MEED
Issue No 32 8 - 14 August 2008
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Abu Dhabi bank holds fresh talks over Shadeed financing
Steel project in Oman struggles to attract interest as bankers exercise caution. -
Algiers invites technical bids for resin plant
State-owned Societe Nationale de la Petrochimie (Enip) is inviting international contractors to submit technical bids by 18 October for the contract to build a urea formaldehyde resin plant. -
Amman to approve third independent power project
Jordan’s energy regulator is expected to give the go-ahead in mid-August for the country’s third independent power project (IPP), according to the head of the country’s state-owned power company. -
Aramco invites bids for $3bn worth of contracts at Yanbu
Saudi Aramco is inviting selected firms to bid for a raft of packages worth $3bn at the 400,000-barrel-a-day Yanbu export refinery, with technical and commercial bids due within days of the main construction deals. -
Baghdad to miss oil production target
Cutting deals with oil majors from two years to one will hit plans to raise output by 500,000 barrels a day. -
Cairo risks loss of investment
The consequences of tax legislation for free zone firms will be lasting. Recent actions by Cairo could take their toll on investment levels. -
Cairo's changing policies hit investors
Doubts over a major petrochemicals scheme have undermined Egypt's status as an investment destination. -
Changing attitudes to online trading
While internet shopping is booming worldwide, a combination of low credit card penetration and concerns over payment security are hampering the growth of the sector in the region. -
Consolidated Contractors Company Group dismisses UK court ruling
Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company Group (CCC) says a series of recent decisions in the UK courts, including the freezing of 15 of its bank accounts, will not affect its operations. -
Gulf retail growth can be managed
As a mainstream retail market emerges in the Gulf, it must not be allowed to stifle small business. -
Hurdles to economic reform in Iran
President Ahmadinejad’s plan for economic change offers little in the way of new ideas, but faces some major challenges. -
Learning the value of VAT
The introduction of value added tax in the UAE next year could set a precedent for the rest of the GCC, but retailers and consumers have less to fear than they may think. -
Lending rules need updating in UAE
Banking opportunities in the UAE, with its growing population and increasing wealth, are huge, but fresh regulation is required. -
Maaden to award Ras al-Zour aluminium plant deals
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) is set to make awards on the three remaining main packages on its multi-billion-dollar aluminium refining and smelting complex at Ras al-Zour, following confirmation that the UK/Australian Rio Tinto will join the scheme this year. -
Maaden's Abdallah Dabbagh on privatisation
The head of the Saudi mining group discusses privatisation and plans to become the third pillar of the Saudi economy. Matthew Martin reports. -
Muscat seeks power plant consultant
Oman Power & Water Company is to issue a tender for the consultancy contract on two major power projects by mid-August. -
Nakheel streamlines procurement process
Financing model for water treatment schemes to be based on a joint venture with Macquarie Bank. -
Occupied Territories Private Sector: Six key people
The six key people in the Occupied Territories’ private sector: Munib Masri, Abdelmalik al-Jaber, Samir Hulileh, Hashim Shawa, Bashar Masri and Walid Fakhouri. -
Palestinian investment summit aims to raise $1.5bn
Conference to take place at Nablus in October will be used to secure funding for northern West Bank. -
Poor wheat harvest to increase Tehran’s budget deficit
Tehran’s growing budget deficit will increase further in the second half of 2008 as the government imports wheat for the first time in years, following a poor May harvest as a result of bad weather. -
Q&A: Hans-Dieter Martin, United Infrastructure Developers Company
Parent companies provide financial advantage and reliability when competing with established developers -
Qatar National Bank set to build high-rise head office on Doha Corniche
Headquarters building for Qatar National Bank will be 510 metres tall. -
Rising costs threaten Iranian rail network
Tehran to prioritise most critical and affordable routes after failing to attract overseas financing. -
Riyadh sets deadline for water privatisation contracts
Companies have been given until 30 August to submit bids to the National Water Company (NWC) for the advisory contracts on its newest public-private partnership (PPP) initiative. -
Sagia seeks help for Hail economic city
Additional developer will work alongside Rakisa as concerns mount over the project’s progress. -
Special Report: Retail - Gulf boom attracts retail giants
With annual growth in GCC consumer spending over the coming five years projected at 10-20 per cent, it is easy to see why the region is witnessing a boom in the construction of shopping malls. -
Survival of the strongest
While plans to scrap laws giving UAE nationals exclusive rights to import foreign brands will not be welcomed by all, the biggest firms will benefit. -
Tackling the root cause of inflation in Kuwait
For the first time in almost a year, money supply in Kuwait has fallen, indicating that measures to address inflation are working. -
Tehran must swap rhetoric for reality
With deteriorating finances, Tehran will find it difficult to afford the additional wheat imports it needs. -
The benefits of partnering
The successful franchise business model used in the region will continue despite the expected relaxation of the rules on foreign ownership of local companies. -
The rise of the retail giants
As the Gulf’s economic boom drives major local and foreign shop chains to expand in the region, smaller businesses are losing out. -
Transformation of Doha is beginning
Megaprojects are good news for Doha and create welcome opportunities for contractors. -
UAE central bank to clamp down on abuse of unsecured loans
Regulations to stop rogue borrowers to be introduced by the end of 2008. -
United Infrastructure Developers Company
United Infrastructure Developers Company is aiming to win its first independent water and power project -
United Infrastructure Developers Company: MEED Assessment
UIDC targets experienced developers for partnership in the region
