InterContinental Hotels Group and Saudi-based Siraj Capital have announced plans to open 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels in the kingdom over the next five years. The first three of the hotels to become operational will be located in Madinah Road, Jeddah, Knowledge Economic City, Madinah and King Abdullah Economic City under a master franchise agreement between IHG and Siraj, a statement said.

  • Indian contractor wins UAE and Algerian contracts

    KEC International wins deals worth $135m

  • Intel Larrabee processor to appear as development platform

    US-based chip maker Intel has said that its Larrabee graphics processor will initially appear as a software development platform only, Cnet has reported. 'Larrabee silicon and software development are behind where we hoped to be at this point in the project,' Intel spokesman Nick Knupffer said. Larrabee was originally expected to appear in 2008, and was slated to compete with discrete graphics chips from Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices' ATI graphics unit.

  • Intel to produce 48 core research chips

    Intel has shown off an experimental version of a 48-core microprocessor that it has dubbed a "single chip cloud computer", ZDnet has reported. The chip, previously code-named Rock Creek, has 1.3 billion transistors, uses up to 125 watts of power during operation and will be made available to researchers on a standard motherboard in the first half of 2010. Intel believes it can sign up dozens of academic partners, who will receive the CPUs for research, including Microsoft's research division.

  • International Desalination Association appoints president

    Makhzoumi is chief of global non-profit organisation

  • International gas cartel elects Russian leader

    Qatar-based group controls 70 per cent of world gas reserves

  • Investment Dar seeks approval for debt restructuring plan

    Kuwaiti company plans to repay $3.5bn over five years

  • Iran denies excluding Total from South Pars development

    Deal involves development of phase 11 of giant gas field

  • Iran Khuzestan cement plant opens

    Iran's largest cement factory, Khuzestan Cement has started its trial production, Tehran Times has reported. The $200m plant, built over four years, has a daily production capacity of 5,500 tonnes.

  • Iran plans Imam Khomeini port privatisation

    Hamid Behbahani, Iranian minister for roads, has said that the Imam Khomeini port, the country's biggest port in the Arabian Gulf, will be privatised, Press TV has reported. Article 44 of the Iranian Constitution stipulates that the country's economic system shall be based on public, cooperative and private sectors. However, a 2004 amendment to the Article has set in motion a 10-year plan to privatise 80% of Iran's state-owned assets.

  • Iran tender: Supply of fouling resistance membrane

    Supply of fouling resistance membrane (FRM) or low fouling composite (LEC), RO membrane element.Closing date: 17 December

  • Iran: Air condenser parts

    Supply of spare parts for an air condenser. Closing date: 9 January 2010

  • Iran: Air cooler parts

    Supply of spare parts for an air cooler. Closing date: 9 January 2010

  • Iran: Analytical equipment parts

    Supply of spare parts for analytical equipment. Closing date: 9 January 2010

  • Iran: Centrifugal pump parts

    Supply of spare parts for a centrifugal pump. Closing date: 6 January 2010

  • Iran: Chemical fertilisers

    Supply of chemical fertilisers. Closing date: 27 January 2010

  • Iran: Chemical fertilisers

    Supply of chemical fertilisers. Closing date: 18 January 2010

  • Iran: Coke

    Supply of 180,000 tonnes of coke. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Iran: Di-ethyl hydroxyl amine

    Supply of the chemical di-ethyl hydroxyl amine (DEHA). Closing date: 28 December 2009

  • Iran: Drinking water reservoirs

    Construction of drinking water reservoirs. Closing date: 30 January 2010

  • Iran: Electrical motor parts

    Supply of spare parts for Toshiba electric motor. Closing date: 20 December 2009Supply, in two phases, of spare parts for Toshiba electric motor.

  • Iran: Ferro-manganese (closing date extension)

    Supply of high-carbon ferro-manganese. New closing date: 15 December 2009

  • Iran: Flow-line piping

    Supply of flow-line piping. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Iran: Gas turbine parts

    Supply of spare parts for gas turbines. Closing date: 19 December 2009

  • Iran: Gas-oil pump skids

    Supply of gas-oil pump skids. Closing date: 17 December 2009

  • Iran: Generator excitation system

    Supply of a generator excitation system. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: GIS substation parts

    Supply of spare parts for a GIS substation. Closing date: 19 December 2009

  • Iran: Graphite electrodes

    Supply of graphite electrodes. Closing date: 16 January 2010

  • Iran: Laboratory equipment

    Supply of laboratory equipment.  Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Natural gas storage aquifer

    Development of an aquifer in the south of Tehran for the storage of natural gas. Closing date extension. New closing date: 26 December 2009

  • Iran: Oil drilling services

    Provision of oil drilling services in three categories located in: 1) the operations area of the Iranian Central Oilfields Company and land operations area of the Iranian Offshore Oil Company and any other Iranian onshore operational area, if required. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Protection relay

    Supply of SURRENT differential protection relay. Closing date: 20 December 2009Supply, in two phases, of SURRENT differential protection relay.

  • Iran: Provision of water supply system

    Construction and finance of a water supply system. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Rails

    Supply of rails. Closing date: 27 January 2010

  • Iran: Steel pipes

    Supply of steel pipe. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Iran: Supply of high-carbon ferro-manganese

    Supply of high-carbon ferro-manganese. New closing date: 15 December 2009

  • Iran: Tracer injection services

    Provision of tracer injection services at water injection wells. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Type F cup type tester and parts for Dynaplex hooks

    Two separate tenders for supply of type F cup type tester and parts for Dynaplex hooks. Bid bond is IR20.675m or €1,610; and IR10.897m or €780; respectively. Closing date: 20 January

  • Iran: Warm-water meters

    Supply of ultrasonic warm-water meters. Closing date: 17 December 2009

  • Iran: Wastewater collection system

    Construction of a wastewater collection system. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Iran: Wastewater treatment plant

    Construction, on an EPCF basis, of a primary module for an urban wastewater treatment plant. Closing date: 23 January 2010

  • Iran's non-oil exports rise by 25 per cent

    Trade dominated by Asian countries

  • Iraq awards seven oil development deals

    Contracts are part of a scheme to produce 12 million barrels a day by 2016

  • Iraq second licensing round breakdown

    Production deals deals to boost oil production by 4.7 million barrels a day by 2016

  • Iraq signs Gazprom oil deal

    Badra field contract still requires cabinet approval

  • Iraq signs Lukoil contract

    Deal to develop Qurna-2 oil field requires cabinet approval

  • Iraq to boost oil production following contract awards

    Shell and Chinese pledge to raise production by 2.3 million barrels a day

  • Iraq: Bank audit and compliance consultancy services

    Provision of consultancy services comprising internal audit and compliance of the two stated-owned commercial banks. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • Iraq: Bank financial restructuring consultancy services

    Provision of consultancy services comprising financial restructuring of the two stated-owned commercial banks. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • Iraq: Bank human resources training

    Provision of training services for human resources at the two state-owned commercial banks. Closing date: 20 January 2010

  • Iraq: Bank management training

    Provision of training services for branch managers of the two state-owned commercial banks. Closing date: 27 January 2010

  • Iraq: Blood bank equipment

    Supply of blood bank equipment, including training. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Iraq: Circuit breakers

    Supply of low-voltage circuit breakers. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • Iraq: Community social analyses

    Provision of consultancy services comprising social analyses of communities to receive assistance under an emergency education project. Closing date: 8 December 2009

  • Iraq: Control pneumatic rolling machine parts

    Supply of parts for control pneumatic rolling machines. Closing date: 4 January 2010

  • Iraq: Diesel centrifugal pumps

    Supply of mobile diesel centrifugal pumps. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • Iraq: Diesel driven pump parts

    Supply of spare parts for new river water diesel driven pumps. Closing date: 4 January 2010

  • Iraq: Dump trucks

    Supply of 21 dump trucks. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • Iraq: Election outreach and advocacy initiative evaluation

    Provision of evaluation of election outreach and advocacy initiatives. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Iraq: Electric motors

    Supply of electric motors for a process plant. Closing date: 15 January 2010

  • Iraq: Electrical motors

    Supply of electrical motors. Closing date: 15 January 2010

  • Iraq: Electrical pumping sets

    Supply of vertical electrical pumping sets. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Iraq: Gate valves

    Supply of gate valves. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Iraq: Health emergency response consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for a health emergency response project. Closing date: 5 January 2010

  • Iraq: ICT hardware infrastructure audit

    Provision of auditing services for the ICT hardware infrastructure. Closing date: 27 December 2009

  • Iraq: Induction motors

    Supply of three-phase induction motors. Closing date: 15 January 2010

  • Iraq: Laptops and printers

    Supply of laptops and printers. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Iraq: Oil pumps

    Supply of auxiliary pumps and spare parts. Closing date: 4 January 2010

  • Iraq: Packaged hot water boilers

    Supply of two gas-oil fired packaged hot water boilers. Closing date: 15 January 2010

  • Iraq: Power generation consultancy (closing date extension)

    Provision of consultancy services comprising support for the planning, financing and development of additional power generation. New closing date: 9 December 2009

  • Iraq: Steel bars

    Supply of stainless steel bars. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Iraq: Submersible pumps

    Supply of four complete submersible pumps. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • Iraq: Vacuum insulation pipes

    Supply of vacuum insulation pipes for an inter-gas generation system. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • Islamic Development Bank receives AAA credit rating

    Institution to invest $11.5bn over the next three years

  • Istithmar loses control of W Union Square

    Dubai World's Istithmar unit has lost control of the W New York Union Square hotel in a foreclosure auction, Bloomberg has reported. LEM, an affiliate of Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds, won an auction for the mezzanine debt on the luxury Manhattan hotel, which was purchased by Istithmar in 2006 for $285m. LEM bid $2m for the debt.

