MEED
Issue No 31 30-5 August 2010
View all stories from this issue.
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Abdullah al-Othaim Markets
The Saudi retailer is embarking on an ambitious expansion to increase its market share -
Abdullah al-Othaim Markets: MEED Assessment
Analysts predict the balance of power is shifting to large-format retailers, with Al-Othaim’s stores growing in line with the general trend -
Abu Dhabi invites bids for freight masterplan
The project will develop and connect a freight transport network in the emirate of Abu Dhabi -
Abu Dhabi receives bids for Shuweihat S3 power scheme
Winning bidder expected to be announced in late September -
Abu Dhabi selects Norton Rose to advise on $40bn nuclear project
UK law firm will act as legal adviser on region’s first nuclear power scheme -
Adrian Green
Adrian Green is partner, Upper Quartile -
Aramco invites firms for offshore gas contracts
Contracts cover platforms, pipelines and power cables at Arabiyah and Hasbah fields -
Aramco plans August tender for Jizan refinery design
Winning bidder of Aramco tender will design and oversee the construction of $7bn Jizan refinery -
Bids invited for Iraq independent power projects
Winning bidders will be selected by November -
Bishr Ibrahim Baker
Bishr Ibrahim Baker is managing partner, Iraq, Ernst & Young -
BP firesale creates Middle East opportunities
UK oil major to sell $30bn of upstream assets by end of 2011 -
BP oil spill may benefit Middle East and North Africa
Opportunities for national oil companies as BP sells off $30bn of assets to offset Impact of disaster -
Cautious optimism for National Bank of Abu Dhabi
Michael Tomalin, chief executive officer of National Bank of Abu Dhabi, tells MEED how the bank has coped with the financial crisis and what the prospects are for the UAE banking sector -
Chemaweyaat moves to Western Region
All 12 planned projects to be developed at Al-Gharbia site -
Construction to start on Iraq cement plant
Security contract for Karbala cement plant to begin in early August -
Consultant selected for Egypt wind farm
Developers will be invited to bid once the wind study is completed -
Contractors wait for Abu Dhabi bank tender
Tender to be issued in October for main construction contract for new Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank headquarters -
Duqm refining and petrochemicals study under way
Multibillion-dollar Duqm complex is being developed by Oman/UAE joint venture -
Egypt appoints adviser for wastewater treatment plant
Consultant will assist government in appointing a developer for the project -
Egypt invites expressions of interest for tram upgrade
The Heliopolis tram will be extended to reach and serve New Cairo under the plan -
Emirates Steel nears $1.5bn financing deal
Project financing needs to be done before $700m loan expires in late August -
Fluor looks at options for aluminium rolling mill
Two different contracting strategies being considered for Maaden/Alcoa project -
Forward loans take back seat
As loan market conditions improve and borrowing costs drop, the popularity of forward loans, which came to prominence when the global crisis hit, is likely to fall -
Gasco extends Ruwais sulphur handling tender deadline
Ruwais sulphur scheme is part of plans to process 7 million tonnes a year of sulphur in Abu Dhabi -
GCC steps up highways investment
Road spending booms as Gulf governments capitalise on lower construction costs -
Iran sanctions hinder privatisation progress
Tehran’s privatisation plans thrown off-course as restrictions continue to target foreign trade -
Iraq needs to move quickly
Plans to build new power plants to address chronic electricity shortage in the country is welcome news -
Iraq: doing business
Six executives helping Iraq develop its business potential: Adrian Green, Lawrence Peters, Luay al-Khateeb, William Wakeham, Bishr Ibrahim Baker and Wadee al-Handal -
Joint venture wins Abu Dhabi port contract
Infrastructure works will support the offshore port -
Jordan reviews technical bids for airport radar
Bidding companies expect an award to be made in the next three months -
Kuwait developer tenders Abu Dhabi construction contract
Project will be located on Reem Island -
Kuwait extends Ahmadi hospital tender
Prequalified contractors now have until 17 August to submit prices -
Lawrence Peters
Lawrence Peters is director, Private Security Company Association of Iraq -
Maintaining the Iran market rally
Tehran needs the outside world if its stock exchange is to sustain its stellar performance -
Ras al-Khaimah means business with real estate projects
But the determination to push ahead with projects will need realistic targets not just words -
Ras al-Khaimah to press ahead with real estate developments
Emirate says no projects have been cancelled or scaled back -
Regional governments look to Bahrain housing model
Interest from neighbouring states grows as Bahrain tries to solve housing crisis -
Retail banking: Focus shifts from growth to retention
Banks in the UAE are reviewing business models amid a slowdown in lending, placing greater emphasis on tailoring retail products to match customers’ needs -
Siemens talks to Petrofac Emirates about steel project
Companies discuss forming partnership for Emirates Steel’s $1bn expansion -
Smaller UAE emirates defy downturn
Banks in the northern emirates have largely avoided exposure to defaults in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, but a torrid real-estate market threatens the outlook -
Special report: UAE banking - Learning the lessons of the crisis
After the breakneck pace of credit growth during 2003-08, the current cautious attitude to lending among the UAE banks should be seen as positive -
Tecnimont wins Kuwait acid-gas deal
Facility will be built at the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery -
UAE banking: The lending dilemma
Sluggish loan growth in 2010 will weigh not just on bank profitability, but also on the economic recovery of the UAE. Yet the government is reluctant to put further cash into the banking system -
UAE banks turn focus to customers
One-size fits all approach is no longer the order of the day as banks strive to preserve profit margins -
UAE banks: Facing up to slower growth
Provisioning will continue to affect profits of UAE banks throughout 2010 and much of 2011. Even when growth does return, it is likely to be slow -
UAE: Fire protection system
Maintenance of a fire protection system for a documentation and research authority -
Wadee al-Handal
Wadee al-Handal, chairman, Ashur Bank -
William Wakeham
William Wakeham is chief executive officer, Anglo-Arab Insurance Brokers -
Yemen delays $260m sukuk issue
Bond will be issued in late 2010 or early 2011 rather than the third quarter of this year
