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MEED
James Gavin

  • Qatar's mediation strategy under scrutiny

    Issue 20 18-24 May 2012

    Qatar is establishing itself as an arbiter for the Middle East, but critics accuse the country of being self-serving with a foreign policy that tries to steer disputes towards an Islamist-led solution

  • Saudi Arabia overtakes UAE in sukuk market

    Issue 18 4-10 May 2012

    Sharia-compliant debt securities are proving attractive to conventional and Islamic investors alike as Saudi Arabia leads the region in issuance in the first three months of the year

  • Seef Properties

    Issue 17 27 April-3 May 2012

    The firm has managed to weather the worst effects of the civil unrest on Bahrain’s retail sector

  • Seef Properties: MEED Assessment

    Issue 17 27 April-3 May 2012

    The company’s mall operations will continue to underpin its revenue outlook

  • Syrian businesses feel the strain

    Issue 15 13-19 April 2012

    Despite the deteriorating economic situation, Syria’s merchant class is reluctant to pick sides

  • Armada Group

    Issue 14 6-12 April 2012

    The Kuwaiti fashion retailer is looking to diversify into the food and beverage sector

  • Armada Group: MEED Assessment

    Issue 14 6-12 April 2012

    As a fashion-only retailer, Armada has developed a strong sense of what works in the market

  • Dealing with limited economic growth in Bahrain

    Issue 14 6-12 April 2012

    Bahrain’s economy performed better than expected after the social unrest of early 2011, but it remains one of the weakest in the Gulf 

  • Q&A with Ammar Tahan, chief executive officer, Armada Group

    Issue 14 6-12 April 2012

    We are moving fast to acquire excellent brands mostly in the fashion and footwear sectors

  • Paltel

    Issue 12 23-29 March 2012

    The Palestine Exchange’s largest listed firm is gearing up for competition in its fixed-line business

  • Paltel: MEED Assessment

    Issue 12 23-29 March 2012

    Paltel’s financial performance has been solid over the past year

  • Q&A Ammar Aker, Chief executive officer, Paltel

    Issue 12 23-29 March 2012

    Overall, we will have different growth rates in different years

  • Oversupply stalls Middle East shipping market

    Issue 11 16-22 March 2012

    The delivery of bulk and container vessels ordered before the global economic downturn is putting pressure on freight rates across the shipping sector

  • Telecom Egypt

    Issue 11 16-22 March 2012

    The Egyptian operator’s retail revenues are under pressure as result of ongoing political unrest

  • Telecom Egypt: MEED Assessment

    Issue 11 16-22 March 2012

    Telecom Egypt’s investment in infrastructure is starting to pay off

  • Provinces in Iraq call for autonomy

    Iraq Projects

    Baghdad has quelled demands for independence from governorates dissatisfied with the central government’s failure to improve services, but this may worsen existing sectarian tensions

  • Investment paves way for growth in Iraq

    Issue 9 2-8 March 2012

    Project finance in Iraq is a huge source of potential growth for domestic and international banks alike, but many challenges still stand between bankers and one of the region’s last untapped markets

  • Arab Petroleum Investments Corp

    Issue 7 17-23 February 2012

    The bank’s stellar performance will be tested by the ongoing civil unrest in the Middle East

  • Arab Petroleum Investments Corp: MEED Assessment

    Issue 7 17-23 February 2012

    Apicorp’s recent earnings performances have been stellar, but the bank acknowledges the Mena region will continue to face uncertain times

  • Filling the project finance credit gap

    Issue 7 17-23 February 2012

    Export credit agencies have taken on an increasingly important role in financing large projects in the Middle East in recent years

  • Sorouh Real Estate

    7 February 2012, 12:47 GMT

    Rising residential lease income is bolstering the Abu Dhabi property developer’s balance sheet

  • Sorouh Real Estate: MEED Assessment

    7 February 2012, 12:47 GMT

    Sorouh has several strengths that will help offset the sluggish domestic property sector

  • Creating a lasting reformist legacy in Saudi Arabia

    Issue 6 10-16 February 2012

    King Abdullah envisages a modernised kingdom and is placing loyalists in key positions of authority, but some fear his legacy may be undone by conservative forces

  • Supporting the Syrian regime

    Issue 3 20-26 January 2012

    The Kremlin, a close ally of Damascus since the Soviet-era, has doggedly resisted Western attempts to impose meaningful sanctions on Syria by the UN

  • The Gulf’s unquenchable thirst

    Issue 2 13-19 January 2012

    With consumption of water showing no signs of slowing, regional governments are having to look at alternative ways to secure supplies

  • Syrian and Lebanese loyalties divided

    Issue 1 6-12 January 2012

    Sharing a geopolitical history, Beirut and Damascus still remain intertwined. As political upheaval continues in Syria, Lebanon is split in condemnation of its neighbour

  • Riyadh’s oil price conflict

    Issue 51 23-29 December 2011

    As Saudi Arabia ramps up spending commitments in the wake of the Arab uprisings, the breakeven price needed to balance its budget is soaring, which puts it at odds with the global economy

  • Legislation raises the bar for Middle East banking

    Issue 50 16-22 December 2011

    While regional banks are for the most part well positioned to meet the Basel II regulations, the more onerous requirements of Basel III will present an ongoing challenge for the banking sector

  • Aramex

    Issue 46 18-24 November 2011

    The Dubai-based logistics firm is making acquisitions in Africa and Central Asia

  • Aramex: MEED Assessment

    Issue 46 18-24 November 2011

    Strong revenue streams means Aramex should be able to finance its growing international portfolio without too much discomfort

  • Baghdad prioritises housing

    Issue 46 18-24 November 2011

    The Iraqi government estimates 2 million new homes need to be built to meet demand from a rising population. Despite the obvious potential, Gulf developers are wary of entering the market

  • Q&A Hussein Hachem, CEO, Middle East & Africa, Aramex

    Issue 46 18-24 November 2011

    We are focusing more on Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia and Asia

  • Remittances rise despite unrest

    Issue 45 11-17 November 2011

    Emigrants based in stable economies have ensured a steady flow of cash back home

  • Al-Faisal Holding

    Issue 43 28 October-3 November 2011

    The Qatari holding company is expanding by diversifying within each sector it operates

  • Al-Faisal Holding: MEED assessment

    Issue 43 28 October-3 November 2011

    The general managers of Al-Faisal Holding subsidiaries are chosen for their expertise and given operational freedom and responsibility, allowing the holding company to focus on the overall strategic vision

  • Expanding local express delivery in the Middle East

    Issue 43 28 October-3 November 2011

    The Middle East’s postal and courier service providers need to invest heavily in express mail and parcel businesses to compete with global international players

  • Maritime risks increase around the Gulf

    Issue 43 28 October-3 November 2011

    Commercial shipping lanes around the Gulf are coming under more frequent attack from pirates. Middle East governments have been criticised for failing to act

  • Q&A Mohamed Dobashi, Group chief operating officer, Al-Faisal Holding

    Issue 43 28 October-3 November 2011

    Al-Faisal has successfully focused its expansion on a range of key service and product sectors that are seeing significant demand growth in line with Qatar’s broader economic development

  • Creating a solar industry in Saudi Arabia

    Issue 41 14-20 October 2011

    Investors are pursuing polysilicon projects in the kingdom to capitalise on Riyadh’s ambitious 2020 renewable energy targets

  • Wataniya Mobile Palestine

    Issue 38 23-29 September 2011

    Palestine’s second operator plans to boost market share by expanding into the Gaza Strip

  • Palestine’s day of reckoning

    Issue 36 9-15 September 2011

    Palestinians seek state recognition at the UN, but doubts remain over the substance of the call

  • Region's unrest takes toll on telecoms merger deals

    Issue 35 2-8 September 2011

    The political uprisings in the region have decreased the appetite for major acquisitions in the telecoms sector. Operators are looking to consolidate and await more favourable conditions for big deals

  • Real-estate sales stagnate in Lebanon as market takes fright

    Issue 34 26 August-1 September 2011

    Despite traditionally being resilient to political instability, Lebanon’s real-estate market is being impacted by the uprising in Syria, which is a key source of buyers

  • Health insurance coverage for the long-term

    Issue 32 12-18 August 2011

    Compulsory private health insurance across the Middle East, while still in its early stages, is proving to be a platform for growth in the healthcare sector

  • Advanced Petrochemical Company

    Issue 31 5-11 August 2011

    The Saudi petrochemicals producer’s single product policy leaves it exposed to price pressures

  • Advanced Petrochemical: MEED Assessment

    Issue 31 5-11 August 2011

    The single commodity dependence leaves APC exposed to downward price pressures in the global polypropylene market

  • Riyadh steps up nationalisation to ease unemployment

    Issue 27 8-14 July 2011

    Saudi Arabia has unveiled new plans to intensify its Saudisation programme as part of efforts to reduce chronic unemployment among youths

