MEED
Issue No 27 4 - 10 July 2008
View all stories from this issue.
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Ali Dashti
Ali Dashti is chairman, KGL Holding -
Al-Rayis to be Saudi Arabia's first resort town
Site will be first of 19 coastal towns to be developed following approval of kingdom’s tourism masterplan. -
Arabian Construction Company
ACC is preparing for change at the senior management level as it pursues growth outside the UAE -
Arabian Construction Company: MEED Assessment
One of the region’s largest contractors looks for opportunities in emerging markets -
Aramco invites bids for Jubail export refinery contracts
Saudi Aramco has issued bid invitations to companies shortlisted for engineering, procurement and construction contracts to build the 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) export refinery at Jubail. -
Bank fees are a sign of the times
Banks are becoming more frustrated that the work they do in support of bids often adds up to nothing. -
Banks consider charging for failed bids
Contractors face fees for work undertaken by financial institutions regardless of whether bid succeeds. -
Banque Audi denies end of merger talks with EFG-Hermes
Banque Audi, Lebanon’s largest bank, insists it is still in merger talks with Egyptian investment bank EFG-Hermes, despite widespread speculation that political instability in Lebanon had caused the latter to pull out of the talks. -
Cairo confident of hitting deficit target
Finance Ministry says budget deficit will be maintained at 6.9 per cent of GDP for second year running. -
Dubai Aerospace plans fleet expansion
Group’s aircraft leasing arm predicts rapid growth will give it $7bn worth of assets within five years. -
Dubai plans further reclaimed islands
Local developers Sama and Bright Start to build multi-billion-dollar projects offshore from Umm Suqeim. -
Dubai sets fast-track schedule for solar power plant study
Dubai is to award the feasibility study for its first solar power plant by October in a bid to fast-track renewable energy resources. However, contractors fear its timetable is too tight. -
Hamad al-Falah
Hamad al-Falah is chairman and managing director, Kuwait Airways -
Iraqi compromise over oil is the best solution
Iraq will find that greater assistance from oil majors will drive progress.The factions within the Baghdad parliament will have to compromise. -
Jordan's budget deficit rises as food prices soar
Rising oil and food prices over the first six months of 2008 force Amman to spend more on subsidies. -
Kuwait Transport: Six key people
The six most important people in the country’s transport sector: Abdulrahman Khalid al-Ghunaim, Abdulrahman Khalid al-Ghunaim, Tarek Sultan, Ali Dashti, Hamad al-Falah and Sheikh Sabah Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah. -
Madain to expand into Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi
Madain Properties, the Dubai-based firm that is planning to launch projects worth AED3bn ($817m) in the UAE this year, is to expand into Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi over the next 12 months. -
Majors deny demanding share of Iraqi oil
Much-needed service agreements are delayed as Baghdad claims oil firms refused work based on fees. -
MEED's NOC survey - Kuwait Petroleum Corporation
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation outlines its key developments in 11 core areas and demonstrates why it is considered to be one of the region’s most transparent national oil companies -
Nakheel invites bidders for QE2 residential towers contract
Local developer Nakheel has invited five contractors to bid for a contract to build a real estate development next to the QE2 cruise ship, which is due to be moored permanently alongside the Palm Jumeirah. -
National Bank of Abu Dhabi seeks backers for $760m Shadeed steel scheme
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) is approaching regional and international banks to join the group of mandated lead arrangers on the $760m Shadeed steel project in Oman. -
National oil firms need to improve
With oil revenues higher than ever, there is little incentive for state oil giants to improve their performance. -
NOC survey 2008 results: The need for greater independence
MEED’s second annual survey of national oil companies reveals industry concerns over a lack of transparency at the region’s state energy firms and political interference in their affairs. -
NOC Survey 2008: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
Meeting its ambitious production targets is the main challenge for Abu Dhabi. -
NOC Survey 2008: Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco)
Securing energy is the priority for Bahrain as it seeks to expand its downstream industries. -
NOC Survey 2008: Egypt
Further fresh bidding rounds are expected as Cairo prioritises oil and gas exploration. -
NOC Survey 2008: Entreprise Tunisienne d’Activites Petrolieres (Etap)
Despite its limited hydrocarbons reserves, Tunisia is attracting international attention. -
NOC Survey 2008: Iraq
Restoring control of Iraqi oil to one national oil company could help revive the sector. -
NOC Survey 2008: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation
Restrictions on foreign ownership could hamper Kuwait’s plans to increase production. -
NOC Survey 2008: Libya - National Oil Corporation
Libya’s state-owned oil company is held back by heavy political influence. -
NOC Survey 2008: National Iranian Oil Company
Iran is badly in need of foreign technology and expertise to revive its ageing fields. -
NOC Survey 2008: Petroleum Development Oman
Oman must secure fresh resources while halting declines in output at ageing fields. -
NOC Survey 2008: Qatar Petroleum
Qatar’s state oil firm is making the most of the advantage provided by its giant North field. -
NOC Survey 2008: Saudi Aramco
Already the world’s biggest producer, Aramco is under pressure to raise output. -
NOC Survey 2008: Sonatrach
Despite political and staffing issues, the Algerian state oil firm is in a strong position. -
NOC Survey 2008: Sudapet/Nilepet
Sudan’s splintered state oil sector shows promise despite civil war and US sanctions. -
NOC Survey 2008: Syrian Petroleum Company
Syrian Petroleum Company has a difficult task in managing the state’s falling production. -
Politics stalls EU-GCC free trade talks
An EU bid to introduce human rights clauses to a free trade agreement could drive Gulf states to seek alliances elsewhere. -
Q&A: Wassim Merehbi, Executive Director, Arabian Construction Company
Client confidence and strong local company networks are key to ACC success -
Riyadh backs contractor compensation
Royal decree confirms decision to cover additional costs incurred as a result of rising raw materials prices. -
Riyadh is right to compensate firms
Relief for contractors will be tempered by the knowledge that progress is unlikely to be immediate. -
Riyadh seeks interest in gas-fired plant
Kingdom’s second independent power project moves ahead as Rabigh scheme faces delays. -
Riyadh turns to local banks for financing of $3.1bn PP10 plant
Arabian Bemco wins contract to build 2,000MW electricity plant. -
Sheikh Sabah Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah
A key figure in the Kuwait transport sector -
Space will limit UAE island projects
The demand for waterfront properties remains strong and for developers, the economics of islands still make sense. -
Special Report: NOC Survey 2008 - Bureaucracy hampers national oil companies
As oil prices race past $140 a barrel, and with the world desperate for Middle East oil and gas, the region’s oil companies could think that they have no need to listen to what their suppliers and foreign partners think of them. But they would be foolish not to. -
Survey shows red tape key reason for project delays
Bureaucracy is the key reason for delays to projects carried out by the region’s state oil companies, according to a survey published in MEED this week. -
Tadawul joins the race to modernise
The Saudi bourse’s privatisation plans and a new trading platform are set to boost investor confidence. -
Tarek Sultan
Tarek Sultan is chairman and managing director, Agility -
United Arab Shipping takes on $2bn debt for acquisitions
Gulf International Bank is working on arranging up to $2bn worth of debt for United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) to fund the acquisition of new ships and the continued expansion of the business.