  • Jazeera Airways eyes expansion

    Marwan Boodai, Chairman of Kuwait's low-cost carrier, Jazeera Airways has said the airline is eyeing acquisitions among Middle East carriers in the first half of 2010 rather than launching a second hub, Saudi Gazette has reported. 'We are talking to more than one company at this stage and we feel the time is good in 2010 to close at least one deal,' he said. Jazeera is seeking to expand its network to 82 routes in the next five years, he added.

  • Jazeera Airways increased passenger numbers

    Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways has reported an 83% increase in passenger numbers for October, compared to the same month in 2008, on a capacity increase of 73%. The airline's market share has increased by over 51% so far for the year, from operating 1,301 sectors in January 2009 to 1,973 sectors in October 2009.

  • Jazeera restructures network

    Kuwait's Jazeera Airways has announced the restructuring of its network, affecting some of the airline's routes. "We are continually reviewing our services to ensure ongoing profitability in a tough trading environment," Stefan Pichler, the carrier's CEO said.

  • Jebel Ali Hotel, Dubai reopens

    Dubai's Jebel Ali Hotel reopened last week, after completing a five month refurbishment programme. Situated within the Golf Resort & Spa, the renovation covered all 260 rooms and suites, as well as facilities throughout the hotel.

  • Jesco trials seamless pipe

    Trial production of the first seamless pipes plant of Saudi Arabia's Jubail Energy Services Co. (Jesco) has started this month, Reuters has reported. The plant will produce 400,000 tonnes per year of seamless pipes that are used in oil and gas drilling. Jesco is 51% owned by Saudi Industrialization and Energy Services Co.

  • Jordan economy grows by 2.1 per cent

    Global downturn and high cost of energy imports hit economy

  • Jordan port city project approved

    The final conceptual master plan for the $10bn Marsa Zayed Project in the Jordanian port city of Aqaba has been approved by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Jordan Times has reported. Imad Kailani, CEO of Al Maabar Jordan Real Estate, the local subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based Al Maabar, said that the project's engineering and technical studies have been completed in addition to the environmental impact assessment and the roads and traffic effect surveys. The company will start constru

  • Jordan: Real estate development consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for a real estate development project. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • Jordan: Wastewater collection and treatment system

    Construction of a wastewater collection and treatment system. Rebid. Closing date: 25 January 2010

  • Jordan: Water and wastewater consultancy (deputy)

    Provision of deputy technical advisory consultancy services for water and wastewater studies. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Jordan: Water and wastewater consultancy (principal)

    Provision of principal technical advisory consultancy services for water and wastewater studies. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Jumeirah to manage hotel in Hangzhou, China

    Dubai-based hospitality firm, Jumeirah Group has signed an agreement with GT Land Holdings Ltd. to manage a luxury hotel in the Yangtze River Delta tourism hub of Hangzhou, China. The 250-room, five-star luxury Jumeirah Hangzhou will have a prime location in the Central Business District of Qianjiang River New Town.

  • Kaspersky launches cryptographic protection software

    Kaspersky Lab Middle East has launched its cryptographic protection software, Kaspersky KryptoStorage. The new application, which works in tandem with the firm's antivirus and internet security packages, is designed to provide cryptographic protection and permanently delete data from computers running Windows operating systems. The crypto-security in Kaspersky KryptoStorage is based on the AES-128 algorithm of symmetric encryption.

  • Kayan in initial deal with Daelim for plant

    Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. has announced it has signed a preliminary agreement with South Korea's Daelim Industrial Co. to build a petrochemical plant, Reuters has reported. The plant will have the capacity to produce 300,000 tonnes per year of low density polyethylene, and will be part of Kayan's giant petrochemical complex. The preliminary agreement will last for three months, Kayan said.

  • Kemya considers bids for Saudi rubber plant

    Petro Steel frontrunner for tank farm package

  • King Abdullah reforms Jordanian tax laws

    Government plans to increase revenues

  • Kuwait awards $50m chemicals handling deal

    Local Combined Group has won the two year contract

  • Kuwait awards oil pumping deals to Halliburton and local firm

    Company plans to maintain reservoir pressure at key fields

  • Kuwait budget surplus reaches $22bn

    Oil prices double and government spending drops

  • Kuwait debt bill faces delays

    Government may veto bill to cancel personal debt interest payments

  • Kuwait delays water project bids

    Ministry changes bid deadlines for Al-Zour and Mina Abdullah to March 2010

  • Kuwait discovers oil field

    Northwestern reservoir will add 80,000 barrels of crude to daily production

  • Kuwait metro masterplan ready in March 2010

    Consultancy request for proposals to be issued by the end of December

  • Kuwait Oil awards $450m security contract

    Deal is part of a series of projects planned by Kuwait government

  • Kuwait Oil Company tenders seawater injection deal

    Contractors value the contract at $700m

  • Kuwait plans $78bn of hydrocarbons spending by 2015

    State energy giant clarifies spending plans for the oil and gas sector

  • Kuwait prime minister prepares for parliamentary questions

    Grilling over alleged financial misconduct will take place on 8 December

  • Kuwait receives consultancy bids for road project

    Winning firm to improve roads connecting Sabah al-Ahmad and Khiran

  • Kuwait Turkish Participation Bank receives licence to operate in Dubai

    Institution plans to offer a full range of sharia-compliant services

  • Kuwait: Acid gas removal plant

    Construction of an acid gas removal plant. Closing date: 7 March 2010

  • Kuwait: Agricultural and maintenance works

    Carrying out agricultural and maintenance works. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Agricultural road construction (north)

    Construction and maintenance of roads in the north. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Agricultural road construction (south)

    Construction and maintenance of roads in the south. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Agricultural works

    Carrying out agricultural works. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Air handling unit

    Supply and installation of a basic air handling unit. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Communications centre systems

    Design and building of communications centre systems. Closing date: 29 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Crystal measurement equipment

    Supply and installation of crystal measurement equipment. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Effluent and sea water injection project

    Carrying out an effluent water and sea water injection project. Closing date: 11 May 2010

  • Kuwait: Information network

    Implementation, upgrading and protection of an information network. Closing date: 29 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Information system specialist services

    Provision of information system specialist services. Closing date: 26 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Information systems centre

    Provision of internet services comprising an information systems centre. Closing date: 26 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Marine manpower and parts

    Provision of specialised technical marine manpower. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Ministry buildings services

    Provision of services at a ministry’s buildings. Closing date: 26 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Oil complex systems O&M

    Provision of O&M services for mechanical and electrical systems at an oil complex. Closing date: 14 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Palm trees project maintenance

    Provision of maintenance services for a martyrs palm trees project. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Pre-paid electricity meters

    Supply, operation and maintenance of pre-paid electricity meters. Closing date: 16 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Purification plant O&M

    Operation and maintenance (O&M) of a purification plant. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Rainwater discharge system

    Construction, completion and maintenance of a rainwater discharge system. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Refinery electrical maintenance works

    Carrying out electrical maintenance works for a refinery. Closing date: 9 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Refinery mechanical maintenance works

    Carrying out mechanical maintenance works for a refinery. Closing date: 16 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road and square maintenance (Capital)

    Carrying out general maintenance works for roads and squares in the Capital governorate. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road maintenance works

    Carrying out quick and emergency maintenance works for roads. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road maintenance works (Abdaly)

    Carrying out general maintenance works for the Abdaly road. Closing date: 7 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road maintenance works (Ahmadi)

    Carrying out quick and emergency maintenance works for roads in the Ahmadi governorate. Closing date: 14 February 2010Carrying out quick and

  • Kuwait: Road maintenance works (Capital)

    Carrying out quick and emergency maintenance works for roads in the Capital governorate. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road maintenance works (Farwaniya)

    Carrying out quick and emergency maintenance works for roads in the Farwaniya governorate. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road maintenance works (Hawally)

    Carrying out quick and emergency maintenance works for roads in the Hawally governorate. Closing date: 14 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road maintenance works (Jahra)

    Carrying out quick and emergency maintenance works for roads in the Jahra governorate. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Road works (Salmi)

    Carrying out general road maintenance works in Salmi. Closing date: 2 February 2010

  • Kuwait: School and office furniture

    Supply of furniture for schools and offices. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Scientific analysis equipment maintenance

    Maintenance of scientific analysis equipment. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Scientific equipment maintenance

    Maintenance of scientific equipment. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Security management building

    Construction, completion and maintenance of a security management building. Closing date: 21 February 2010

  • Kuwait: Social studies curriculum

    Preparation, printing and supply of social studies curriculum. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Telephone exchanges

    Supply, installation, operation and upgrading of telephone exchanges. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Television company O&M services

    Provision of operation and maintenance (O&M) services for a television company. Closing date: 31 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Vehicle leasing

    Leasing of vehicles. Closing date: 26 January 2010

  • Kuwaiti and Egyptian team close to winning Jahra road deal

    Project is the largest road contract tendered in the Gulf in 2009

  • Kuwaiti government seeks US Congress approval for construction contract

    The contract involves work at Al-Mubarak air base and the Kuwait Air Force headquarters

  • Lebanon aims to boost tourism to mountain areas

    Lebanon's Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud held meetings this week with Middle East Airlines (MEA) and the Lebanese International Business Council to discuss the growing tourism sector and ways to develop it further, reported the Daily Star. The discussions focused on ways to boost tourism to mountain regions such as Broummana and Aley. It was agreed that MEA would offer promotional prices for tourists heading to these areas, and that hotels in the mountains would offer deals to encourage visitor

  • Lebanon: Employer-employee survey consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services comprising an employer-employee survey. Closing date: 11 January 2010

  • Lebanon: Old city rehabilitation

    Carrying out the rehabilitation of parts of an old city. Closing date: 28 January 2010

  • Lebanon's hotel revenues up 80%

    Dean of hotel owners in Lebanon, Pierre Al-Ashkar has said that revenues of the country's hotel sector have increased by 80% in 2009, KUNA has reported. Political and security stability in the country have contributed to the rise, he said. Hotels in Lebanon are currently preparing to receive an influx of tourists looking to celebrate Christmas and New Year's, Al-Ashkar told the news service, adding that hotels are already fully booked at the moment.