  • Slow progress to foreign access to the Saudi stock exchange

    Issue 27 8-14 July 2011

    The Saudi stock exchange is committed to increasing foreign access to the bourse beyond exchange-traded funds, but the regional uprisings mean other concerns are taking priority

  • Bank of Palestine

    Issue 26 1-7 July 2011

    The oldest and largest bank in the West Bank and Gaza aims to more than double its number of branches

  • Bank of Palestine: MEED Assessment

    Issue 26 1-7 July 2011

    The decision to focus on corporate governance and risk management looks well planned

  • Q&A: Hashim Shawa, chairman and general manager, Bank of Palestine

    Issue 26 1-7 July 2011

    We have been outgrowing the sector consistently for the past 10 years

  • Q&A Sir Claude Hankes, adviser to Trade Bank of Iraq

    Issue 24 17-23 June 2011

    It is the only bank in Iraq that has international auditors

  • Trade Bank of Iraq

    Issue 24 17-23 June 2011

    Increased political interference threatens to damage Iraq’s largest bank

  • Trade Bank of Iraq: MEED Assessment

    Issue 24 17-23 June 2011

    TBI is well positioned in a growth market where it estimates about 50 per cent of the country’s 31 million population is still outside the formal banking system

  • Gaza to gain economically as crossing reopens

    9 June 2011, 0:01 GMT

    Israeli import and export restrictions and a dependence on donor aid continue to stunt Gaza’s economic growth, but Egypt’s decision to re-open the Rafah border crossing will boost trade

  • Kuwait's aviation industry: Adjusting to market realities

    Issue 23 10-16 June 2011

    Kuwait’s aviation industry has experienced a difficult couple of years, but a major shake-up is under way that has seen cost cutting at Jazeera Airways and plans to privatise Kuwait Airways

  • Compulsory cover drives insurance growth in the GCC

    Insurance supplement

    Insurance premiums are rising as GCC governments look to introduce mandatory cover, but the market is still far from achieving its potential

  • Taking the GCC vision forward

    GCC Anniversary

    With increasing pressure to shift the focus towards a more formalised union, developing a clearer idea of the GCC’s future direction could help ensure another 30 years of regional stability

  • The GCC: From co-operation to unity

    GCC Anniversary

    The deployment of troops to Bahrain in mid-March reveals a renewed sense of purpose for the six-nation GCC

  • Crisis alters investor landscape across the Middle East

    Issue 20 20-26 May 2011

    Asset devaluation and the collapse of well-known financial institutions have changed the private banking landscape and behaviour of wealthy clients in the region

  • Al-Babtain Power & Telecoms

    Issue15 15-21 April 2011

    The Riyadh-based power and telecommunications firm is looking to grow through acquisitions

  • Al-Babtain Power & Telecoms: MEED Assessment

    Issue15 15-21 April 2011

    Its integrated production processes and experience in executing large projects puts the firm at an advantage

  • Riyadh spends to curb unrest

    Issue15 15-21 April 2011

    Saudi Arabia’s newly announced plans to tackle unemployment and housing shortages are intended to stave off protests, but the measures could just be delaying the inevitable

  • Gulf markets are reaching out to institutional investors

    Issue 13 1-7 April 2011

    Gulf markets are starting to realise they need to tap institutional investors, but regulators will need to undertake structural reforms to make exchanges more attractive

  • UAE and Qatar seek capital markets upgrade

    Issue 13 1-7 April 2011

    A key factor that could boost the capital markets in the region this year will be the possible inclusion of Qatar and UAE bourses in MSCI’s Emerging Markets index

  • Getting the oil deal right for Sudan

    Issue 12 25-31 March 2011

    As Sudan prepares to split, renegotiating an oil wealth-sharing deal that is due to expire in July will be key to lasting peace between the North and South

  • Beirut’s new prime minister spurs fresh start

    Issue 10 11-17 March 2011

    The appointment of Tripoli-born Sunni businessman Najib Mikati as Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate marks a significant shift in the country’s political weather

  • Path Solutions

    Issue 10 11-17 March 2011

    The Kuwait-based Islamic banking software provider is expanding in Africa

  • Path Solutions: MEED Assessment

    Issue 10 11-17 March 2011

    The company is continuing to grow through penetrating new markets in Africa

  • Q&A Mohammed Kateeb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Path Solutions

    Issue 10 11-17 March 2011

    Our clients don’t have to buy other modules, which allows us to be competitive on the pricing

  • Riyadh breaks into phosphate market

    Issue 10 11-17 March 2011

    With Saudi Arabia commencing phosphate production, Jordan and Morocco have new competition in the region. But with fertiliser demand growing worldwide, there should be sufficient business for all

  • Gaza/West Bank political risk assessment

    Issue 8 25 February 2011-3 March 2011

    The strip is unlikely to witness a rise in street level protests against the Hamas administration

  • Tackling the Gulf’s gas shortage

    Issue 8 25 February 2011-3 March 2011

    The GCC states have fallen into a ‘paradox of plenty’, where huge gas reserves cannot be developed quickly enough to satisfy rising demand from industry and utility providers

  • Which Middle East leaders will be next to fall?

    Issue 8 25 February 2011-3 March 2011

    As the political unrest continues to spread, leaders across the Middle East and North Africa are nervously watching their backs

  • The shift towards a shopping experience in Saudi Arabia

    Issue 7 18-24 February 2011

    Rising household income is driving retail sales growth in Saudi Arabia. The sector has traditionally been the preserve of the cornershop, but the large retailers are now elbowing their way in

  • Bonds bridging the funding gap

    Issue 6 11-17 February 2011

    With banks still reluctant to provide long-term project finance for schemes in the region, bonds are emerging an alternative source of funding

  • Brotherhood back in favour in Jordan

    Issue 6 11-17 February 2011

    Islamists groups stand to gain from current upheavals in the region. For Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood, political prospects are looking up, as Amman charts a new relationship with the movement

  • Ominvest

    Issue 6 11-17 February 2011

    The investment firm’s decision to diversify into tourism marks a change in strategy

  • Ominvest MEED Assessment

    Issue 6 11-17 February 2011

    The management’s conservative approach to risk has minimised fallout from the financial crisis

  • Private partnerships win acceptance in the Middle East

    Issue 6 11-17 February 2011

    The political will to adopt the PPP model to finance schemes is spreading in the Gulf, but governments will need to improve the structuring and tendering of projects to attract investors

  • Dubai cuts spending to repay debts

    Issue 5 4-10 February 2011

    The emirate is facing large debt obligations in 2011 that will slow its economic growth. To ensure progress, Dubai will need to consider new ways of raising revenues or risk selling its prized assets

  • Delivering Doha’s World Cup dream

    Qatar Projects

    Having won the 2022 football World Cup bid against the odds, Qatar must now execute more than $60bn-worth of projects on time

  • Saudi Arabia mulls alternative gas options

    Issue 2 14-20 January 2011

    That Saudi Arabia sits on hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of untapped gas deposits has sent ripples across the global oil and gas sector. The challenge is the reserves are inaccessible via normal techniques

  • Monetary union faces new reality in Gulf

    Issue 1 7-13 January 2011

    Momentum for currency union has declined steadily in the past five years. The GCC Monetary Council faces a tough challenge in reviving support for the project

  • The Saudi Arabian Monetary Regulator calls for continued caution

    Issue 51 17-23 December 2010

    Saudi Arabia’s financial regulator has developed a tough reputation, but its prudence protected local banks from the worst of the economic crisis. Its latest move is to call for an increase in provisioning

  • Yearbook 2011: 2010 Review - Oil prices: Caution is the watchword

    Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2011

    Oil price conservatism is likely to remain a key theme of Middle East states’ budget calculations

  • Yearbook 2011: 2010 Review - Oil prices: Caution is the watchword

    Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2011

    Oil price conservatism is likely to remain a key theme of Middle East states’ budget calculations

  • Yearbook 2011: Economic recovery without the fanfare in the Middle East

    Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2011

    The steady economic revival under way in the region will help to restore confidence among policymakers after a tough couple of years, but they would be well advised to also keep an eye on the bigger picture

  • Dar al-Arkan Development Company

    Issue 50 10-16 December 2010

    The Saudi real-estate firm has built up a market-leading position, but maturing debt clouds its outlook

  • Dar al-Arkan Development Company: MEED Assessment

    Issue 50 10-16 December 2010

    The company must work hard to revive land sales income next year

  • London still a lure for Gulf real estate investors

    Issue 49 3-9 December 2010

    The UK property market, and London in particular, is receiving increased interest from the Middle East

  • Masraf al-Rayan

    Issue 49 3-9 December 2010

    The Doha-based Islamic financial institution plans to increase its geographic reach

  • Masraf al-Rayan: MEED Assessment

    Issue 49 3-9 December 2010

    With solid support from its shareholders, it has a solid risk profile

  • Middle East looks to heavy end of the oil barrel

    Issue 49 3-9 December 2010

    The Middle East’s reserves of heavier grades of oil is an underexploited resource that could be utilised to meet global demand. Potential regional producers now need foreign expertise to aid extraction

