MEED
Issue 32 6-12 August 2010
View all stories from this issue.
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Abdulkareen Abu al-Nasr
A key figure leading the development of Saudi Arabia’s banking sector -
Abu Dhabi gets its timing right
Having tread carefully during the recession, Ipic is well-positioned to plan for the decade ahead -
Alba mulls expansion options
Bahrain smelter could demolish two potlines to accomodate newer technology -
Algiers steps up rail investment
By modernising existing lines and building new routes, Algeria is strengthening its transport infrastructure, but concerns remain about a lack of efficiency on major projects -
Arab Bank Group
The Amman-based lender is gearing up to expand its retail banking operations -
Arab Bank Group: MEED Assessment
The bank is among the most diversified in the region, which helps it to ride out downturns in individual markets -
Banks to bid for Union Railway advisory work
Bids submitted by 4 August to advise on $11bn rail scheme -
Blackberry needs to compromise or pull out
If the Blackberry service is stopped, it will dismay the legions of users who rely on it in the region -
Businesses face disruption with suspension of Blackberry services
Saudi Arabia and the UAE plan to suspend messaging amid security concerns -
Cairo realigns strategic economic priorities
To make up for a fall in foreign investment, Egypt is focusing on infrastructure development, tax collection efficiency and revising laws to support small businesses -
Clearing the way for investors in Maghreb
Corruption and bureaucratic hurdles continue to hinder inflows of foreign investment needed to stimulate further economic diversification in the countries of the Maghreb -
Construction sector drives job creation in Morocco
With the construction industry driving the country’s economy forward, Rabat has invested heavily in tourism and public infrastructure projects for long-term growth -
Contractor selected for Abu Dhabi’s presidential palace
New palace will be built in the Ras al-Akhdar area of Abu Dhabi island -
Downstream aluminium ambitions falter
Insufficient local customers and questions over Oman’s ability to access further gas supplies are hindering Sohar Aluminium’s phase two expansion -
Dubai considers financing airport projects as one deal
Department of Civil Aviation is talking to local banks -
Dubai plans air route to economic recovery
Debt-laden emirate invests in logistics and aviation to restore economic fortunes -
Dubai right to back aviation
New airport projects set to drive the emirate’s economic growth. Funding needed to rival network expansion in Doha and Abu Dhabi -
Firms line up for $2bn of Abu Dhabi offshore oil facilities
Emirate will spend $25bn up to 2015 to boost offshore production -
Firms prequalify for Cairo airport terminal two
Cairo Airport Company is expected to award the construction contract in the third quarter of 2010 -
Horizon Technologies
The UAE-based recycling company is looking to capitalise on its first mover advantage -
Horizon Technologies: MEED Assessment
The potential to develop the business is huge due to the UAE’s annual consumption of plastic bottles -
Ipic reviews $20bn of refinery investment plans
State fund has announced plans for four new refineries and is in talks over investing in Jordanian expansion -
Iran: Electrical submersible pump services
Provision of electrical submersible pumps services -
Jean Marion
A key person leading the development of Saudi Arabia’s banking sector -
Jordan to tender Aqaba Industrial Terminal in September
Tender documents for $100m facility are in the final stages of preparation -
Kuwait approves two more pipeline deals
Revamp of oil transfer infrastructure needed as Kuwait seeks to raise oil production -
Kuwait tenders new gas tanks scheme
Mina al-Ahmadi deal worth an estimated $1.2bn -
Kuwait to prequalify advisors for Failaka Island
Firms submitted expressions of interest in supplying transaction advisory services on 15 June -
Kuwait: Motor, gear and jet unit overhaul
Overhauling of motors, gears and jet units -
Lessons learnt from North Africa banking
Stricter regulations and cautious lending helped banks in the Maghreb states weather the crisis -
Maghreb Special Report
The countries of the Maghreb have ambitious development plans to meet the needs of their rapidly growing populations -
Morocco invites developers to qualify for solar scheme
Developers to respond by 4 October -
Q&A: Abdel Hamid Shoman, Chairman, Arab Bank Group
The company has returned to many markets where it once lost branches to nationalisation, because of growing stability -
Q&A: Rajnish Sinha, General Manager, Horizon Technologies
The concept of recycling is gaining ground in the UAE -
Qatar receives bids for Central Library project
Library will be located in Education City -
Robert Eid
A key figure leading the development of Saudi Arabia’s banking sector -
Sabic considering financing options for Kayan cost overrun
Saudi Kayan needs $2.4bn extra cash to fund higher development costs -
Sajjad Razvi
A key person leading the development of the Saudi Arabia’s banking sector -
Saudi Arabia: bank chiefs
Six key people leading the development of the kingdom’s banking sector: Muhammad al-Jasser, Sajjad Razvi, Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi, Abdulkareen Abu al-Nasr, Jean Marion and Robert Eid -
Saudi Arabia: Public security training city O&M
Operation and maintenance (O&M) of a public security training city -
Saudi Arabia: Water transmission pipe laying
Carrying out pipe laying and construction works for a water transmission system -
Saudi banks to go exclusive on Qurayyah power scheme
Tender to be launched by mid-August -
Saudi bourse: struggling to find momentum
The Saudi bourse has yet to shake-off a slump in trading despite economic growth in the kingdom -
Steady growth for Morocco’s banks
Despite the high upfront investment costs, developing retail banking networks in sub-Saharan Africa will be a key driver of growth for Rabat’s banking sector -
Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz al-Rajhi
A key person leading the development of Saudi Arabia’s banking sector -
Supporting economic growth in Tunisia
Tunisia is undertaking a major expansion of its power capacity to meet rising electricity consumption. The private sector is expected to play a major role, along with nuclear energy -
Syria invites developers to prequalify for power plant
Al-Nasserieh plant will be Syria’s first independent power project -
Tehran exchange suffers another IPO setback
Dana Insurance’s July listing postponed -
The challenges of reform for North African banks
Although the North African banking sector emerged relatively unscathed from the global economic crisis, reform remains a major priority for lenders in the region -
Time for Saudi Arabia to change back the electricity bidding rules
Saudi Electricity Company was right to change bidding rules in 2009, but the market has now changed