  • Libya: 2D Seismic processing support

    Provision of 2D seismic processing support. Closing date: 3 February 2010

  • Libya: 3D Seismic data acquisition

    Provision of 3D seismic data acquisition services. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • Libya: Casing and tubing

    Supply of casing and tubing. Closing date: 16 December 2009

  • Libya: construction of accommodation facilities

    Engineering, procurement and construction of accommodation and other facilities at El-Feel Onshore Field (Contract Area E). Closing date: 24 December

  • Libya: Directional drilling and associated services

    Prequalification for directional drilling and associated services. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • Libya: Drilling campaign machine shop services

    Provision of machine shop services for an exploration drilling campaign. Closing date: 30 December 2009

  • Libya: Drilling fluid products and services

    Supply of drilling fluid products and associated services. Closing date: 20 January 2010

  • Libya: Drilling site preparation

    Provision of civil works services comprising drilling site preparation for an exploration programme. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Libya: Lifting equipment inspection and certification services

    Provision of lifting equipment inspection and certification services for an exploration drilling campaign. Closing date: 30 December 2009

  • Libya: Oil exploration H2S safety systems

    Provision of H2S safety systems and associated services for an oil exploration programme. Closing date: 7 January 2010

  • Libya: Oil exploration land transport services

    Provision of land transportation services for an oil exploration programme. Closing date: 9 January 2010

  • Libya: Seismic data acquisition services

    Provision of 2D seismic data acquisition services. Closing date: 13 January 2010

  • Libya: Supply vessel services

    Supply of two vessels Closing date: 24 December

  • Libya: Third party inspection and QA/QC services

    Provision of third party inspection and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) services for an exploration drilling campaign. Closing date: 30 December 2009

  • Libya: Tubular inspection services

    Provision of tubular inspection services for an exploration drilling campaign. Closing date: 30 December 2009

  • Libya: Water well and drilling services

    Provision of water well and drilling services for an exploration programme. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Lindner Depa wins Dubai Metro deal

    Work covers the fit out of 13 Green Line stations

  • Maaden inks $10.8bn deal with Alcoa

    Abdullah al-Dabbagh, CEO of Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) has said the firm has signed an agreement with US-based aluminium giant, Alcoa to build a $10.8bn aluminium complex, Reuters has reported. The two firms will build a 1.8 million tonnes per year aluminium refinery and a 740,000 million tonnes per year smelter in Ras Azzour on the kingdom's Gulf coast. The smelter is scheduled to start production in 2013 while the refinery would come online in 2014, al-Dabbagh said.

  • Maaden retenders $1bn plant deal

    According to Meed magazine, Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) has retendered a $1bn construction contract for its 1.6 million tonnes per year alumina refinery. At least five firms have been invited to submit bids for the new contract for the refinery by December 15, the magazine reported without citing a source. Maaden had originally awarded the engineering, procurement, construction and management contract to US Fluor Corp. in late 2008, Meed said.

  • Maaden selects Daelim for Jubail project

    Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) has said it has chosen South Korea's Daelim Industrial Co. for preliminary work on its Jubail petrochemicals project, Reuters has reported. The plant is expected to have capacity of 250,000 tonnes per year of caustic soda and 300,000 tonnes per year of ethylene dichloride. The construction of the project, a joint venture with Sahara Petrochemicals Co., is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2012.

  • Macsteel wins DMCC licence

    Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCCA) has awarded Macsteel International, a subsidiary of global steel trading, distribution and shipping group Macsteel Holdings Group, a licence to begin operations from AG Tower as a DMCC-registered firm. Macsteel International has offices in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Middle East and Africa for marketing and distribution of its products.

  • Mada launches 4G wireless network in Jordan

    Jordan's Mada Communications has announced the launch of its 4G network in the kingdom, Jordan Times has reported. Based on Motorola's WiMAX 802.16e technology, the network offers download speeds reaching 8Mbits/s. The network currently covers Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Aqaba, Madaba, Jerash, Salt and the Dead Sea area, with plans to cover five more major cities in 2010.

  • Maersk opens logistics facility in Qatar

    A new logistics facility has been opened by Maersk Oil Qatar at Salwa Industrial Area in association with Venture Gulf Group, Gulf Times has reported. The new 34,000 square metre facility will serve as a base for Maersk Oil's onshore operations related to the development of Al Shaheen, Qatar's largest offshore oil field.

  • Majid al-Futtaim selects contractor to build Beirut mall

    Shopping centre to be built on Damascus road

  • Makkah tourism sector makes SR1bn loss

    Khaleel Bahader, Chairman of the Hotels and Tourism Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has said the income made by investors for hotels and furnished apartments for Hajj has seen a 70% decline, according to the Saudi Gazette. The ban on old, sick and infirm pilgrims had resulted in an estimated SR1bn loss to the holy city's tourism sector, he said.

  • Mapna Group wins Syrian power plant deal

    Iranian contractor to build 450MW facility in west of Syria

  • Marriott to open three Qatar properties

    Marriott International has announced that all three new Marriott Properties in Qatar will be opened simultaneously by the middle of next year, the Peninsula has reported. Located in one complex in Doha, the properties are the five-star 257-room Renaissance Hotel, the four-star 204-room Courtyard by Marriott, and the Marriott Executive Apartments. Ibrahim Barghout, General Manager of the three Marriott properties said the hotels will have a soft opening "to see how things materialise" and plan

  • Meat factory opens in Saudi

    Saudi Arabia's Dabbagh's Supreme Foods Group has announced the opening of its automated meat processing factory at the Jeddah Industrial City, Arab News has reported. The new plant produces high volume chicken, beef and other protein products to customers' specifications with output capacity exceeding 100 tonnes per week.

  • MEED Wastewater Conference: Abu Dhabi to use STEP technology for sewage network

    Simon Taylor, Abu Dhabi Sewage Services Company, talks to Rob Jones at MEED’s Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference about their development plans and the use of STEP technology to avoid above ground disruption during the construction period of the new sewer system in this video report.

  • MEED Wastewater Conference: Azaliya developed by Veolia and Mubadala

    Abu Dhabi based Azaliya is a joint venture between Veolia and Mubadala with the aim of providing worldclass water and sanitation services and activities across the MENA region. Patrice Fonlladosa, CEO, Azaliya talks to Phil Blizzard at the MEED Middle East Wastewater Treatment & Reuse Conference in this video report.

  • MEED Wastewater Conference: Jordan decides on BOT for treatment

    To develop the largest wastewater treatment plant in the country Jordan went for the BOT option as Mohammad Najjar, Director of Programme Management Unit, Ministry of Water & Irrigation, Jordan explains to Phil Blizzard. He talks about the reasonings behind this option and also the energy generation aspects in this video report from MEED’s Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference.

  • MEED Wastewater Conference: Preview Video

    To meet the demands of the wasterwater and reuse industry across the GCC in the next five years the anticipated spend is in the region of $S50bn. Phil Blizzard previews the MEED Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference - which will address the requirements of this industry - in a video interview with Edmund O’Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events.

  • MEED Wastewater: Conference Video Report

    More than $50m is expected to be spent on wastewater projects across the Middle East over the next five years. Reporting from MEED’s Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference, Phil Blizzard presents this video report on the pressing issues and key development projects in the region.

  • Microsoft issues fixes for IE vulnerabilities

    Microsoft has released six security bulletins addressing 12 vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, Windows, Windows Server, and Office, Cnet has reported. However, experts said that priority should be given to the cumulative IE bulletin, which affects all major Windows versions including Windows 7, IE 6, IE 7, and IE 8. The bulletin fixes five holes that could allow an attacker to remotely take control over a system in drive-by download attacks. The fix also addresses a problem with ActiveX co

  • Microsoft losses Word patent infringement appeal

    A $290m ruling against Microsoft has been upheld by a federal appeals court, which has also issued an injunction preventing the sale of certain versions of Word 2007 or Office 2007 software from January 11. The software giant had appealed a Texas jury verdict in favour of Canadian firm i4i, which claimed the software giant had infringed its patents for an XML editor. However, the jury said recent versions of Word did infringe on i4i's software patent. The ruling does not affect existing versi

  • Microsoft Office 2003 hit by denied access bug

    Microsoft has warned that starting December 11, 2009, customers using Office 2003 will not be able to open Office 2003 documents protected with the Rights Management Service (RMS) or save Office 2003 documents protected with RMS, Cnet has reported. "We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and we will provide customers a solution as soon as we can. Any new updates and we will post the information here," the company said its Office Sustained Engineering blog.

  • Microsoft, NetApp ink product integration deal

    NetApp and Microsoft Corp. have signed a new three-year agreement for product collaboration and technical integration as well as joint sales and marketing activities to customers worldwide. The two companies will further integrate server, virtualization, management and storage technologies.

  • Middle East Airlines re-elects chairman

    Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), has re-elected Mohammad Hout as chairman, the Daily Star has reported. The carier, which is expected to make a net profit of $100m at the end of 2009, acquired several new Airbus planes this year and started weekly flights to Baghdad in November, after a cessation of more than two decades, according to the the newspaper.