  • Q&A: Adel Mustafawi, chief executive officer, Masraf al-Rayan

    Issue 49 3-9 December 2010

    Islamic finance has grown even during the downturn and the bank thinks it is in a good position to take advantage of that rise

  • Jebel Ali Free Zone's strategic location in Dubai boosts business

    The region's hub

    Situated between the world’s seventh largest seaport and Dubai’s new cargo airport, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) handles more than a third of the emirate’s total trade and almost half of its exports

  • Manufacturing growth in Dubai

    The region's hub

    Jafza’s value proposition has proved compelling even in the middle of a regional downturn and continued to attract firms looking to set up local industrial units

  • The drive to a diverse economy in the UAE

    United for Growth

    Much of the impact of the recent financial crisis in Dubai has now been absorbed and the country’s drive to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons is regaining momentum

  • The UK: The eighth emirate

    United for Growth

    The City of London has been called by some ‘the eighth emirate’ and British financial institutions are playing a key role in helping to develop the UAE’s banking and finance sector to its full potential

  • UAE federal budget under scrutiny

    Issue 45 5-11 November 2010

    Following Abu Dhabi’s bailout of Dubai last year, pressure is growing for more equitable contributions to the federal budget

  • Bahrain elections fail to impress

    Issue 44 29 October-5 November 2010

    Critics say Bahrain’s 23 October parliamentary polls have changed little on the ground

  • Q&A: Nikolaus Frei, Chief Executive Officer, T’azur

    Issue 44 29 October-5 November 2010

    The Bahrain-based company wants to serve regional clients from across the GCC and beyond

  • T’azur

    Issue 44 29 October-5 November 2010

    The Bahrain-based insurer aims to be market leader in family and general takaful

  • T’azur: MEED Assessment

    Issue 44 29 October-5 November 2010

    The region offers strong growth potential for the insurance industry

  • Gulf looks for debt market revival

    Issue 41 8-14 October 2010

    Despite a pick-up in GCC sukuk issuance since the start of the year, the Gulf still lags behind Asia, with Malaysia setting the pace for Islamic securitisation

  • Gulf One Investment Bank

    Issue 41 8-14 October 2010

    The Bahrain-based lender has carved out a unique niche in financing infrastructure projects

  • Gulf One Investment Bank: MEED Assessment

    Issue 41 8-14 October 2010

    The Bahrain-based lender has carved out a niche, but it needs to establish a stronger presence in regional financings

  • Insurers look to tap Islamic insurance market

    Issue 41 8-14 October 2010

    Although insurance penetration is low in the region, long-term socio-economic trends point to a bright future for the takaful sector

  • Q&A: Nahed Taher, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf One Investment Bank

    Issue 41 8-14 October 2010

    The bank was founded on the belief that it can bridge the gap in knowledge and availability of liquidity for financing infrastructure projects

  • Low confidence holds back Saudi Arabia bourse

    Issue 40 1-7 October 2010

    Despite leading the regional market for initial public offerings, the Tadawul is not performing as well as hoped. Analysts remain gloomy over the prospects for recovery

  • The long road to car manufacturing in Saudi Arabia

    Issue 40 1-7 October 2010

    Saudi Arabia has successfully unveiled its first locally made prototype car, but moving the concept to mass production will be a major challenge 

  • Earlier caution pays off for Jordanian banks

    Issue No 37 10-16 September 2010

    The prudent lending by Jordanian banks during the boom years is helping them to weather the slowdown in the global economy. The sector is now focused on growing earnings again

  • Cairo power shortages leave Egypt's government feeling the heat

    Issue No 36 3-9 September 2010

    Power shortages resulting from inadequate feedstock supply have left Egypt’s government facing stiff criticism. It hopes its rescue plan to firm up supply and galvanise private power will cool the situation

  • Damascus looks to investment banks

    Issue 35 27 August - 2 September 2010

    Syria aims to shift the trading in its bourse up a gear. Its strategy has been to allow the establishment of investment banks to add more depth to the country’s free market economy

  • Real estate boom defies Middle East gloom

    Issue 35 27 August - 2 September 2010

    Lebanon has dodged the real-estate collapse affecting many Gulf property markets in the region. The sector’s strategy of catering to demand for low- to middle-end housing is paying dividends

  • Iraq's growth derailed by challenges

    Issue 34 20-26 August 2010

    Despite strong macro-economic fundamentals, delays in forming a stable government in Baghdad and the inability to spend state budgets are hampering the development of Iraq’s economy

  • Tehran switches trade strategy

    Issue 33 13-19 August

    New international sanctions targeting fuel trade into Iran are having mixed results

  • Saudi bourse: struggling to find momentum

    Issue 32 6-12 August 2010

    The Saudi bourse has yet to shake-off a slump in trading despite economic growth in the kingdom

  • Supporting economic growth in Tunisia

    Issue 32 6-12 August 2010

    Tunisia is undertaking a major expansion of its power capacity to meet rising electricity consumption. The private sector is expected to play a major role, along with nuclear energy

  • Abdullah al-Othaim Markets: MEED Assessment

    27 July 2010, 5:35 GMT

    Analysts predict the balance of power is shifting to large-format retailers, with Al-Othaim’s stores growing in line with the general trend

  • Abdullah al-Othaim Markets

    27 July 2010, 0:00 GMT

    The Saudi retailer is embarking on an ambitious expansion to increase its market share

  • Arriyadh Development Company

    Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010

    The Saudi developer has seen profits grow, bucking the regional property slump

  • Arriyadh Development Company: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 28 9-15 July 2010

    Ardco has performed strongly across its business lines during the global crisis

  • Government expenditure keeps Saudi Arabia's economy on track

    Supplement: Middle East Economic Review 2010

    High government expenditure has driven the Saudi economy through the global economic downturn, providing a stimulus for growth in both hydrocarbons and the non-oil private sector

  • Government expenditure keeps Saudi Arabia's economy on track

    Supplement: Middle East Economic Review 2010

    High government expenditure has driven the Saudi economy through the global economic downturn, providing a stimulus for growth in both hydrocarbons and the non-oil private sector

  • Beirut lenders steer clear of crisis

    Issue No 26 25-1 July 2010

    With high deposits and low levels of non-performing loans, Lebanese banks have seen profits continue to rise, and they are now expanding in emerging markets to diversify revenue streams 

  • Gaza: Tunnel economy struggles on

    Issue No 26 25-1 July 2010

    The partial easing of the blockade on Gaza’s land borders will offer little relief after more than 10 years of economic isolation

  • Maaden’s vision to become a top aluminium producer makes progress

    Issue No 25 18-24 June 2010

    With contracts being awarded for the Ras al-Zour aluminium scheme, the kingdom is moving towards its aim of becoming a world-class aluminium producer

  • Saudi Arabia's conglomerates learning from family business failures

    Issue No 25 18-24 June 2010

    Debts defaults at two prominent Saudi conglomerates have brought the issues of transparency and corporate governance to the fore

  • Q&A: Hassan Mukayed, CEO, Syria-Qatari Holding

    Issue No 24 11-17 June 2010

    Mukayed explains the reasons behind forming the joint venture and plans for future investments

  • Syrian-Qatari Holding

    Issue No 24 11-17 June 2010

    The joint venture is helping Damascus to meet its infrastructure needs through public-private partnerships

  • Syrian-Qatari Holding: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 24 11-17 June 2010

    The company will face challenges in building its project portfolio, but will be supported by a dedicated government unit to oversee key projects

  • Shaping Saudi Arabia’s development agenda

    Supplement: King Abdullah Economic City

    King Abdullah Economic City will have to deliver to prove Riyadh’s economic cities development strategy is a success

  • Improving regional diplomacy in the Middle East

    Issue No 23 4-10 June 2010

    Doha’s role as successful mediator in international conflicts has grown in recent years, but closer to home, ties with some of its GCC neighbours remain fractious

  • A new era of credit transparency

    Issue No 22 28 May - 3 June 2010

    Dubai’s ruler has mandated a credit-reporting agency to collect financial data in a bid to stem the growth of non-performing loans

  • Constraints delay progress in Iraq's power sector

    Issue No 20 14 - 20 May 2010

    Although blackouts are less common in Iraq, a lack of finance and inadequate fuel supplies are hindering investment in the power sector

  • Damascus turns to private sector to finance power scheme

    Issue No 20 14 - 20 May 2010

    With demand for electricity growing steadily, the quick execution of Syria’s first independent power scheme will be key in attracting more foreign investors

  • Damascus turns to private sector to finance power scheme

    Issue No 20 14 - 20 May 2010

    With demand for electricity growing steadily, the quick execution of Syria’s first independent power scheme will be key in attracting more foreign investors

  • Feedstock switch brings employment

    Issue No 19 7 - 13 May 2010

    As ethane allocations grow scarce, petrochemicals producers are turning to naphtha and other liquid feeds, a move that will benefit governments’ job creation drive

  • Future peace bound in oil

    Issue No 18 30 April - 6 May 2010

    Sudan must ensure a more even distribution of its oil wealth, or risk more conflict in the run-up to a referendum on independence in January 2011

