MEED
Issue No 30 24 - 30 July 2009
View all stories from this issue.
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Amman water ministry prepares to go it alone
With a regional agreement on proposals to divert water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea still a long way off, the government is seeking its own solutions to the country’s growing supply problem. -
Bank crisis opens way for Gulf bonds
Banks' appetite for lending hundreds of millions of dollars at low margins for decades has waned. -
Cairo's regulatory shake-up
Egypt is unifying five of its financial services authorities and carrying out a series of other reforms to arrest the slowdown in its economy and boost foreign investors' confidence. -
Carillion Alawi beats six bidders to take Omani parliament contract
The local/UK construction group Carillion Alawi has won the estimated OR100m ($260m) contract to build Oman's majlis (parliament) complex in Muscat. -
Chevron closes head office in Kuwait
The longest-standing foreign oil major operating in the country exits talks over technical services agreement. -
Emirates Steel Industries
The Abu Dhabi producer is assessing acquisition opportunities arising from the global economic downturn. -
Emirates Steel Industries: MEED Assessment
The downturn has also presented acquisition opportunities that might otherwise not have arisen -
Firms bid to build landmark Lighthouse tower in Dubai
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority is considering commercial bids from at least three companies for the contract to build its Lighthouse tower. -
Firms compete to design Kingdom Tower in Jeddah
Emaar considers bids from seven architects to produce concept design for the world's tallest building. -
Firms line up for $100m-plus Abu Dhabi pipeline deals
Contractors expect emirate to award $28bn worth of contracts over the year. -
Fluctuating oil price dents recovery for Gulf petrochemicals producers
Despite rising demand for petrochemicals products in Asia, falling crude prices are hitting producers’ profits. -
Fluctuating oil price dents recovery for Gulf petrochemicals producers
Despite rising demand for petrochemicals products in Asia, falling crude prices are hitting producers’ profits. -
Gulf Finance House seeks to refinance $300m Islamic loan
Bahrain's Gulf Finance House (GFH) has appointed Germany's Deutsche Bank to arrange the refinancing of a $300m Islamic loan that matures in early 2010. -
Gulf oil & gas project advisers
Six leading consultants and lawyers working in the Gulf energy sector: Adrian Creed, Arturo Grimaldi, Peter Wilson, Peter Warner, Stewart Jones and James Bremen. -
Iraqi territorial dispute benefits no one
Both sides should try to find a compromise to advance the collective cause of Iraqi energy. -
Jordan looking beyond the downturn
Jordan is boosting public spending, building on its relationship with Baghdad and seeking to implement a series of reforms in a bid to stimulate its economy. -
Jordan moving into the atomic age
The kingdom is building a series of nuclear power plants to exploit its estimated 70,000 tonnes of uranium deposits and enable it to become an exporter of energy rather than an importer. -
Jordan offers a voice for the region
King Abdullah II's efforts to push forward the Arab Peace Initiative highlight the kingdom's continuing role as a diplomatic leader in the Middle East. -
Jordanian water solution is only temporary
In 50 years’ time, the kingdom will return to the dire circumstances in which it finds itself today. -
Kingdom Holding can win Gulf tower race
With Nakheel effectively out of contention, the Saudi developer now has a golden opportunity to build an unassailable lead. -
Kurds net $5bn windfall from oil deals
Kurdistan Regional Government will use funds from exploration contracts for Infrastructure Projects. -
Kuwait needs to compromise with international oil companies
Chevron's presence in Kuwait has now been reduced to one office. MPs have made it all but impossible for foreign companies to turn a profit. -
Marafiq eases pressure on Yanbu with back-up power facility
Interim plant will be built following changes to plans for a larger project at the site. -
Masdar draws up shortlist for Abu Dhabi headquarters
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has shortlisted four groups for the contract to build its new headquarters at the Masdar City development in Abu Dhabi. -
Muscat drops power plant guarantees
Muscat plans to award the Barka 3 and Sohar 2 independent power projects (IPPs) to private developers without guaranteeing the state will pay for the electricity produced at the plants. -
Oman Oil invites international interest in $500m energy deal
State energy firm Oman Oil Company is inviting at least four international companies to bid for the $300-500m contract to build an oil and gas pipeline and a processing plant at Musan-dam in the north of the country. -
Q&A: Hassan Shashaa, Vice-President, Strategy, Emirates Steel Industries
Despite the financial crisis, the company has not reconsidered its expansion plans, says Shashaa -
Real estate undermines Jordanian banks
Limited integration with international markets and swift action from the regulator has helped to shield Jordan’s banks from the downturn, but their exposure to the property markets is a cause for concern. -
Real estate undermines Jordanian banks
Limited integration with international markets and swift action from the regulator has helped to shield Jordan’s banks from the downturn, but their exposure to the property markets is a cause for concern. -
Saudi Aramco launches exploration studies
Seismic data-gathering projects will seek to find fresh reserves in the Empty Quarter, Red Sea and Manifa. -
Saudi Aramco to retender King Abdulaziz cultural centre contract
State oil company Saudi Aramco is preparing to retender a contract to build its SR1.5bn ($400m) King Abdulaziz Centre for Knowledge & Culture in the kingdom's Eastern Province. -
Special Report: Jordan - Closer regional trade links benefit economy
The economic slowdown in the Gulf is having a direct effect on Jordan’s economy, and highlighting its dependence on remittances from the 600,000 Jordanians working in the GCC. -
The resurrection of the Gulf bond market
The refinancing of Dolphin Energy’s $3.5bn debt shows that funding activity is finally picking up. -
The resurrection of the Gulf bond market
The refinancing of Dolphin Energy’s $3.5bn debt shows that funding activity is finally picking up. -
Yemen: the region's failing state
With a shortage of renewable resources and terrorist groups on the rise, Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, needs international investment to save it from economic meltdown. -
Zain raises $2.5bn for Saudi expansion
Kuwaiti mobile phone operator's refinancing of a 2007 syndicated loan deal is oversubscribed.