  • Middle East airports to spend $86bn on expansion

    A new analysis by business research and consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan has found that $86bn will be spent by Middle East airports in expansion plans. The firm expects this figure to double after 2025, with major airports in the region pursuing their aim of becoming global hubs. 'The emergence of the Middle East as a global hub in the future is attributed to the expansion of the 12 major airports across the region that constitute over 90% of the total investment of $86bn in the region,' the

  • Middle East contracts awarded: December 2009

    More than $45.8bn worth of contracts have been awarded across the Middle East in December 2009, according to this selected checklist compiled from MEED reports

  • MidEast aluminium plants 'to meet 25% of global need'

    Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji, Chairman of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has said that the aluminium industry in the region is expected to meet around a quarter of the international market requirements by 2015, the Gulf Daily News has reported. "This is being made possible with the increasing number of aluminium smelters and downstream industries in the region," he said.

  • Mideast carriers' losses to shrink in 2010

    Middle East airlines are expected to see losses shrink to $300m in 2010, from a $1.2bn loss the region's airlines suffered in 2009, according to the International Air Transport Association's (Iata) financial outlook for 2010. The aviation trade body said yesterday strong long-haul connection business over Middle East hubs is likely to provide some insulation against the impact of the financial problems that have affected Dubai. The worldwide forecast is not as upbeat, as IATA said the global

  • Mideast passenger demand rises 16.5%

    Passenger demand in the Middle East region has gone up by 16.5% last November compared to the same month last year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said. The growth was attributed to the ability of the region's carriers to facilitate connection traffic to the region through Middle Eastern hubs. Freight demand in the region has also seen a 21.4% improvement over the corresponding period of 2008.

  • Misr Cement Qena to launch ready mix firm

    Egyptian cement manufacturer, Misr Cement Qena, has announced plans to set up a company to produce and sell ready mix concrete in a joint venture with ASEC Cement, Reuters has reported. The company has provided 45% of capital for the firm, while ASEC would provide the remaining 55%.

  • Mobinil launches £E1.5bn corporate bond

    Orascom Telecom has appealed against markets regulator’s decision

  • Moroccan state spending on subsidies falls

    Rabat plans to cut costs of aid programme

  • Morocco: Drinking water supplies

    Supply of drinking water. Closing date: 9 February 2010

  • Morocco: Village electrification works (20)

    Carrying out the first and second category of 20 village electrification works. Closing date: 23 December 2009

  • Morocco: Village electrification works (nine)

    Carrying out village electrification works. Closing date: 23 December 2009

  • Morocco: Water purification project

    Carrying out a water purification project. Closing date: 12 January 2010

  • Mubadala awards Strata advisory deal

    German bank wins mandate for aircraft parts project

  • Mubadala extends Cleveland Clinic commercials deadline

    More time given to allow for appointment of new project manager

  • Muscat airport passenger numbers up

    Oman's Muscat International Airport has recorded a 19% growth in its number of passengers during the first ten months of this year, compared to the same period last year. The total passenger arrivals and departures through the airport by the end of October this year amounted to 2,643,900 passengers, compared to 2,227,000 passengers during the same period last year.

  • Muscat airport passenger traffic rises

    The number of passengers travelling through Oman's Muscat International Airport, inclusive of transit flights, has seen a 12% rise in the first 11 months of 2009, KUNA has reported. The airport had handled 4.1 million passengers, compared to 3.65 million in 2008. The rise was a result of an increase in number of flights by some carriers.

  • Muscat awards Saih Nihayda gas deal to South Koreans

    GS Engineering & Construction secures gas compression project

  • Najaf-Stockholm flights approved

    A Swedish Civil Aviation Authority delegation has paid a visit to Iraq's Najaf International Airport to grant permissions to airline companies interested in launching services from Stockholm to the Iraqi holy city, Aswat al-Iraq news agency has reported. The delegation was "satisfied with the services provided by the airport," a spokesman for the airport said, adding that once flights are launched, Najaf International Airport will be open to all airlines.

  • Nakheel $3.5bn payment due tomorrow

    Last minute repayment would threaten restructuring talks on a further $22.5bn of debt

  • Nakheel reports $3.6bn first-half losses

    Project delays and write-downs hit Dubai-based developer

  • Nakheel to repay bond on time to avoid default

    Payment on debt will be made in 14 days

  • NAS Air eyes Kochi-Riyadh service

    Saudi Arabia-based low-cost carrier NAS Air is set to make its entry into India by launching direct flight services on the Riyadh-Kochi sector, The Hindu has reported. Officials of the Cochin International Airport Limited have confirmed that they had been approached by the airline with a proposal to commence the service, but said that the exact launch date would be known only after the final round of discussions. Operations were expected to start in the first quarter of 2010.

  • NAS wins tender for three airports in India

    Kuwait-based aviation services provider National Aviation Services (NAS) has won contracts from the Airports Authority of India for handling services at three main airports in India's western region, Ahmedebad, Pune and Goa, KUNA has reported. NAS India currently provides passenger and ramp handling services to airlines at 12 airports in the subcontinent.

  • Nass wins Bahrain ship repair yard work

    Local contractor will build 1,380 metres of quay wall

  • National Water Company sets timeline for Mecca scheme

    Bids due 1 March 2010

  • Netgear releases new configurable switches

    Netgear Middle East has announced the launch of a new category of configurable switches in the Middle East. The new 'ProSafe Plus Switch' family of switches utilises 'green' Ethernet features, which significantly reduces the power required to operate and lessen environmental impact.

  • New aluminium plant to open in Iran

    Iran's largest aluminium plant, Hormozal, is scheduled to be opened in the southern city of Bandar Abbas next week, Mehr News has reported. The plant has an annual capacity of 147,000 tonnes and will produce 47% of the aluminium in Iran. Bandar Abbas Province will be the aluminium hub of the country when this project comes on stream.

  • New Cairo wastewater financing set to close by end of 2009

    Ministry seeks $470m for public-private-partnership scheme

  • New hotel consultancy launched in UAE

    Tourism and hospitality firm, Al Dhiafa Holding has launched the International Hotel Consultants Co (IHC) in Abu Dhabi. The new company will provide a range of services, including hospitality consultancy, engineering consultancy and technical and IT services for developers and hotel owners.

  • New Jeddah port begins operations

    The first phase of Jeddah Islamic Port's newest premier container facility, Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), has been completed, Gulf Daily News has reported. The 1.8m TEU, second-generation terminal constructed under an agreement with the Saudi Port Authority, is due to be fully completed by the third quarter next year, RSGT said. Located at the northern end of the Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP), work at the SR2bn ($510m) greenfield container-terminal had started in January 2008.

  • NMC Group opens fourth hotel in Dubai

    The NMC Group of Companies has launched the Dhs150m Lotus Hotel Apartments, the fourth hotel and apartments of the group in Dubai, Khaleej Times has reported. The hotel, which falls under the umbrella of Lotus Hospitality, an arm of the NMC Group, is located in Dubai Marina. It will be commercially operational on January 1. The new property has 95 studio, one-bedroom and two-bed room apartments. Lotus Hospitality has two other properties, the Lotus Hotel, the Lotus Boutique Hotel and the Lotu

  • Oil price stabilises at $70 a barrel

    Stocks of crude drop in the US

  • Oil prices at one-month high

    Prices up on cold weather and falling US inventories

  • Oil prices rise above $72 a barrel

    Positive data from the US a boon for crude

  • Oil rises above $77 following weak dollar

    US currency mitigates impact of negative news

  • Oman Air inks air transport deal with Philippines

    Oman and the Philippines have agreed on an amendment to a 1992 aviation transport services agreement. The two countries have agreed to include Oman Air's right to operate three weekly flights to Manila and a fourth flight to link the cities of Manila and Clark, in addition to seven weekly flights to Clark and four weekly flights to the city of Cebu. In return, the Philippines national carrier's will have the right to operate four weekly flights to Muscat and Salalah.

  • Oman Air launches $10m ad campaign

    Oman Air is launching a new $10m international advertising campaign this month. The campaign will run across broadcast, print, online and outdoor media. The broadcast element will be run in key European and Asian markets, and online, highlighting Oman Air's new aircraft and new onboard product, the carrier said in a statement.

  • Oman air to retrofit A330s for connectivity

    Oman Air has announced plans to retrofit three Airbus A330s with in-flight connectivity, and said the service might be brought to its Boeing 737NG narrowbodies, Air Transport Intelligence has reported. The service will enable passengers aboard the A330s to use their cell phones and internet by the end of January 2010. Oman's three earlier deliveries of A330s will also offer the services during summer 2010, and all future Oman A330s will be equipped with SBB-supported connectivity, the airline

  • Oman: Al-Awabi roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat al-Awabi in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Amerat and Quriyat electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency services in Amerat and Quriyat. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Asphalt road design and construction

    Design and construction of an asphalt road. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Oman: Bahla and Bisya electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Bahla and Bisya. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Barka electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Barka. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Barka roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Barka in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Batinah roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Shinas in the Batinah Region.

  • Oman: Batinah roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Liwa in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Batinah roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Saham in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Bousher electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency services in Bousher. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Caustic soda

    Supply of liquid caustic soda. Closing date: 18 January 2010

  • Oman: CR/platformer catalyst

    Supply of CR/platformer catalyst. Closing date: 18 January 2010

  • Oman: Electricity distribution network O&M

    Operation and maintenance (O&M) of an electricity distribution network. Closing date: 15 February 2010

  • Oman: Electricity grid station construction

    Construction of a 132/33kV electricity grid station. Closing date: 15 February 2010

  • Oman: Electricity grid station upgrade

    Upgrade of an electricity grid station. Closing date: 22 February 2010

  • Oman: Fuel gas oil

    Supply and delivery of fuel gas oil. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Health services O&M (Al-Dhahira)

    Provision of maintenance services for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of health equipment and services in Al-Dhahira. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Oman: Hospital medical store

    Construction, completion and maintenance of a medical store for a hospital. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Oman: Hotel spa buildings

    Construction of spa buildings at a hotel. Closing date: 15 February 2010

  • Oman: Ibri roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Ibri in the Dhahirah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Internal roads

    Design and construction of roads. Closing date: 5 January 2010

  • Oman: Khabourah roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Khabourah in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Link road construction (Hamraa al-Durua)

    Design and construction of link roads in Hamraa al-Durua. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Oman: Link road construction (Wadi al-Ain)

    Design and construction of link roads in Wadi al-Ain. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Oman: Media services

    Provision of integrated media services. Closing date: 16 January 2010

  • Oman: Mudhaibi electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Mudhaibi. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Musanah roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Musanah in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Musandam roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Khasab and Bukha in the Musandam Governorate.