  • Investors show patience while Iraq kick-starts reconstruction projects

    Issue No 18 30 April - 6 May 2010

    Iraq’s importance to the region’s projects market is growing, but it requires strong government to push ahead with reconstruction efforts

  • Arabtec

    Issue No 17 23 - 29 April 2010

    The Dubai-based firm’s future performance will depend on growth in overseas markets

  • Arabtec: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 17 23 - 29 April 2010

    The Dubai-based firm’s future performance will depend on growth in overseas markets

  • Bahrain investing in its culture

    Issue No 17 23 - 29 April 2010

    Bahrain is relying on local heritage and arts facilities to attract more tourists to the kingdom as part its drive to diversify the economy

  • Q&A: Riad Kamal, chairman, Arabtec Holding

    Issue No 17 23 - 29 April 2010

    Company engages in mutual agreements to further international growth

  • Mansour Bank

    Issue No 16 16-22 April 2010

    The Iraqi bank looks to lend to a private sector set grow on the back of the country’s reconstruction

  • Mansour Bank: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 16 16-22 April 2010

    Massive expansion of Iraq’s oil and gas industry should ensure strong growth for banks

  • Q&A: Mehdi al-Rahim, Chairman of Mansour Bank

    Issue No 16 16-22 April 2010

    The privately-owned bank sees a raft of opportunities opening up as more investment is channelled into the oil and gas sectors

  • Cairo working to improve investor appeal of its industrial sector

    Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010

    Egypt is well-placed to emerge as the region’s industrial powerhouse as market reforms increase export levels and investment flows into the sector

  • Issuers favour traditional bonds

    Issue No 15 9-15 April 2010

    Debt defaults have dampened enthusiasm for sukuk, prompting a switch to conventional issues

  • Saudi Arabian oil supply moving with demand

    Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010

    Saudi Arabia is repositioning its oil supply chain to take account of rising demand in Asia and the changing needs of the European and US energy markets

  • Saudi Arabian oil supply moving with demand

    Issue No 13 26 March - 1 April 2010

    Saudi Arabia is repositioning its oil supply chain to take account of rising demand in Asia and the changing needs of the European and US energy markets

  • Tapping the demand for copper

    Issue No 12 19-25 March 2010

    The region has huge potential for copper mining, with Saudi Arabia becoming the latest country to show growth in the market

  • Tapping the demand for copper

    Issue No 12 19-25 March 2010

    The region has huge potential for copper mining, with Saudi Arabia becoming the latest country to show growth in the market

  • Bahrain Air

    Issue No 11 12-18 March 2010

    Bahrain Air aims to carry 1 million passengers a year by the end of 2010

  • Bahrain Air

    Issue No 11 12-18 March 2010

    Bahrain Air aims to carry 1 million passengers a year by the end of 2010

  • Bahrain Air: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 11 12-18 March 2010

    Budget carriers have been affected by a recession-inspired aviation downturn

  • Bahrain Air: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 11 12-18 March 2010

    Budget carriers have been affected by a recession-inspired aviation downturn

  • Al-Baraka Banking Group

    Issue No 10 5-11 March 2010

    The Islamic bank is seeking fresh markets after emerging intact from the global crisis

  • Al-Baraka Banking Group: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 10 5-11 March 2010

    Despite a 17 per cent decline in net profit in 2009, Al-Baraka remains focused on growth, supported by a conservative approach to lending

  • Q&A: Adnan Yousif al-Baraka, CEO, Al-Baraka Banking Group

    Issue No 10 5-11 March 2010

    The Islamic bank’s CEO explains why the company plans to geographically diversify, its future business lines and the reasons it undertook a corporate rebranding

  • Saving water in the desert

    Issue No 10 5-11 March 2010

    Contractors in the region are turning to increasingly innovative technologies to treat water and wastewater more efficiently

  • Seeking improved water access in Palestine

    Issue No 10 5-11 March 2010

    The right to water has been an unresolved issue between Israel and Palestine since the Six-Day War in 1967. Scarcity of supply is further weakening the Palestinian economy

  • Oil prices: Caution is the watchword

    Issue No 9 26 February - 4 March 2010

    Oil price conservatism is likely to remain a key theme of Middle East states’ budget calculations

  • Oil prices: Caution is the watchword

    Issue No 9 26 February - 4 March 2010

    Oil price conservatism is likely to remain a key theme of Middle East states’ budget calculations

  • Technology: Unlocking the potential of regional oil and gas reserves

    Supplement: Offshore Oil and Gas

    Technological advances are proving critical to opening up the Middle East and North Africa region’s offshore oil and gas reserves

  • Market focus: Libya takes lead in Maghreb

    Supplement: Offshore Oil and Gas

    Despite the challenges presented by deepwater drilling, there are sufficient indications of offshore oil wealth in North Africa to have excited the interest of international majors

  • Mazen Bissat, Chief Executive Officer, Trans Mediterranean Airways

    Issue No 6 5-11 February 2010

    The new CEO already owns an airline, a pharmacy chain and a shopping mall, but the Beirut freight carrier presents a different kind of opportunity

  • Tehran courts Latin America

    Issue No 6 5-11 February 2010

    Iran is increasing trade flows with Latin America amid the threat of tougher US-led sanctions

  • Trans Mediterranean Airways

    Issue No 6 5-11 February 2010

    Revamped and in the hands of a new owner, the airline is putting its turbulent past behind it

  • Trans Mediterranean Airways: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 6 5-11 February 2010

    In the short term, TMA’s strongest asset will be its large footprint at Beirut Rafic Hariri International airport

  • Jadwa Investment

    2 February 2010, 7:28 GMT

    With firm foundations, Jadwa aims to become the region’s leading investment bank within five years.

  • Sabic

    2 February 2010, 7:14 GMT

    Saudi Basic Industries Corporation is increasingly moving downstream as it aims for global dominance.

  • Drawing the poison

    Issue No 4 22-28 January 2009

    The Saad and Al-Gosaibi debt repayment affairs have had a toxic effect on bank lending in the kingdom and across the region

  • Gulf airlines vie for market share

    Issue No 4 22-28 January 2009

    The increasing number of budget airlines operating in the Gulf has sparked a price war that has intensified during the downturn

  • Buying into organic growth

    Issue No 3 15-21 January 2010

    Activity will eventually return to the Gulf mergers and acquisitions sector, but a cautious and cash-strapped market means 2010 is set to be a slow year

  • Q&A: Khater Massaad, CEO, RAK Ceramics

    Issue No 2 8-14 January 2010

    CEO Massaad explains the impact of the global downturn on the company’s business, as it expands its customer base

  • RAK Ceramics

    Issue No 2 8-14 January 2010

    Economies of scale and wide geographic reach are helping this manufacturer increase profits

  • RAK Ceramics: MEED Assessment

    Issue No 2 8-14 January 2010

    By maintaining a diversified product and customer base, the company thinks it can continue to grow

  • Finance 2010: Reasons for cautious confidence

    Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2010

    Banks in the region have fared well amid the global downturn but must start lending to boost business

  • Finance 2010: Reasons for cautious confidence

    Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2010

    Banks in the region have fared well amid the global downturn but must start lending to boost business

  • Kaust's collaboration programme: Reaching out to enterprise

    Supplement: Kaust

    MEED finds out from companies that have joined Kaust’s programme what benefits they expect to gain from involvement in the scheme

  • Mixing old and new designs at Saudi university Kaust

    Supplement: Kaust

    Although Kaust has been built according to traditional Saudi architectural principles, cutting-edge technology is integrated into the fabric of the campus

  • Saudi university Kaust working with business

    Supplement: Kaust

    Kaust’s industrial collaboration programme is at the heart of the university’s plans to help academics and businesses benefit from working more closely together

  • Financial crisis hits investors' appetite

    18 November 2009, 16:37 GMT

    Private equity investment in the Gulf has slowed significantly this year as the global financial crisis cuts banks’ liquidity and reduces confidence in the region’s economies

  • Jet charter market receives a boost in the Gulf

    Issue No 46 13-19 November 2009

    Executive jet charter operators are experiencing a recovery in demand for their services after nine months of decline as economic confidence begins to return

  • Boom puts contractors under pressure in Qatar

    Issue No 45 6-12 November 2009

    Contractors involved in Qatar’s LNG programme have learned difficult lessons from negotiating during a construction boom, but there is little evidence clients will take on more risk as the project market picks up

  • Abu Dhabi sets the standard for green buildings

    Supplement: Sustainable Development in the Gulf

    The emirate is creating its own green-building rating system through the Estidama initiative, which it hopes will become a benchmark for developers across the region

  • Masdar is the city of the future

    Supplement: Sustainable Development in the Gulf

    The creation of the world’s first carbon-neutral city under Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Initiative aims to make the emirate a centre for renewable-energy research

  • Creating linked-up government in the Gulf

    Issue No 44 30 October - 5 November 2009

    Countries across the Middle East and North Africa are making the most of advances in information and communications technology to streamline the services they provide

