MEED
Issue No 17 25 April - 1 May 2008
View all stories from this issue.
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Abu Dhabi tenders final integrated gas development deal
Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco) has tendered the final package on the $5bn-plus integrated gas development that aims to deliver more than 700 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas to Abu Dhabi. -
Aramco agrees five-year drilling expansion plan
Oil Ministry set to approve massive boost in drilling activity and 40 per cent increase in investment. -
Aramco needs help with trading hub
A trading hub backed by the oil giant would be welcome. The question for Aramco is whether it will develop it beyond its borders. -
Aramco set to award $3bn Manifa work
Snamprogetti, JGC Corporation and TR in line to win engineering, procurement and construction contracts. -
Baghdad reclaims Umm Qasr and prepares $500m sell-off
Iraqi army seizes deep-sea port from insurgents ahead of privatisation. -
Beirut prospers in a vacuum
Despite being without a head of state for nearly six months, Lebanon is in an unusually favourable economic position. -
Bringing price control to the region's energy
Saudi Aramco’s vision for a Gulf trading hub could boost the region’s oil and financial sectors. -
Cairo opens for mineral exploration
Egypt is seeking to capitalise on its mineral wealth as the government reforms the mining code. -
Competition spurs market growth
Maroc Telecom and Meditel have expanded quickly, but could they do even better in a liberalised market? -
Controlling the supply chain
With securing materials and resources becoming a major concern for the Gulf construction industry, many contractors are opting to take it in-house. -
Diesel price hikes hit contractor profits in UAE
Companies estimate higher fuel prices are adding as much as 10 per cent to contract costs. -
Dispute stalls Tidewater privatisation
The part-privatisation of Iranian marine services group Tidewater has stalled because of a row between Iran's ports authority, which owns the business, and the state privatisation body. -
Doha links up with London exchange
The Doha Securities Market is set to sign a co-operation deal with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in the latest sign of global consolidation among stock markets. -
Gerald Lacaze
An influential private banker in Algeria -
Gulf's first coal-fired power plant to be built at Duqm
The first coal-fired power plant in the Gulf could come on line as early as 2012, following a decision by Muscat to approve proposals for a plant at Duqm. -
Hocine Mouffok
An influential private banker in Algeria -
Kamal Driss
An influential private banker in Algeria -
Laurent Dupuch
An influential private banker in Algeria -
Loss of developer puts Yemen power project in doubt
The future of an independent power project (IPP) at Mabar is uncertain as Turkey’s Gama Energy, one of the developers on the project, looks set to pull out. -
Nakheel Retail to build 35 shopping malls in Dubai
Subsidiary of UAE developer aims to become region’s biggest mall operator. -
No future for GCC nuclear plan
Waiting for the GCC to get its act together is not an option. Individual states must put their own needs first. -
Private banking - Six key people
The six most influential private bankers in the country: Kamal Driss, Gerald Lacaze, Laurent Dupuch, Hocine Mouffok, Raouf Bohli and Rachid Sekak. -
Project boom drives up construction costs
Soaring labour and materials prices are doing little to dampen the region’s appetite for major developments, and as the project mountain rises higher, so will construction costs. -
Q&A: Saud Islam, CEO, Yanbu Cement Company
The leading Saudi cement firm is taking a cautious approach to adding new capacity -
Race intensifies to build nuclear plants in UAE
UAE signs deal paving the way for US nuclear technology firms to compete with French rivals. -
Rachid Sekak
An influential private banker in Algeria -
Raouf Bohli
An influential private banker in Algeria -
Rising Gulf construction costs are here to stay
There is little that contractors can do, other than ensure escalation clauses are included in contracts. -
Riyadh revises plan for financial district
Modifications to masterplan threaten to delay construction contract awards for up to six months. -
Riyadh set to compensate contractors
The Saudi government is considering compensating contractors for losses incurred as a result of hikes in the cost of raw materials in the kingdom. -
Riyadh to award security fence contract within weeks
Riyadh is expected to award the long-awaited contract to build the northern border security fence within weeks. -
Saudi banks at fault for poor performance
Unless they start to grow at the same rates as their rivals, Saudi banks will lose the chance to lead the region. -
Saudi banks underperform Gulf rivals
Latest financial results reveal sustained growth throughout the region’s banks, except in the kingdom. -
Second mobile operator in Qatar faces delays
The launch of the Qatar's second mobile phone network is facing a setback of several months, because of delays in the government giving approval for the operator's plans. -
Services market heats up
Competition in the mechanical, electrical and plumbing sector is growing as contractors take on suppliers to fill the services vacuum. -
Shipping boom forces delay in Suez Canal dredging
Dredging work to deepen the Suez Canal will not be completed until the end of the year or early 2009, the canal authority admits. -
Sonatrach upgrades refining capacity at Skikda and Arzew
Algeria is to increase its total crude refining capacity by more than 17 per cent, with state energy company Sonatrach pushing ahead with two major upgrade and rehabilitation projects. -
Special Report: Construction - The move to partnership
Despite much talk over the past few years about the introduction of long-term alliances between construction clients and contractors, partnering agreements remain rare in the region. -
Specialists gain the upper hand
With reclamation projects transforming the Gulf coastline, specialist marine contractors are finding their skills in high demand. But competition is growing. -
Taking the partnership approach
Faced with growing pressure on resources, contractors and developers are increasingly forming joint ventures as they struggle to deliver the region’s ambitious megaprojects. -
Tehran awards $300m in metro deals
Pilot scheme offers land in attractive locations to developers in exchange for a commitment to build stations. -
Tehran should compromise on bond issues
Bond issues are a thing of the past for Iran, which needs to compromise with its critics if its economy is to progress. -
Tight market benefits locals
As regional demand for construction equipment soars, securing the plant needed to carry out the work is becoming difficult, especially for contractors new to the region. -
Yanbu Cement Company
The leading Saudi cement firm is taking a cautious approach to adding new capacity -
Yanbu Cement Company: MEED Assessment
Yanbu Cement Company is witnessing robust profitability