  • Oman: Nakhal Roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Nakhal in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Nizwa and Adam electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Bahla and Bisya. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Road construction

    Construction of an asphalt road. Closing date: 25 January 2010

  • Oman: Road dualisation works

    Carrying out the dualisation of a road. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Oman: Rustaq electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Rustaq. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Rustaq electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Rustaq. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Rustaq roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Rustaq in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Seeb electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency services in Seeb. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Substation construction

    Construction of a new substation. Closing date: 15 February 2010

  • Oman: Sumail electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Sumail. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Sur electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Sur. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Suwaiq electrical services

    Provision of electrical emergency and maintenance services in Suwaiq. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Oman: Suwaiq roads

    Design and construction of internal roads at Wilayat Suwaiq in the Batinah Region for the Regional Municipalities & Water Resources Ministry.

  • Oman: Track road design and construction

    Design, realignment and construction of track roads. Closing date: 8 February 2010

  • Oman: Water management

    Provision of contract management services. Closing date: 18 January 2010

  • Omani investment firms cancel merger plans

    Companies end talks over lack of synergies

  • Opec keeps oil output steady

    Cartel aims to preserve crude prices in volatile global economy

  • Orascom Telecom appeals against Algerian claim for $600m unpaid taxes

    Djezzy generates 38 per cent of group revenues

  • Orascom Telecom wins shareholder approval for $800m rights issue

    Rights issue will give flexibility during tax dispute with Algeria

  • Parliament questions Kuwaiti prime minister over alleged fraud

    Sheikh Nasser is first senior Gulf leader to submit to grilling from politicians

  • Passenger traffic rises in Dubai

    According to traffic data released by IATA, passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport rose 12.6% in November, marking the sixth consecutive month of double-digit growth, Gulf News has reported. The airport handled a total of 3,520,287 passengers in November 2009 compared to 3,125,351 passengers during the same month last year, raising the year to date passenger throughput to 37,085,392, up 8.5% over the first 11 months of 2008.

  • Pepsi venture buys Egyptian drink firm

    International Dairy and Juice Ltd, a joint venture between Saudi Arabian dairy firm Almarai and PepsiCo has said it has acquired Egypt's maker of dairy and juice products, Beyti, Reuters has reported. The JV has acquired Beyti from Almarai, which bought it in October and transferred its 100% stake to the venture at cost.

  • Petrofac, Zamil eye Saudi facility

    Saudi Arabia-based Zamil Group Holding Co. and US-based Petrofac have signed a joint-venture agreement to create and operate a new service centre facility in Saudi Arabia, Gulf Daily News has reported. The service centre will provide a range of capabilities covering oilfield and process plant equipment, including the overhaul, maintenance and repair for process equipment, as well as the manufacture of spare parts, component reconditioning, assembly of third-party equipment and field-service s

  • Premier Inn cuts Dubai room rates by 40%

    UK-based budget hotel operator Premier Inn has announced that it has cut room rates at its two properties in Dubai by 40% in the wake of the global economic downturn. Daily rates at the hotels in Dubai Investments Park and Dubai Silicon Oasis have been cut from Dhs495 to Dhs295. 'Despite figures showing that the business continues to benefit in the current economic climate, as business travelers trade down from four-star rivals, the reduction has been made in order to preserve the Premier Inn

  • Prequalification starts for Terminal Two at Cairo International

    Construction tenders will be issued in May 2010

  • PTL Solar to manufacture solar LED at Enpark

    PTL Solar has partnered with Canada-based Carmanah Technologies Corporation to manufacture solar LED lighting solutions for outdoor applications in Dubai's Energy and Environment Park (Enpark). Carmanah Technologies has pioneered self-contained solar-powered light and and develops solar LED lighting for industrial applications worldwide.

  • Qafco inks deal to supply urea to Bangladesh

    Qatar Fertiliser Co. (Qafco) and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporations (BCIC) have signed a long term contract to supply 300,000 tonnes of urea to the Bangladeshi market, the Peninsula has reported. With this contract, Qafco will become the largest exporter of urea to Bangladesh and will capture more than 45% of the total share of the market.

  • Qapco opens rep office in Vietnam

    A new representative office has been opened by Qatar Petrochemical Co. (Qapco) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as part of the company's efforts at expanding its global marketing network, Gulf Times has reported. The new office aims to help Qapco consolidate its position as a leading exporter of low-density polyethylene to Vietnam, the firm said.

  • Qatalum begins primary aluminium production in Qatar

    Qatar Aluminum Co (Qatalum), a 50-50 joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Hydro, has said its first electrolysis cell has started production of liquid aluminium metal, marking the start of primary aluminium production in Qatar. The firm will produce 585,000 tonnes of primary aluminium when all 704 cells are in operation in the second half of 2010, Qatalum's CEO, Jan Arve Haugan said.

  • Qatalum makes first shipment

    Qatar Aluminium Co. has said that it has made its first shipment of aluminium foundry alloys, marking the start of aluminium exports from Qatar. Extrusion ingots produced at Qatalum are manufactured to make aluminium profiles that are used in a number of products and applications, such as buildings and construction, consumer durables, automotive and general engineering. Once all 704 cells are in operation, the new plant will reach full operational capacity of 585,000 tonnes.

  • Qatar adds two European routes to schedule

    Qatar Airways has unveiled plans to launch two new routes to Copenhagen and Barcelona during the airline's summer schedule which begins at the end of March 2010. The airline will start four weekly flights to the Danish capital Copenhagen, while the carrier's second destination in Spain, Barcelona will be served with a daily flight.

  • Qatar Airways adds four new planes

    Qatar Airways has taken delivery of two Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft and two Airbus A320s, raising its fleet size up to 76, Gulf Times has reported. One of the two newly-delivered Boeing 777-200LRs will be used to boost frequency on the recently-launched non-stop Doha-Melbourne route from the current three-flights-a-week to daily beginning January 1, while the second Boeing 777-200LR has been deployed on flights to the Far East.

  • Qatar Airways adds new routes in Asia

    Qatar Airways has announced that it will fly to three new destinations - Bangalore, Tokyo and Ankara - over an eight-week period from February 2010. Bangalore will be the first of the three launches, with daily flights beginning in February. The addition of Bangalore will take Qatar Airways' Indian capacity up to 71 flights a week spread across 11 cities. In April, Ankara will be added to the carrier's network, along with Tokyo, which will be served daily via Osaka. Seoul, which is currently

  • Qatar Airways launches first flight to Australia

    Carrier places order for 220 planes worth $40bn

  • Qatar Airways launches flights to Australia

    Qatar Airways has announced its inaugural flight to Australia has touched down at Melbourne's airport yesterday, becoming the airline's 85th destination and fourth new route of 2009. The carrier is operating its newest aircraft - a Boeing 777-200LR delivered less than four weeks ago - on the route, flying initially three-times-a-week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The airline plans to launch flights to Sydney in 2010.

  • Qatar aqua park to open

    Qatar-based Hala Group Enterprises has announced that the country's first aqua park, an entertainment centre spread over 100,000sq m, is set to open to the public in April 2010, the Gulf Times has reported. The park would feature a giant wave pool, a lazy river, an activity pool, a multiple slides complex, a family pool and a "dry" corner.

  • Qatar Navigation receives third container ship

    Company set to increase capacity to 7,210 tonnes

  • Qatar oil production hits 1 million barrels a day

    Enhanced crude recovery techniques boost output

  • Qatar receives bids for Ruwais harbour upgrade

    Successful firm to undertake dredging and reclamation work at port

  • Qatar slams Boeing over delivery delays

    Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways has told the BBC that aircraft orders made to Boeing could be cancelled if delivery commitments have not been met, the Peninsula has reported. 'I am not playing with words...I want my aircraft earlier...We gave them an ultimatum to accept the conditions because they have been continuously delaying the delivery,' Al Baker told the Stephen Sackur, host of the BBC's HardTalk show.

  • Qatar: Civil and electrical maintenance works

    Carrying out civil and electrical maintenance works. Closing date: 24 January 2010

  • Qatar: Diving services

    Provision of diving services. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Qatar: Electronic water meters

    Supply of domestic/bulk electronic water meters. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Qatar: Liability insurance

    Provision of liability insurance. Closing date: 27 December 2009

  • Qatar: Pipeline inspection services

    Provision of magnetic flux leakage pipeline inspection and integrity services. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Qatar: Public address and general alarm systems

    Provision of verification and modification of a detailed design and EPIC and testing services for a dedicated public address and general alarm, closed-circuit TV systems, field telephones and MPLS-based internet protocol backbone. Closing date: 7 February 2010Provision of verification and modification of a detailed design an

  • Qatar: Road improvement works

    Carrying out road improvement works outside greater Doha. Closing date: 5 January 2009

  • Qatar: Road improvement works

    Carrying out road improvement works. Closing date: 5 January 2010

  • Qatar: Substation civil maintenance works

    Carrying out civil maintenance works at electrical substations. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Qatar: Well casing CP system services

    Provision of front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for a well casing CP system. Closing date: 17 January 2010

  • Qatargas delivers supplies to Canada

    State firm ships liquefied natural gas to New Brunswick terminal

  • Qatargas to award retendered recovery deal in January

    Foster Wheeler in pole position to win Ras Laffan gas recovery scheme

  • QFIB buys 71% Emirates plastic plant stake

    Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB) has acquired a 71.3% stake in Emirates National Factory for Plastic Industries, Gulf Times has reported. ENPI is one of the largest plastic manufacturers of its kind in the Mena region, with a customer base of 1,400 clients in more than 40 countries.