  • Reforms improve regional business climate

    Issue No 43 23-29 October 2009

    The World Bank’s Doing Business 2010 report praises the Middle East for making it easier to set up firms

  • Abu Dhabi taking the lead on clean energy

    Issue No 42 16-22 October 2009

    Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Initiative could make the emirate a global leader in renewable energy technology, if it can take advantage of delays on rival projects and make progress quickly

  • Abu Dhabi taking the lead on clean energy

    Issue No 42 16-22 October 2009

    Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Initiative could make the emirate a global leader in renewable energy technology, if it can take advantage of delays on rival projects and make progress quickly

  • Commercial gas finds prove elusive in Saudi Arabia

    Issue No 41 9-15 October 2009

    Discoveries of gas in the Empty Quarter have been disappointing and the foreign oil companies that carried out the exploration will have to decide whether to stay on for the long term or cut their losses

  • Saad debt deal lifts the gloom

    Issue No 41 9-15 October 2009

    The announcement that an agreement is close to being reached over the debts of the troubled Saudi conglomerate is good news for private sector firms seeking funding

  • Kipco: MEED Assessment

    6 October 2009, 17:35 GMT

    Kuwait Projects Company Holding is poised to capitalise on growth in largely untapped markets

  • Q&A: Samer Khanachet, Chief Operating Officer, Kipco

    6 October 2009, 17:27 GMT

    COO Khanachet explains the company’s approach to the bond markets and its growth ambitions

  • Kipco

    6 October 2009, 17:22 GMT

    Kuwait Projects Company Holding is poised to capitalise on growth in largely untapped markets

  • Re-evaluating the case for sour gas

    Issue No 37 11 - 17 September 2009

    Abu Dhabi is leading the way among Gulf states in reconsidering the economics of processing its huge reserves of toxic sour gas, which have the potential to mitigate current shortages

  • Making room for small business in Iraq

    Issue No 34 21 - 27 August 2009

    The Iraqi economy remains dominated by large, state-owned firms, with small and medium-sized enterprises struggling to secure the investment they need to expand.

  • Restoring confidence in the Iraqi banking system

    Issue No 34 21 - 27 August 2009

    Iraq’s banking sector is slowly being modernised, with new technology being installed and the central bank taking steps to improve security. But commercial lending remains expensive.

  • Mena gas industry

    14 August 2009, 12:59 GMT

    The six leading strategists in the Middle East & North Africa gas sector are: Abdullah bin Hamad bin Khalifah al-Attiyah, Faisal al-Suwaidi, Reza Kasaeizadeh, Brian Buckley and Chakib Khelil.

  • Sovereign debt revitalises market

    31 July 2009, 15:53 GMT

    Bond issues from Abu Dhabi and Qatar are paving the way for a revival in the region’s conventional and Islamic debt markets, as investors seek out low-risk investments.

  • Sovereign debt revitalises market

    31 July 2009, 15:53 GMT

    Bond issues from Abu Dhabi and Qatar are paving the way for a revival in the region’s conventional and Islamic debt markets, as investors seek out low-risk investments.

  • Riyadh targets foreign investors

    31 July 2009, 15:46 GMT

    A series of reforms have been made over the past year to encourage bond trading and relax the rules governing the ownership of shares listed on the Saudi stock exchange.

  • Spinneys Group

    16 July 2009, 15:13 GMT

    The Middle Eastern supermarket chain is expanding its presence in both existing and new markets.

  • Q&A: Michael Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Spinneys Group

    16 July 2009, 15:09 GMT

    The retailer has developed a multi-country programme to underpin its outlets in the region

  • Spinneys Group: MEED Assessment

    16 July 2009, 15:03 GMT

    The Middle Eastern supermarket chain has strong local knowledge and is viewed as a regional brand

  • Thani Investments

    9 July 2009, 15:51 GMT

    The Dubai-based company is pioneering private development in the energy and mining sectors.

  • Q&A: Abdulla al-Thani, Executive Chairman, Thani Investments

    9 July 2009, 15:41 GMT

    The company expanded from the real estate sector into hydrocarbons and mining

  • Thani Investments: MEED Assessment

    9 July 2009, 15:35 GMT

    There are unlikely to be any significant changes in ownership within the company

  • Export agencies come to the fore in the region

    2 July 2009, 17:30 GMT

    As project financing in the region dries up in the wake of the global credit crunch, export credit agencies and multilateral development banks are increasingly filling the gap.

  • Lebanese banks' profits boost domestic lending

    2 July 2009, 17:09 GMT

    With healthy balance sheets as a result of their conservative growth strategies, Lebanon's banks are set to increase funding to the country's private sector.

  • Riyadh is the Gulf's new financial centre

    26 June 2009, 17:59 GMT

    The decision to locate the GCC Monetary Council in Riyadh rather than Abu Dhabi demonstrates the perceived strength of the regulatory environment in the kingdom.

  • National Oil Company Survey: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation

    19 June 2009, 21:16 GMT

    Formed in 1980 as a holding company for Kuwait's state oil companies, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) oversees upstream and downstream operations through its Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) affiliates.

  • National Oil Company Survey: Iraq

    19 June 2009, 21:08 GMT

    Iraq's state-owned energy companies continue to struggle against the odds to maintain production levels as the Oil Ministry attempts to catalyse foreign investment to expand output through two licensing rounds.

  • UAE architecture

    19 June 2009, 12:57 GMT

    The Six leading architects working in the UAE are: Reinier de Graaf, John Bonnington, Semir Abdul Hadi, Donna Sultan, Shaun Killa and Adrian Smith.

  • Q&A: Waltherus Matthijs, CEO, Sadafco

    11 June 2009, 17:54 GMT

    Despite the economic downturn, GCC consumers have not changed their spending habits when it comes to high-quality food, says Matthijs

  • Sadafco

    11 June 2009, 17:51 GMT

    Saudia Dairy & Foodstuffs Company is adapting to competition and changing consumer patterns.

  • Sadafco: MEED Assessment

    11 June 2009, 17:48 GMT

    Further restructuring may be required if the company wants to maintain its long-term growth and keep shareholders happy

  • Muscat trades on its location

    4 June 2009, 17:24 GMT

    As one of four Arab nations to have signed a free trade agreement with the US, Oman is seeking to exploit its reputation as a regional trans-shipment hub.

  • Muscat trades on its location

    4 June 2009, 17:24 GMT

    As one of four Arab nations to have signed a free trade agreement with the US, Oman is seeking to exploit its reputation as a regional trans-shipment hub.

  • Citadel Capital

    28 May 2009, 19:20 GMT

    The Cairo-based private equity firm expects to invest in distressed assets towards the end of the year.

  • Q&A: Ahmed Heikal, Chairman, Citadel Capital

    28 May 2009, 18:21 GMT

    The private equity firm that invests about 20 per cent of the equity in each of its deal

  • Citadel Capital: MEED Assessment

    28 May 2009, 16:05 GMT

    The Cairo-based company has a healthy risk appetite and good focus on the fundamentals

  • Kick-starting the Saudi debt market

    21 May 2009, 20:53 GMT

    Investors are waiting to see if the Saudi government will follow Abu Dhabi and Qatar in issuing sovereign bonds to revive the corporate lending market in 2009.

  • Lebanese poll brings hope for reform

    21 May 2009, 17:08 GMT

    Pushing through privatisation plans and dealing with Lebanon's debt will be priorities for the country's new parliament following national elections to be held on 7 June.

  • Thermal dominance under pressure in Gulf

    14 May 2009, 16:38 GMT

    Gulf utilities are increasingly employing a range of technologies to maintain water supplies, with traditional heat-based systems being challenged by reverse osmosis and hybrid plants.

  • Iraq oil investment

    14 May 2009, 15:12 GMT

    The six key figures involved in the opening up of Iraq’s oil and gas sector to foreign companies: Abdul Hadi al-Hassani, Natiq al-Bayati, Abdul Sahib Salman al-Qutb, Ahmed al-Shamaa, Thamer Ghadhban and Mounir Bouaziz.

  • Gulf chemicals firms look for feedstock alternatives

    7 May 2009, 16:33 GMT

    Middle East petrochemicals companies struggling to secure ethane supplies are turning to more readily available feedstocks such as naptha as they expand their product bases.

  • Gulf tackles construction skills shortage

    30 April 2009, 17:41 GMT

    With rising unemployment, regional governments are making increasing efforts to give nationals the skills they need to find jobs in the local construction industry.

  • Industries Qatar

    30 April 2009, 15:16 GMT

    The holding company is expanding into new markets and increasing capacity during the downturn.

  • Industries Qatar: MEED Assessment

    30 April 2009, 15:04 GMT

    IQ is one of the Middle East’s most important corporate players, but it has yet to find synergies among its broad mix of businesses

  • Trends: Regional rig numbers show drop in demand

    23 April 2009, 16:19 GMT

    Hiring rates for oil and gas drilling rigs are set to drop as the number in use in the region falls.

