MEED
Issue No 13 28 March - 3 April 2008
View all stories from this issue.
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A welcome development to Kuwait's BOT law
Changes to Kuwait's build-operate-transfer law should give a much-needed boost to the state's construction industry, but contractors are yet to be convinced. -
Al-Habtoor Leighton Group
Dubai’s Al-Habtoor is pursuing landmark projects after merging with Australia’s Leighton International -
Al-Habtoor Leighton Group: MEED Assessment
The key to the company’s success will be its contacts and expertise -
Aramco sparks hope of capacity increase at Harmaliyah field
Saudi Aramco is stepping up drilling at the Harmaliyah oil field near the giant Ghawar field, sparking hopes of a sizeable hike in capacity. -
Aramco upgrades refineries to meet US rules on sulphur
Saudi Aramco is to roll out a multi-billion-dollar scheme to reduce the sulphur content of gasoline produced at four refineries, in an effort to meet strict environmental regulations by 2013. -
Baghdad signs $5.5bn Boeing deal
The Iraqi government has signed a much-anticipated deal with Boeing to buy 40 aircraft worth up to $5.5bn. -
Cairo set to launch economic courts for businesses
Egypt will introduce a system of courts for businesses in the next few weeks, according to the country’s Investment Minister Mahmoud Mohieldin. -
Cairo targets global mining companies
Rules giving firms easier access to Egypt’s minerals sector could pave way for bidding round this year. -
Consolidated and Six Construct win $1.7bn Ras Laffan deal
A joint venture of Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) and Belgium’s Six Construct, together with the UK’s Halcrow, has been awarded the QR6.5bn ($1.7bn) construction contract at Ras Laffan port. -
Craig Nethercott
A leading lawyer working on the region’s financing deals -
David Wadham
A leading lawyer working on the region’s financing deals -
Dominic Harvey
A leading lawyer working on the region’s financing deals -
Economy: Wealth masks Kuwait's economic stagnation
With a record budgetary surplus of almost $35bn expected this year, Kuwait is one of the world’s richest countries. But its inflexible, state-controlled economy risks undermining this success. -
Friendi Mobile wins first virtual network licences in region
Dubai-based Friendi Mobile is the first company in the region to obtain licences to launch a mobile virtual network operator. -
Governance: The need for stability in Kuwait
The resignation of the Kuwaiti cabinet in mid-March highlights the political rift in the country that is holding back economic progress. -
Growth can be sustained in the Gulf
Reaching the $2 trillion mark for the first time is a significant watershed for the Gulf projects market. Over the past five years, the region has been reinvented by schemes that have transformed its infrastructure, its cities and the lives of the people living in them. But many wonder whether the current level of growth can be sustained. -
Gulf project market: The $2 trillion question
Can the Gulf region sustain such massive activity in the building sector? -
Jonathan Inman
A leading lawyer working on the region’s financing deals -
Kuwait City Metro Network: Improving transport
A significant step was taken in February when Saad Dashti, chairman of Kuwait Overland Transport Union, speaking at MEED's Kuwait Conference, revealed details of the first national rail network and metro system in the state's history. -
Kuwait: The City of Silk
In 2002, when Dubai-based developer Nakheel announced the Palm Jumeirah project, not only did it launch a major development, but it also raised awareness of the emirate at an international level. -
Malcolm Turner
A leading lawyer working on the region’s financing deals -
Marafiq takes on risk under Yanbu deal
Offtaker will assume responsibility for guaranteeing payments for water and power for the first time. -
Muscat ditches plans for coal-fired plant
State power and water company launches study to find long-term solution for fuel feedstock. -
Nakheel to award three major real estate deals
Dubai-based developer of Palm Jumeirah and The World schemes enters final-stage negotiations. -
Oil and gas contract awards slump as costs soar in Gulf
Value of awards in the Gulf oil and gas sector has fallen by almost two-thirds over the past year. -
Political stability must be first step in Kuwait
Despite moves to improve Kuwait’s investment climate, foreign direct investment remains low and the current political crisis will keep it that way. -
Project delays hit Algiers’ export targets
Troubled oil and gas schemes threaten to undermine government plans to boost production by 2010. -
Q&A: Riad Sadik, chairman, Al-Habtoor Leighton Group
Dubai’s Al-Habtoor is pursuing landmark projects after merging with Australia’s Leighton International -
Rapid expansion risks aluminium oversupply
Is the growth in the region’s aluminium smelting capacity justified by the increase in demand? -
Regional project finance: Six key lawyers
The leading lawyers working on the region’s financing deals: Jonathan Inman, Malcolm Turner, Bimal Desai, Dominic Harvey, Craig Nethercott and David Wadham. -
Rule change to raise cost of city building in Saudi Arabia
Economic city developers face having to increase the number and height of structures. -
Samba and Standard lead bidding for Banque du Caire in Eqypt
Two banks considered to have balance sheets and expertise to complete sale. -
Saudi Arabia right to plan long term for economic cities
Saudi Arabia’s six economic cities could be facing a significant and costly redesign if the regulatory authority, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia), rolls out fresh building regulations next month. Sagia is making efforts to ensure that cities meet the long-term growth expectations of the kingdom. -
Securing gas is vital for growth in the Gulf
Aluminium production in the Gulf is set to soar, marked by the start of production later this year at a new aluminium smelter in Oman, the first to come on line in the region in more than 25 years. -
Seven firms vie for deals worth $1bn at King Fahd port
Seven international and local contractors are to submit bids by 20 April for two major contracts worth more than $1bn, covering the first phase of construction of a petrochemicals quay at King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail. -
Special report: Kuwait - A fresh political crisis unfolds
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah’s recent decision to dissolve parliament and hold new elections was his only option in the face of the obvious antagonism between the executive and elected members, which culminated in the resignation of the cabinet in March. -
Speculation grows over Sabic and Aramco joint venture
The prospect of Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) forming a joint venture to develop an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex has moved a step closer, after Aramco decided to cancel plans for an upgrade of its Yanbu refinery. -
Sulphur clean-up makes economic sense in the region
The Gulf states’ belated attempt to comply with tighter international environmental standards on the sulphur content of their gasoline is well overdue.