  • Quantity surveyors submit bids for Omani exhibition centre

    Mixed-used development will be near Muscat International airport

  • Rak Properties tenders Intercontinental Hotel

    Resort will be built at the $5.4bn Mina al-Arab project on the Gulf coast

  • Rak Propeties awards Mina al-Arab housing work to local firms

    The development is the emirate’s largest real estate project

  • Ras al-Zour power and water scheme tender on schedule

    Saudi Arabia to issue request for proposals on 5 December

  • Ratings agency downgrades Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

    Exposure to Dubai market hits institution

  • Ratings agency downgrades Dubai corporates to junk status

    Moody’s predicts state-backed firms likely to have repayment problems

  • Ratings agency downgrades Dubai institutions

    Lack of government support’ hits firms and banks

  • Redington Gulf signs distribution deal with Juniper Networks

    IT Distributor and supply chain systems provider Redington Gulf has signed an agreement with NYSE-listed Juniper Networks to distribute its full portfolio of networking and security products, becoming a Middle East region-wide Value-Add Distributor. Redington Gulf has a presence in 18 markets, and is associated with 24 global IT and telecom brands, with over 4,200 channel partners.

  • Relays Electrical bids low for Dubai power and water deal

    Winning bidder to supervise commissioning activities for electricity & water authority

  • Riyadh reviews decision over ethane gas prices

    Petroleum minister says changes may not be made until after 2012

  • Rolls-Royce studies KAEC facility feasibility

    A delegation from aircraft engine manufacturing company, Rolls-Royce has visited Emaar, The Economic City to study the feasibility of setting up an R&D facility in Saudi Arabia. The R&D centre would act as a precursor for a full production plant at KAEC's Industrial Valley, the firm said.

  • Rotana, Oman AIr ink miles deal

    Sindbad Frequent Flyer Programme, run by Oman Air, has announced a partnership agreement with Rotana hotel management company. Sindbad members will be entitled to 500 miles for every qualifying stay at any of the Rotana properties in the Mena region and the groups will be running a special Double Miles bonanza until March.

  • Royal Caribbean launches Arabian Gulf cruise

    Dubailand and Royal Caribbean International have partnered to offer Royal Caribbean's new cruise itinerary from Dubai. Starting 18 January 2010 through till April 2010, Royal Caribbean International's vessel 'Brilliance of the Seas' will sail for seven nights around the Arabian Gulf. The cruise commences and ends in Dubai with other ports of call including Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

  • Royal Jordanian plays down merger talk

    Royal Jordanian Airlines' new president and chief executive, Hussein Dabbas has said that reports of merger plans with another airline within two years, have taken certain remarks out of context, Aviation International News website has reported. The airline, while enjoying its 'OneWorld' alliance grouping, 'is open to suggestions.' if a stronger alliance is needed in the Middle East or other markets, Dabbas said.

  • Sabic cuts steel prices

    Mohammed al-Mady, CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (Sabic) has said that the company has cut prices of some steel output and is reviewing the prices of other steel products, Reuters has reported. "We've reduced the 8-mm and 10-mm steel price by about SR210 per tonne," he told reporters on the sidelines of a petrochemical conference in Dubai. Sabic is the kingdom's only producer of the 8-mm and 10-mm steel.

  • Sabic Kayan unit plans 2010 production start

    Mohammed al-Mady, CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (Sabic) has said the Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. will begin production in 2010, Reuters has reported. The Kayan complex contains 16 plants, some of them will start production in 2010 and others will follow in 2011, he said. The project will have an annual production capacity of 6 million tonnes of petrochemicals including ethylene, propylene and ethylene glycol.

  • SABIC may build new plants to increase output

    Mohamed al-Mady, CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) has said the company is conducting an economic feasibility for new plants with the aim of boosting its production to 130 million tonnes of petrochemicals by 2020, Reuters has reported. The state-controlled firm had a production of 56 million tonnes in 2008.

  • SABIC plans bond issues

    Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) has announced plans to issue 10 billion Saudi riyals ($2.67bn) in bonds to the government's Public Investment Fund. The private placement to the PIF, which owns 70% of Sabic, will be over several issues. The bonds have a maturity of seven years after being issued, Sabic said in a statement.

  • Sadaa war displaces 175,000 Yemenis

    Conflict will hit fragile economy

  • Samsung expects sales surge in Mideast

    Samsung Gulf Electronics has said it expects a 180% surge in sales of its notebooks across the Middle East in 2010. The consumer electronics manufacturer based its projection on the growing mobile workforce in the region. Samsung also said it will aggressively pursue the B2B market next year and aims to grow sales by 20%.

  • Samsung format displays post 200% growth

    Samsung Electronics has announced its professional display segment brand has seen a 200% growth in the Middle East for 2009. Samsung has installed a number of professional solutions for digital singage in the UAE, including Sharjah Airport and Reel Cinemas. Samsung has recently launched its latest Large Format Displays (LFD) brand as well as the Samsung E-board, a 65 inch optical type touch screen display that can be used for interactive learning and classroom management.

  • Saqr Port Authority to issue tender for Maritime City

    Development to start operating in January 2010

  • Saudi Arabia takes centre stage

    A roller-coaster year including a recession and lower oil prices shook confidence in the Gulf but Riyadh has emerged virtually unscathed

  • Saudi Arabia to award Jizan refinery deal by end of December

    Firms compete for $7bn project on Red Sea coast

  • Saudi Arabia: College janitorial and catering services

    Provision of janitorial and catering services at an industrial college. Closing date: 1 February 2010

  • Saudi Arabia: Concrete structure rehabilitation

    Carrying out rehabilitation works at concrete structures at a desalination plant. Closing date: 28 February 2010

  • Saudi Arabia: Electric motors

    Supply and installation of four electric motors for driving high-pressure pumps with energy recovery turbines. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Saudi Arabia: Power and water project EPC

    Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of a power and water project. Closing date: 20 March 2010

  • Saudi Arabia: Security systems

    Installation of security systems. Closing date: 23 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Vehicles and motorcycles

    Supply of vehicles and motorcycles. Closing date: 4 January 2010

  • Saudi Arabia: Water pipeline

    Supply and installation of an underground water pipeline. Closing date: 11 January 2010

  • Saudi Arabia's inflation rate rises to 4 per cent

    Kingdom’s peg to a weak dollar hits economy

  • Saudi Aramco awards marine oil and gas exploration deals

    Argas wins two seismic data-gathering contracts worth $400m in total

  • Saudi Aramco blames high construction costs for Manifa delay

    State firm expects to produce 900,000 barrels a day of crude

  • Saudi Aramco brings forward bid deadline for Yanbu refinery

    Prices for main packages now due on 26 January 2010

  • Saudi Aramco plans to increase Jubail local debt

    Plan to keep pricing low on the project

  • Saudi Aramco to complete Manifa oil project by 2015

    State firm expects to produce 900,000 barrels a day of crude

  • Saudi Authority okays Riyadh airport expansion plan

    Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has approved the expansion plan for King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, Arab News has reported. The project's first phase is aimed at increasing the airport's annual capacity to 25 million passengers.

  • Saudi authority plans to upgrade Medina airport

    Gaca to invite firms to submit expressions of interest in early 2010

  • Saudi banks face slower growth in 2010

    National Commercial Bank says shrinking loan growth will hit profitability next year

  • Saudi bans liquid items on hand luggage

    Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has placed a ban on carrying liquid items in containers of over one litre capacity by passengers flying from the kingdom, Arab News has reported. Items such as shampoo, cream, and toothpaste, perfumes, need to be packed in passengers' check-in luggage. However, essential items such as baby formula, medication, medical equipment and some humanitarian items would be exempt from the ban in small quantities, GACA said.

  • Saudi Binladin frontrunner for Capital Market Authority tower deal

    Contractor to build a 79-floor structure at King Abdullah Financial District

  • Saudi firm buys Greek marble factory

    Saudi Arabia-based Marble and Granite International Co., a subsidiary of Construction Products Holding Co. (CPC), has said it has acquired a marble factory in Greece, which is expected to contribute to increase sales of Greek marble in the kingdom. The firm also said it is planning to buy marble factories in Italy and China as it pursues its growth strategy.

  • Saudi firms merger to form construction giant

    The new company will challenge the dominance of Oger and Binladin

  • Saudi Kayan says main units will start-up in 2nd half

    Saudi Kayan Petrochemicals Co, a unit of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), has said the main units of its giant petrochemical complex in Jubail are expected to start operating in the second half of 2010, Reuters has reported. The project will have an annual production capacity of 6 million tonnes of petrochemicals including ethylene, propylene and ethylene glycol from 16 plants.

  • Saudi Kayan sets final bid date for Jubail plastics plant deal

    Petrochemicals producer asks firms for revised prices

  • Saudi Sipchem begins acid exports

    Saudi International Petrochemicals Co. has said it has exported its first shipment of acetic acid, Reuters has reported. Acetic acid is produced by Sipchem affiliate, the International Acetyl Co., and the first shipment went to Asian markets on Friday. Almost half of the acetic acid is used as a feedstock for the vinyl acetate monomer plant which Sipchem plans to commission this month, it said in the statement.