  • Trends: Regional rig numbers show drop in demand

    23 April 2009, 16:19 GMT

    Hiring rates for oil and gas drilling rigs are set to drop as the number in use in the region falls.

  • Cairo's technology focus begins to pay off

    8 April 2009, 16:28 GMT

    Cairo’s investment in education and IT infrastructure is helping to establish Egypt as a global outsourcing centre and attracting some of the world’s leading technology companies to its Smart Village complex.

  • Emirates NBD: MEED Assessment

    8 April 2009, 15:55 GMT

    Dubai’s economy remains under pressure and the emirate’s largest bank will find it difficult to escape the impact of the downturn

  • Emirates NBD

    8 April 2009, 15:24 GMT

    The UAE-based bank is increasingly focusing on Islamic finance, one of its fastest-growing businesses.

  • Trends: Middle East investors target Africa

    2 April 2009, 14:09 GMT

    Gulf firms are seeking opportunities in sectors ranging from construction to agriculture.

  • Trends: Middle East investors target Africa

    2 April 2009, 14:09 GMT

    Gulf firms are seeking opportunities in sectors ranging from construction to agriculture.

  • Credit crunch hits Riyadh's downstream plans

    26 March 2009, 16:04 GMT

    The drying up of project finance around the world is raising doubts over the kingdom’s ability to deliver on its ambitious programme to increase refining capacity by 50 per cent by 2015.

  • Special Report: Riyadh cuts red tape

    26 March 2009, 15:40 GMT

    Saudi Arabia has set its sights on becoming one of the 10 best countries in the world in which to do business by next year. The kingdom has worked hard to climb up the World Bank’s Doing Business league, rising 17 places to 16th since 2007.

  • Gulf biotechnology

    26 March 2009, 15:29 GMT

    The six prominent players in the region’s biotechnology and life sciences sectors are: Abdulqader al-Khayat, Elias Zerhouni, Ahmed Emara, Faruq Badiuddin, Mohamed al-Hamad al-Marwani and Abbas Lotfi.

  • Tehran struggles to increase oil output

    20 March 2009, 10:52 GMT

    International sanctions and ageing oil fields have made it hard for Iran to raise production, but the Islamic Republic could do more to make investment in the sector attractive for foreign firms.

  • Majors lose appetite for Gulf energy deals

    20 March 2009, 9:49 GMT

    New exploration projects are being put on hold as the tough terms on offer deter foreign energy majors.

  • Special Report: Kuwait - Political deadlock hits reform

    19 March 2009, 20:26 GMT

    Kuwait’s economy is already feeling the impact of the global downturn, and now its political system is coming under stress, with the cabinet resigning on 16 March and the National Assembly (parliament) being dissolved two days later on 18 March.

  • Saudi banks weather the downturn

    13 March 2009, 14:39 GMT

    The Saudi central bank’s economic prudence is paying off, with the sector in a strong position.

  • Reserves offer Riyadh a platform for growth

    13 March 2009, 8:53 GMT

    The massive oil revenues earned in recent years will enable Riyadh to support industrial development.

  • Riyadh adapts to the Obama era

    13 March 2009, 8:25 GMT

    When Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud told the world that the seven-year-old Arab peace initiative could not remain on the table indefinitely, his announcement could not have been better timed.

  • First Energy Bank

    13 March 2009, 0:00 GMT

    The newly formed institution aims to be the first Islamic investment bank to target the energy sector.

  • Taqa

    13 March 2009, 0:00 GMT

    Abu Dhabi National Energy Company is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy across the sector.

  • Banks face gloomy outlook in Emirates

    12 March 2009, 15:59 GMT

    After heavy profit falls in 2008, Dubai banks continue to suffer from their high exposure to the real estate sector as the global economic downturn takes its toll.

  • Special Report: UAE - Emirates strengthen federal ties

    12 March 2009, 14:43 GMT

    The UAE economic model has come under unprecedented strain in recent months, with Dubai in particular suffering a severe reversal in fortunes.

  • Manama seeks fresh energy supply

    5 March 2009, 19:09 GMT

    Bahrain’s decision to end talks with Tehran over importing 1 billion cubic feet a day of gas following a diplomatic fallout highlights its need to secure new sources of energy.

  • Emirates seek to clean up on carbon

    1 March 2009, 9:29 GMT

    Abu Dhabi has ambitions to build a carbon dioxide storage network to cut harmful greenhouse emissions and boost oil output.

  • Emirates seek to clean up on carbon

    1 March 2009, 9:29 GMT

    Abu Dhabi has ambitions to build a carbon dioxide storage network to cut harmful greenhouse emissions and boost oil output.

  • Local banks come to the fore

    22 February 2009, 10:33 GMT

    With international institutions reining in their lending, securing loans denominated in Gulf currencies is becoming key to completing projects.

  • Downturn hits regional airport expansion plans

    15 February 2009, 11:36 GMT

    With more than $50bn worth of aviation infrastructure projects under way in the Middle East, the slowdown in the sector has come at a bad time for the region.

  • Strong liquidity fortifies Qatari economy

    8 February 2009, 10:24 GMT

    Just 12 months ago, the large amount of cash in the Qatari economy was a concern for policymakers battling to control inflation, but it is now helping to deliver growth despite the global slowdown.

  • Strong liquidity fortifies Qatari economy

    8 February 2009, 10:24 GMT

    Just 12 months ago, the large amount of cash in the Qatari economy was a concern for policymakers battling to control inflation, but it is now helping to deliver growth despite the global slowdown.

  • Almarai Company

    8 February 2009, 8:09 GMT

    With its roots in dairy production in the kingdom, the Saudi firm is diversifying via overseas acquisitions.

  • Almarai Company: MEED Assessment

    8 February 2009, 7:53 GMT

    Milk and dairy are basic necessities immune to sudden fluctuations, so it is likely to retain its crown as the largest dairy company

  • Saudi state funds increase their influence during the downturn

    25 January 2009, 10:01 GMT

    The global freezing up of credit markets has had a material impact on the region’s project finance market, with international banks unable to finance debt in light of their troubled balance sheets.

  • Interview: Ali al-Ayer, SIDF

    25 January 2009, 9:47 GMT

    The assistant director general of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) talks to MEED about the organisation’s role in providing financing for both domestic and foreign businesses.

  • Saudi service industries come to the fore

    25 January 2009, 8:37 GMT

    Saudi Arabia is entering a difficult phase of its economic diversification programme. With public funds pledged to the scheme, the kingdom is now seeking to invest in a knowledge economy.

  • Doha - Moving beyond the North field

    11 January 2009, 8:12 GMT

    With a moratorium on projects in its giant gas field likely to remain in place for another four years at least, Doha is focusing its efforts on a series of other schemes.

  • Riyadh takes centre stage internationally

    21 December 2008, 13:30 GMT

    Saudi Arabia’s international influence is growing as the global financial crisis forces the weakened Western economies to approach Riyadh for help.

  • Xenel Industries

    16 December 2008, 0:00 GMT

    The Saudi conglomerate is using its wide-ranging business interests to expand into other countries.

  • Private firms in Saudi petrochemcials sector look for a niche

    11 December 2008, 18:31 GMT

    Smaller companies operating in the Saudi petrochemicals sector are coming under pressure to move into speciality products as ethane supplies fall short.

  • Saudi Arabia’s private petrochemicals ventures

    11 December 2008, 18:28 GMT

    The leading lights of the Saudi business fraternity have taken equity positions in the most prominent local petrochemicals companies. The Al-Zamil and Xenel groups have the longest historical connections in the sector, but in recent years they have been joined by heavyweights from the biggest families such as the Al-Rajhis, Al-Gosaibis, Olayans and Juffalis.

  • Private banks prove their worth in the Gulf

    5 December 2008, 15:58 GMT

    With the reputations of major investment banking institutions tarnished by the financial crisis, Gulf investors are increasingly seeking a safe haven for their money.

  • Disputes undermine GCC gas supply

    4 December 2008, 12:29 GMT

    The window of opportunity for the Gulf to create a single gas supply network is closing, despite efforts by Saudi Arabia to heal the bilateral rifts that have dogged its development.

  • Debt threatens to delay recovery in Dubai

    27 November 2008, 15:48 GMT

    The fall of the Dubai real estate market has left its critics feeling vindicated, but others say the economy’s fundamentals are sound if the emirate can service its mounting debts.

  • First Energy Bank

    27 November 2008, 14:52 GMT

    The newly formed institution aims to be the first Islamic investment bank to target the energy sector.

  • First Energy Bank: MEED Assessment

    27 November 2008, 14:38 GMT

    The company’s aim is to capitalise on the energy sector’s demand for investment

  • Levant business leaders

    21 November 2008, 14:48 GMT

    Six of the Levant’s most influential business leaders: Saeb Nahas, Said Khoury, Najib Mikati, Khaled Shaheen, Bahaa Hariri and Munib Masri.

  • Jadwa Investment

    13 November 2008, 17:20 GMT

    With firm foundations, Jadwa aims to become the region’s leading investment bank within five years.