  • Saudi’s International Development Bank plans sukuk in new year

    The $1.5bn deal will complete the bank’s sukuk programme

  • Saudia to launch Abha-Cairo flights

    Saudi Arabian Airlines plans to launch direct flights from the city of Abha to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, by the beginning of 2010, the Saudi Gazette has reported. The new direct flights will take off from Abha at 8:30am every Sunday and Thursday and return from Cairo at 11:25pm, the carrier said.

  • Savola eyes projects in Sudan, Egypt

    Sami Baroum, chief executive of Saudi sugar refiner, Savola Group has said the firm is looking at opportunities in Egypt and Sudan, after pulling out of bids for six sugar mills put up for sale by Turkey, Reuters has reported. Savola has a total sugar refining capacity of 2 million tonnes per year, placing it ahead of its closest regional rival, the UAE-based al-Khaleej Sugar Co, which has capacity of around 1.1 million.

  • Savola 'not to bid' Turkish sugar plants

    The Middle East's largest sugar refinery, Savola Group has said that it will not bid for six sugar mills being sold by the Turkish government as previously planned, Reuters has reported. The company said lack of time to study the offered assets is the reason behind its decision. "Savola Group will continue to study other investment opportunities offered by the Turkish government in this area in the future," Savola said in a statement.

  • Schindler becomes sole owner of Saudi Elevator

    Swiss elevators company Schindler has announced the acquisition of an additional 80% of shares in Saudi Elevator Corp, which makes it the sole owner of its equity. 'The acquisition strengthens the position of the Schindler Group in the Gulf region's largest market,' the firm said in a statement. The agreement is subject to the approval of the appropriate authorities in the kingdom.

  • Schlumberger secures Kuwaiti oil contracts

    State energy company awards testing deals worth $279m

  • Second Las Vegas CityCenter hotel opens

    Dubai World and MGM Mirage have announced the opening of the second hotel at the big new CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip, AP has reported. The 47-storey Mandarin Oriental has 392 hotel rooms and 227 condominiums and features a sky lobby on the 23rd floor that overlooks the Strip. The first hotel, which had been opened last Monday, is the 1,500-room Vdara hotel.

  • Seoul signs up for renewables development in the UAE

    Ministry of Knowledge Economy may build clean technology facilities at zero-emission city

  • Septech enters Saudi joint venture

    UAE firm joins forces with Mawrid Holdings

  • Sheraton Cairo renovates Nefertiti Tower

    Sheraton Cairo, a member of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, has announced the completion of all renovation works at the Nefertiti Tower. The hotel has assigned special floors to its SPG members (Starwood Preferred Guests), in addition to allocating a refurbished Club Level, which offers Executive Rooms to serve corporate customers & VIPs. Sheraton Cairo's second Tower, Cleopatra Tower, will undergo a similar renovation project, the company said.

  • Shinhan to expand Yemen's Marib refinery

    Deal to increase refining capacity is valued at $350m

  • Sinopec to approach firms to prequalify for Iranian oil field bid

    Chinese will award engineering, procurement and construction deal by 31 December

  • Sonatrach discovers five gas reservoirs in December

    Algeria developing pipeline projects to link up with Europe

  • South Korean president lends support to UAE nuclear bid

    The UAE is close to selecting a consortium to build its nuclear power plant

  • South Koreans win Jordanian nuclear reactor work

    Team to develop $173m facility

  • South Koreans win Qatar substation work

    Contracts are part of national grid expansion programme

  • South Koreans win UAE nuclear deal

    Four plants will be built in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region

  • Southern Province Cement predicts fall in '09 profit

    Southern Province Cement Co. (SPCC), one of Saudi Arabia's top three cement firms by market value, has announced its net profit in 2009 would be 7.8% lower than in 2008, Reuters has reported. SPCC said its preliminary results indicate its net profit this year would reach SR729m, down from SR791m in 2008.

  • Spam continues to rise as criminals become more sophisticated

    Spam email hit levels of around 88% of all messages sent this year, with over 100 billion sent out each day. In what security company MessageLabs' 2009 Annual Security Report describes as a turbulent year, cyber criminals took advantage of the global economic crisis, celebrity deaths and the panic surrounding the H1N1 flu virus to spread their malware.

  • State aid 'not needed' for Emirates bond payments

    Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline has said that government help is not needed to repay $1.7bn of outstanding debt, Meed has reported. Dubai's flagship carrier has 10 loans and bonds worth a total of $1.7bn which are due to mature by 2013, according to Standard and Poor's. Dubai's carrier currently has 151 planes on order, worth $50bn.

  • Sudan: Country programme action plan consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for a country programme action plan. Closing date: 7 January 2010

  • Sudan: Pick-up trucks

    Supply of eight double-cabin pick-up trucks. New closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Suez Canal revenues decrease

    Economic recesssion hits global trade sector

  • Suez Canal to keep transit tolls unchanged in 2010

    Egypt's Suez Canal's transit tolls will remain unchanged in 2010 for the second straight year, Reuters has cited sources from the Suez Canal Authority. 'Most of the members of the board decided to leave the transit tolls unchanged,' according to a source. The canal's revenue has reported declines year-on-year every month since December last year due to faltering global trade, slowing the shipping traffic.

  • Syria launches private wind farm project

    Developers to submit prequalifications by the end of January 2010

  • Syria: Alkaline accumulators

    Suply of Ni-Cd alkaline accumulators, type sintered cells or Fiber Ni-Cd for use on locomotive diesel engines. Closing date: 13 January 2010

  • Syria: Downhole equipment

    Supply of downhole equipment. Closing date: 25 January 2010

  • Syria: Electric motors

    Supply of electric motors. Closing date: 25 January 2010

  • Syria: Electric train parts

    Standfirst: Supply of spare parts for diesel electric trains. Closing date: 4 January 2010.

  • Syria: Gas turbine air filter parts

    Supply of parts for gas turbine self-cleaning air filters. Closing date: 31 January 2010

  • Syria: Potassium chloride

    Supply of 100 tonnes of potassium chloride. Closing date: 26 January 2010

  • Syria: Power consultancy

    Consultancy for power plants and network. Closing date: unknown

  • Syria: Power plant expansion

    Expansion of a power plant by adding two gas turbines. New closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Syria: Railway study

    Detailed executive study for a railway line between Al-Muslumieh station and Jebreen station. Closing date: 5 January 2010.

  • Syria: Railway study 2

    Detailed study for railway line.Closing date: 5 January 2010

  • Syria: Spare parts for locamotives

    Syria: Supply of spare parts. Closing date: 28 December 2009

  • Takreer tenders deals for lubricant refinery

    Abu Dhabi aims to meet local demand and export base oils

  • Tasnee submits bid for Jizan refinery

    Red Sea coast refinery is expected to cost $7bn

  • Technip wins $95m Egyptian oil deal

    Contract covers offshore field development

  • Technology major driver for Jordan employment

    More than 80,000 direct and indirect jobs were created by Jordan's ICT sector between 1999 and 2008, according to a recent study, Jordan Times has reported. It said that almost 17,000 direct, almost 50,000 indirect and just over 15,000 induced jobs were created, including in sectors such as education, finance and healthcare. The study, which assessed the economic impact of the ICT sector on the kingdom, found that the sector's average contribution to Jordan's gross domestic product over the p

  • ThyssenKrupp unit wins Ruwais services deal

    Uhde, a division of engineering firm, ThyssenKrupp, has won a contract from Samsung Engineering Co. to provide extensive licensing, engineering and supply services for the Ruwais Fertilizer Industries (FERTIL) in Abu Dhabi. The contract involves the urea granulation process licence, substantial parts of the design engineering, the supply of special equipment, and support during the construction and commissioning of the plant. The urea fertilizer production from these new plants will increase

  • Topaz secures $42m in financing

    Dubai-headquartered Topaz Energy and Marine has announced it had raised $42m from Standard Chartered Bank-Dubai to support its fleet expansion plans, taking its total financing raised in 2009 to $150m. The company plans to pursue growth in 2010 through acquisitions into geographies of strategic importance to the global hydrocarbon markets.

  • Torishima sets up Techno Park hub

    Techno Park, the Economic Zones World subsidiary, has signed an agreement with Torishima Pumps, the Japan-based suppliers of pumps for desalination, power, water, wastewater and process markets, to set up its service facility at Techno Park. The new service facility will help deliver sustainable water and power solutions to the region in addition to providing spares, repair, service and technical support.

  • Total unveils Algeria gas plans

    French major wants to start producing gas in 2015

  • Tourism visitors up, revenues down in Jordan

    Jordan's tourism revenues dropped slightly in the first 11 months of this year as the overall number of visitors increased, according to statistics issued by the Central Bank of Jordan. The statistics show that revenues generated by the sector between January and November stood at JD1.899 billion, down from JD1.915 billion during the same period in 2008. The figures also revealed that 6,538,518 tourists visited the Kingdom during the first 11 months of 2009, a 0.3% increase from last year, wh

  • Trams to serve upscale areas in Dubai by 2011

    A new seven-car trams, with a capacity of 300 passengers and a six-minute headway will be built to transport passengers and residents of Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah, Gulf News has reported. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the contract for the tram system to a consortium comprising Alstom, Belgium-based Besix, Serco from UK and Parsons from the US.

  • Tunis financial harbour project secures land

    Design and infrastructure consultants also appointed

  • Tunisia: Educational equipment

    Supply of equipment for an education quality improvement project. Closing date: 19 January 2009

  • Tunisia: Power distribution network equipment

    Supply of equipment for a power distribution network. Closing date: 16 December 2009

  • Tunisia: Sewage treatment plant study

    Carrying out a study for works at a sewage treatment plant. Closing date: 19 January 2010

  • Tunisia: Teaching project consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for an education teaching project. Closing date: 10 January 2010

  • Turkish hotel chain to open in Iraq

    Turkey-based Divan Hotels has announced plans to open a 5-star hotel in Northern Iraq in the first half of 2011.Costing $90m to develop and located in Erbial, the Divan Erbil will have 146 guestrooms, 76 suites, two presidential suites and four lofts. Additionally the hotel will have six meeting rooms, a ballroom, fitness centre, indoor pool, four restaurants, a night club, and thirteen offices and shops which will be offered for lease. In a statement, company chairman Sarp Turanlıgil, said:

  • UAE considers quad bike age controls

    The UAE's ministry of interior has said it is considering imposing an age limit of 17 and special testing and licensing for quad bikes in the country, The National has reported. Currently, no licence is required to operate a quad bike, and Dubai is the only emirate to impose an age restriction.

  • UAE hotels see sharp drop in revPAR

    Hotels in the UAE suffered a 28.3% drop in revenue per available room (revPAR) in November, according to a new report by STR Global. Occupancy rates in the country also took a slide in November, falling nearly nine percent compared to the same month in 2008, to 75.5%. Hotels in the UAE were also hit by a year-on-year drop in average daily rate (ADR) of more than 21%, the study revealed.

  • UAE to add more flights to Sri Lanka

    The United Arab Emirates has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka to increase flights between the two countries. Under the agreement, UAE-designated airlines Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, and Air Arabia will increase the number of weekly flights to the country. In addition the UAE's low-cost airline FlyDubai will also add flights to Colombo.

  • UAE: Accommodation buildings

    Construction of four accommodation buildings. Closing date: 24 February 2010

  • UAE: Bills enveloping machine

    Supply of bills enveloping machine. Closing date: 4 January 2010.

  • UAE: Cables and power distribution boards

    Supply of cables, cable trays and power distribution boards. Closing date: 16 December 2009

  • UAE: Cafeteria modifications

    Carrying out modifications to a cafeteria. Closing date: 24 December 2009

  • UAE: De-humidifier and H2S scrubber

    Design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a de-humidifier and an H2S scrubber. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • UAE: Exhibition stand rebuilding

    Rebuilding of an exhibit stand for an exhibition. Closing date: 9 December 2009

  • UAE: Hospital instrument and container system

    Replacement of an instrument and container system at a hospital. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • UAE: Maintenance work at al-Jazeera Park

    Checking and maintenance work on water boats game and planes game at Al-Jazeera Park at Sharjah. Closing date: 30 December

  • UAE: Maintenance works on Al-Ourba Street

    Maintenance works for Al-Oruba street between Al-Muraija bridge and Salem Bin Ali Al-Owais roundabout. Closing date: 13 December.

  • UAE: Potline rectifier transformer project

    Enhancement of a cooling system for potline rectifier transformers. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • UAE: Power station equipment overhaul

    Overhauling of equipment at power stations. Closing date: 6 January 2010

  • UAE: Power systems

    Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of DC power systems. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • UAE: Residential complex maintenance

    Provision of maintenance services for a residential complex. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • UAE: Seawater intake and outfall system

    Implementation of a seawater intake and outfall system at a power and desalination complex. New closing date: 25 January 2010

  • UAE: Substation scada system upgrade

    Upgrading of a scada system for substations. Closing date: 16 December 2009

  • UAE: Supply and installation of cables, cable trays and power distribution boards

    Supply and installation of AC & DC cables, cable trays and power distribution boards at Etisalat sites in various regions. Closing date: 16 December 2009.

  • UAE: Telecoms shelters

    Supply of telecoms shelters. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • UAE: Traffic scheduling system

    Supply and installation of a traffic scheduling and automated media asset management system. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • UAE: Web revamp hardware

    Provision of server hardware for a web revamping project. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • UAE: Well drilling

    Drilling of seven wells. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • UAE's IT sector set for growth

    A Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry analysis based on a recently-released Business Monitor International report forecasts that the $3.2bn IT market in the UAE will see steady growth and become a leader in 
the region. Fundamental drivers for this market include local and federal government initiatives and development of the non-oil sectors, which include real estate and tourism. Government spending and investment will provide support to the IT market, the report said. Positive growth d

  • UK consultant withdraws from Dubai

    Mouchel’s two largest clients are Dubai World’s Nakheel and Limitless

  • UK engineers to design Abu Dhabi road tunnel

    New tunnel will connect Salam Street and Saadiyat Bridge

  • US Army cancels Agility contract

    Kuwait-based logistics firm, Agility has said that US defence contractor DynCorp International has dropped its US unit, Agility Defense and Government Services Inc as a subcontractor in a US Army deal, Reuters has reported. Agility said DynCorp's decision is in breach of contractual terms and it is considering its legal options. In November, a US grand jury indicted Agility under its previous name, Public Warehousing Co, on charges of fraud and conspiracy alleging that it overcharged the US A

  • US bars Airbus jet sale to Syria

    Syrian transport minister, Yarob Badr has said the United States has turned down a request by France-based Airbus to lift the US embargo affecting the sale of planes to Syria, the Associated Press has reported. As a result, the country will sign a deal with Russian plane manufacturer Tupolev, under which Syrian Air would first lease two passenger jets for a year and later purchase them. The sanctions have led to grounding much of the carrier's fleet, leaving only five Airbus A320s, one aging

  • US firm wins Petro-Rabigh engineering deal

    Kellogg Brown & Root to expand naphtha capacity by 3 million tonnes a year

  • US oil major discovers gas in Libya

    Hess finds fresh hydrocarbons after initial drilling in Sirte basin in 2008

  • Versace plans to complete Dubai Palazzo resort

    The Versace Group has said it is '100% committed' to completing its Dhs2.3bn Palazzo Versace Dubai resort. However its plans depend on Dubai Properties putting the necessary infrastructure in place at its Culture Village location, the company said. The Palazzo Versace resort will have 217 hotel suites and 169 private residences, all furnished with Versace furniture. Due to open in late 2010 or early 2011, construction is about 60% complete, the company said. Originally, Versace planned to als

  • Volvo Rents heavy machinery store opens in Abu Dhabi

    Dubai-based Al Futtaim Auto & Machines (FAMCO) has opened the Middle East's first Volvo Rents store in Abu Dhabi. The company has invested around $15m in the venture. The first store has 50 medium and large sized machines, including articulated haulers, wheeled loaders and excavators. FAMCO plans to establish Volvo Rents stores at other UAE locations next year, including Dubai. Originally, the intention had been to open the first store in Dubai, but the slowdown made the firm switch to Abu Dh

  • War in Yemen costs $10m a day

    Conflict hits government’s fragile finances

  • Wataniya: Cargo operations ship 180 tonnes in first month

    Kuwait-based Wataniya Airways has reported solid growth within one month of the launch of its cargo operations. More than 180 tonnes have been uplifted with only half the network open for cargo services. "Our first month performance surpassed all our expectations and we look to continue to build on this success into 2010. Our aim is to build a competitive and sustainable business solution that will continue to take our industry forward," Neville Karai, director of Heavyweight Air Express said

  • Water theme park set for spring opening in Qatar

    The Lagoon, Qatar's first aquatic park, is expected to open in April 2010, the Peninsula has reported. Developed by Hala Group Enterprises and managed by the Kuwait-based Al Jazera Entertainment Enterprises, the theme park includes a giant wave pool, lazy river, lagoons and water shoots.

  • Windows 7 problems blamed on Malware

    In response to rumours that the 'black screen' effect plaguing some Windows 7 users was caused by a security update, Microsoft said that malicious software was the likely cause of the problem. 'We've conducted a comprehensive review of the November Security Updates, the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, and the non-security updates we released through Windows Update in November. That investigation has shown that none of these updates make any changes to the permissions in the registry.

  • Work begins on Qatari plant

    Work has started on Qatar Petrochemical Company's new low-density polyethylene (LDPE-3) plant in Mesaieed Industrial City, the Peninsula has reported. The QR2bn LDPE-3 plant is designed to annually produce 300,000 metric tonnes (MT) of low-density polyethylene which will add to the 400,000 MTA output of Qapco's two existing LDPE production lines, bringing the total LDPE capacity to some 700,000 MTA.

  • World's tallest hotel opens in Dubai

    The 333-metre tall Rose Rayhaan by Rotana hotel officially opened its doors to the public yesterday in Dubai. The tallest hotel in the world, it has 72 floors and 482 rooms, suites and penthouses. It will operate under the Rayhaan Hotels and Resorts. The company said that it plans to open 10 hotels a year over the next four years, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Selim El Zyr, President and CEO, Rotana, said: 'It is part of our strategic aim to have a prop

  • Yanbu Cement expects 35.5% drop in Q4 profit

    Saudi cement maker, Yanbu Cement Co. expects a 35.5% fall in its net profit in the fourth quarter, Reuters has reported. Preliminary results show the firm's net profit this year would reach SR478m, down from SR559.7m in the previous year, the company said.

  • Yemen currency reserves fall in October

    Central bank’s ability to buy foreign imports drops to a record low

  • Yemen project investments fall in 2009

    Foreign investments down 98 per cent from 2008

  • Yemen: Rural road upgrade consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services comprising the design review and construction supervision of rural road upgrading sub-projects. Closing date: 6 January 2010

  • Yemenia inks deal for 10 aircraft

    Yemen's national carrier, Yemenia, has signed a $700m agreement with Airbus for the purchase of 10 new A320 airbus aircraft, as part of the airline's strategy to increase routes and develop its fleet, KUNA has reported. The first two planes of the batch will arrive in 2011, followed by two more every year following, Chairman Abdulkhaliq Al-Qadhi said. The airline will open a new route to China as well as a number of African countries, he added.

  • Zain Kuwait launches wireless Zain Mifi device

    Zain Kuwait has said its wireless device, Zain Mifi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, will initially be launched in its Kuwait operation, with plans to extend the service to other operations in the future. The Mifi device provides freedom from Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing users to bring Internet access anywhere and share that access with a set of devices.

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