  • Jadwa Investment: MEED Assessment

    13 November 2008, 17:15 GMT

    Jadwa’s model is a powerful template for a start-up investment house

  • Q&A: Ahmed al-Khateeb, CEO and Managing Director, Jadwa Investment

    13 November 2008, 12:10 GMT

    Jadwa was formed in response to the size of the investment banking community in Saudi Arabia. CEO al-Khateeb explains the bank’s plans

  • Lower oil price eases Jordan's inflation

    7 November 2008, 11:06 GMT

    As the international financial crisis continues, Jordan’s economy is feeling the benefit, as the squeeze on global oil prices brings the country relief from inflation caused by fuel imports.

  • Dubai builds energy futures hub

    31 October 2008, 15:06 GMT

    The acquisition of a stake in the Dubai Mercantile Exchange by JP Morgan is a sign of the bank’s confidence in the venture, but attracting liquidity remains a concern.

  • Baghdad gets tough with oil majors

    30 October 2008, 21:18 GMT

    International oil companies are lining up for Iraq’s first licensing round since the US invasion in 2003, but Baghdad is setting strict criteria for bidders as it seeks the most favourable terms.

  • Questions and Answers: Malcolm Wall Morris, CEO, Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange

    30 October 2008, 11:56 GMT

    Malcolm Wall Morris, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX), talks to MEED about the reasons for setting up the exchange, its performance and future challenges amid the turbulent global conditions.

  • Jarir Marketing Company: MEED Assessment

    23 October 2008, 13:55 GMT

    Jarir is one of the most transparent of Tadawul-listed companies, with impressive governance structures

  • Q&A: Muhammad al-Agil, Executive Chairman, Jarir Marketing Company

    23 October 2008, 13:48 GMT

    Al-Agil explains why the company went public, the reasons for expanding beyond Saudi Arabia and its main challenges

  • Jarir Marketing Company

    23 October 2008, 13:45 GMT

    The Saudi group is well placed after listing but its office supplies business will be vulnerable to a downturn.

  • Saudi conglomerates opt for specialisation

    16 October 2008, 20:51 GMT

    The traditional Saudi business is moving away from the philosophy of trading in ‘anything and everything’ towards greater specialisation as the kingdom’s economy becomes more competitive.

  • Inside Saudi's business elite

    16 October 2008, 20:43 GMT

    MEED profiles 15 of Saudi Arabia’s leading merchant families and examines how their business activities are evolving in today’s more competitive and open economy.

  • Saudi family firms grapple with succession

    16 October 2008, 20:11 GMT

    As the kingdom’s stock markets mature and regulation increases, family-owned businesses face increasing scrutiny over issues such as governance and succession planning.

  • Damascus breaks state control of financial sector

    9 October 2008, 16:45 GMT

    Syria is about to get a stock exchange for the first time in four decades as the government moves towards a free market. But can it attract investors when its global peers are performing so poorly?

  • Syria financial services

    25 September 2008, 22:45 GMT

    The six key figures in the Syrian banking sector: Adib Mayaleh, Abdullah Dardari, Bassel Hamwi, Rateb, Shallah, Douraid Dergham and Aleppoburn Faisal Kudsi.

  • Alternative investments: New sharia-complaint products tap rising demand

    14 September 2008, 8:25 GMT

    Alternative asset classes are widening the Islamic investment pool, but most new funds are likely to continue focusing on equities, leaving investment in cutting-edge products to the specialists.

  • Light rail: A template for GCC public transport

    5 September 2008, 13:26 GMT

    Dubai’s pioneering development of a light rail network is set to be reproduced across the region as GCC states strive to reduce car use and integrate their transport systems.

  • Improving relations between Lebanon and Syria should herald a new era

    29 August 2008, 15:32 GMT

    Syria and Lebanon could now forge a working relationship based on mutual consent and international law.

  • Declining oil output hits Syrian budget

    29 August 2008, 14:41 GMT

    Having depended on its oil profits for more than 20 years, Damascus faces massive budget deficits unless it can secure alternative revenue streams as production falls.

  • Banks in Syria reap the rewards of reform

    29 August 2008, 14:35 GMT

    The Syrian financial sector is growing rapidly, with plans for a Damascus Stock Exchange nearing completion and foreign banks rushing to enter the once state-dominated market.

  • Damascus emerges from isolation

    29 August 2008, 14:13 GMT

    After being abandoned by its Arab allies and economically isolated by US sanctions, President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has made a remarkable comeback in recent months.

  • Special Report: Syria - Economic reform a priority

    29 August 2008, 14:08 GMT

    Compared with the dark days of 2005, when Syria’s international reputation stood in tatters in the wake of the assassination of Lebanon’s former prime minister, Rafiq Hariri, Damascus now cuts a more confident public profile.

  • Iraq's substantial infrastructure spending needs

    17 August 2008, 10:44 GMT

    Spending needs for Iraq’s infrastructure are substantial. Tahseen al-Sheikhli, civilian spokesman for Baghdad’s security plan, estimates that $30bn is required for the rehabilitation of Baghdad alone. The figure for the country as a whole runs into hundreds of billions of dollars.

  • Akashat: Promoting industry

    17 August 2008, 10:05 GMT

    The Industry & Mines Ministry is aiming to promote a handful of minerals projects on a production-sharing basis, developing phosphates and kaoline from the Akashat area in Anbar, along with sulphur from the Al-Mishraq mines north of Mosul - claimed to posses the world’s largest sulphur deposits.

  • Iraq: Taking politics out of oil

    15 August 2008, 13:05 GMT

    Overcoming internal divisions will be key to creating a workable strategy for the long-term development of Iraq’s hydrocarbons sector.

  • Time to change Iraq's spending priorities

    15 August 2008, 13:01 GMT

    With US efforts to reconstruct Iraq coming to an end, Baghdad is under increasing pressure to boost its investment in infrastructure given its poor track record since the 2003 invasion.

  • Iraq: Regional powerhouse wakes up

    15 August 2008, 12:53 GMT

    Investing in Iraqi industry is becoming increasingly attractive to blue-chip international firms as Baghdad addresses security concerns, overhauls legislation and opens up the economy.

  • The growing power of Baghdad

    15 August 2008, 12:44 GMT

    Once seen as ineffective, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is building a reputation for strong leadership as the security situation improves and confidence returns to the economy.

  • Q&A: Peter Barker-Homek, CEO, Taqa

    15 August 2008, 12:22 GMT

    Despite a healthy credit rating, growth may be dampened by the struggle to raise well priced capital

  • Taqa

    15 August 2008, 12:22 GMT

    Abu Dhabi National Energy Company is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy across the sector

  • Taqa: MEED Assessment

    15 August 2008, 12:22 GMT

    High-spending strategy could leave Taqa with expensive assets that may not deliver effectively

  • Learning the value of VAT

    8 August 2008, 14:30 GMT

    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.

  • Iraq energy - Six key people

    31 July 2008, 15:22 GMT

    The six key figures in the Iraqi energy sector: Hussein al-Shahristani, Ashti Hawrami, Natiq al-Bayati, Abdullah Qassim al-Emir, Manaa Abdullah al-Obaydi and Jabbar al-Luaibi.

  • Opening up new finance frontiers in the region

    31 July 2008, 12:11 GMT

    Investment is pouring into the ‘frontier markets’ of the Middle East and North Africa as the rich rewards on offer and lack of correlation to the US attracts international interest.

  • Saudi projects slow as dollars dry up

    11 July 2008, 6:59 GMT

    Saudi developers are cutting back project portfolios as the lack of dollar availability pushes up the cost of funding.

  • Politics stalls EU-GCC free trade talks

    4 July 2008, 14:51 GMT

    An EU bid to introduce human rights clauses to a free trade agreement could drive Gulf states to seek alliances elsewhere.

  • NOC Survey 2008: Syrian Petroleum Company

    4 July 2008, 14:30 GMT

    Syrian Petroleum Company has a difficult task in managing the state’s falling production.

  • NOC Survey 2008: Iraq

    4 July 2008, 13:11 GMT

    Restoring control of Iraqi oil to one national oil company could help revive the sector.

  • Jordan: Stability drives revenue growth

    20 June 2008, 13:36 GMT

    Jordan's reputation as a safe haven in a turbulent region is benefiting the banking sector as a booming real estate market and growing demand for loans fuels a steady rise in profits.

  • Lebanon: Business as usual for Beirut

    20 June 2008, 12:32 GMT

    Lebanese banks are performing well despite the recent political unrest, with profits, customer deposits and assets all growing strongly in 2007.

  • Governance: Abu Dhabi authorities streamlining the state

    6 June 2008, 13:29 GMT

    The Abu Dhabi authorities are implementing ambitious plans to overhaul the public sector and open up the economy, using private companies to drive economic growth.

  • Palestine's new mood of optimism

    30 May 2008, 14:53 GMT

    Pledges of $1.4bn in investment are restoring confidence in Palestine, but Israeli goodwill remains key.

  • Creating a knowledge economy in Qatar

    30 May 2008, 13:40 GMT

    Doha’s aim of reducing its economic reliance on hydrocarbons to zero by 2020 will prove a difficult challenge despite its early success in developing alternative revenues.

  • EGYPT TENDER: Residential building construction (3,504)

    20 May 2008, 13:21 GMT

    Construction of 73 residential buildings comprising 3,504 housing units. Closing dates: 1-3 June 2008

  • Hezbollah alters balance of power

    16 May 2008, 12:18 GMT

    The Lebanese opposition group’s success in taking control of West Beirut and repelling attempts to shut down its telecommunications system reveal the weakness of the government’s position.

  • Pressure builds for reform of KSE

    9 May 2008, 14:05 GMT

    Despite strong performance, Kuwait needs to set up an independent body to settle disputes and regulate its stock market if it is to compete with its regional rivals.

  • Market strength bolsters Manama

    9 May 2008, 13:47 GMT

    Robust returns, strong growth in initial public offerings and high levels of trading activity despite the global downturn are helping Bahrain maintain its position as the Gulf's financial centre.

  • Gulf bourses make fair exchange with Western stock markets

    9 May 2008, 13:06 GMT

    Fledgling Gulf bourses and established Western stock markets are finding that forming alliances bring increasingly attractive benefits.

  • Gas shortage in Oman threatens growth

    2 May 2008, 14:12 GMT

    Muscat will struggle to increase the contribution of non-oil industries to its economy unless fresh gas supplies can be found.

  • Yanbu Cement Company

    25 April 2008, 15:20 GMT

    The leading Saudi cement firm is taking a cautious approach to adding new capacity

  • Beirut prospers in a vacuum

    25 April 2008, 15:00 GMT

    Despite being without a head of state for nearly six months, Lebanon is in an unusually favourable economic position.

  • Q&A: Saud Islam, CEO, Yanbu Cement Company

    25 April 2008, 7:51 GMT

    The leading Saudi cement firm is taking a cautious approach to adding new capacity

  • Yanbu Cement Company: MEED Assessment

    25 April 2008, 7:00 GMT

    Yanbu Cement Company is witnessing robust profitability

  • Jizan Economic City: Building industry from scratch

    4 April 2008, 12:15 GMT

    Creating an economic city in the southwest region, where there is no history of industrial activity, will provide the biggest challenge in Riyadh’s ambitious development plans.

  • King Abdullah Economic City: Time to deliver on promises

    4 April 2008, 11:43 GMT

    The first of the economic cities has been promoted as offering the potential to transform the Saudi economy. It now needs to prove it can attract the investment to do so.

  • Reform boosts Egypt's economic strength

    20 March 2008, 12:49 GMT

    High oil prices and bold economic reforms have insulated the Egyptian economy from global volatility, but further change is needed.

  • Economy: Working for the common good

    14 March 2008, 11:59 GMT

    While UAE members are successfully following separate paths to economic growth, problems such as inflation could be better solved using a co-ordinated strategy.

  • Saudi Arabian pharmaceuticals: Six key figures

    7 March 2008, 16:13 GMT

    The six most prominent people in the Saudi Arabian pharmaceuticals sector: Hamad bin Ahmed al-Manie, Saleh Bawazir, Saleh al-Omair, Ayman Tamer, Ghaith Sukhtian, Walid Amin al-Kayyali

  • Amman takes action to tackle crisis

    7 March 2008, 14:32 GMT

    Jordan has launched a royal committee to address its chronic water supply problems, but finding a solution that will fall in line with its overall economic development could prove problematic.

  • The 100 biggest companies in the Middle East in 2008

    7 March 2008, 13:04 GMT

    Financial services firms make up 40 per cent of MEED’s list of the 100 largest listed companies, with real estate and telecoms businesses joint second.

  • Saudi pharmaceuticals: Taking on the big brands

    22 February 2008, 13:05 GMT

    The Saudi pharmaceuticals market offers international firms selling branded products huge profits each year. Now the kingdom’s producers want their share.

  • Saudi automotive sector: Drive for diversification

    22 February 2008, 12:52 GMT

    Riyadh’s plans to develop its fledgling automotive industry have received a boost with the opening of a testing facility for sports car maker Lotus.

  • Saudi cement industry: Built on solid foundations

    22 February 2008, 12:26 GMT

    With the Saudi construction sector booming, local cement producers are undergoing a massive capacity expansion. But if domestic consumption slows, is there a danger of oversupply?

  • Xenel Industries: MEED Assessment

    1 February 2008, 14:47 GMT

    Xenel’s base of activities poses a risk that the company is spreading itself too thin, although its corporate structure helps mitigate against this risk

  • Xenel Industries

    1 February 2008, 14:46 GMT

    The Saudi conglomerate is using its wide-ranging business interests to expand into other countries.

  • Sabic: Corporate Strategy

    25 January 2008, 16:40 GMT

    Under CEO Mohamed al-Mady, Sabic has evolved a strategy that is geared to aligning its commercial interests with those of the host region

  • Sabic: MEED Assessment

    25 January 2008, 16:36 GMT

    Saudi Basic Industries Corporation has emerged as one of the world’s top 10 petrochemicals producers

  • Sabic

    25 January 2008, 16:34 GMT

    Saudi Basic Industries Corporation is increasingly moving downstream as it aims for global dominance.

  • Saudi Aramco: A timeline

    13 January 2008, 8:40 GMT

    MEED details Saudi Aramco's history, all the way back to its origins as Casoc in 1933, through the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia and up to its position in the present day.

  • Saudi Aramco: A supply chain boost for local industry

    11 January 2008, 13:45 GMT

    Saudi firms will supply an increasing proportion of the materials Aramco uses on its projects as it bids to beat the supply crunch and support local business.

  • Saudi Aramco: The birth of an oil giant

    11 January 2008, 12:30 GMT

    Three-quarters of a century ago, an unlikely huddle of Americans, Saudis and one Briton met in Jeddah to strike a deal that would become one of the most important developments of the 20th century.

  • A year of opportunity: Gaza/ West Bank

    4 January 2008, 17:22 GMT

    Washington is pushing a tight timetable for a comprehensive peace settlement to the Middle East, following the Annapolis conference in late 2007. But ambitions to reach a ‘final status’ deal within a year will be frustrated. None of the key actors involved enjoy sufficient authority to push through such an agreement.

  • A year of opportunity: Lebanon/ Syria

    4 January 2008, 17:06 GMT

    Lebanon’s fractious political chieftains may be close to electing the next president - former army chief Michel Suleiman is the clear front runner when parliament votes on 12 January. However, they could be frustrated in early efforts to form a unity government.

  • The Savola Group

    21 December 2007, 11:06 GMT

    Saudi Arabia’s second-largest industrial conglomerate, after Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), is one of the kingdom’s widest held stocks, and is steadily building up its regional presence with acquisitions from Morocco to Kazakhstan. It is also extending its footprint into new sectors, such as petrochemicals and telecommunications

  • Interview: Muhammad Ikhwan - The Savola Group’s senior vice-president for mergers and acquisitions

    21 December 2007, 10:29 GMT

    Muhammad Ikhwan joined the group in 1995 as a general manager for special projects

  • The Savola Group: MEED Assessment

    21 December 2007, 10:22 GMT

    Higher international commodity prices are set to eat into earnings

  • Saudi's economic cities: models for the future

    30 November 2007, 17:36 GMT

    Riyadh’s plans to build six economic cities demonstrate a shift in the kingdom’s economic priorities. But can they live up to expectations?

  • Saudi banking: Cause for consolidation

    30 November 2007, 17:16 GMT

    Growing competition for a share of the burgeoning Saudi investment banking sector is set to spark a series of mergers

  • Saudi Arabia's old money and fresh challenges

    30 November 2007, 16:47 GMT

    Traditional family-run businesses are reviewing company structures and practices as they seek to tap into the kingdom’s investment programme and benefit from the regional economic boom

  • Saudi government: Defying the stereotypes

    30 November 2007, 16:29 GMT

    King Abdullah is conducting a wide-ranging reform of state institutions despite resistance from a conservative population.

  • Investment: Building on the Saudi boom

    30 November 2007, 16:14 GMT

    The flood of liquidity into the Saudi economy is fuelling a massive investment drive from both the government and the private sector.

  • Interview with Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, Secretary general, GCC

    30 November 2007, 15:35 GMT

    At some point in 2008, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) will have to confront one of the toughest decisions of its 26-year history: whether or not to push ahead with its flagship project to introduce a single currency in the Gulf by 2010.

  • Beirut struggles to find a leader

    30 November 2007, 15:23 GMT

    Lebanon is without a president after Emile Lahoud’s extended nine-year term in office came to an end on 24 November. The country has been here before. From 1988 to 1990, at the tail-end of the 15-year civil war, Lebanon suffered the indignity of parallel administrations, neither of which enjoyed authority or legitimacy.The danger now is that Beirut is set for a repeat of that period, wrecking the gains made during 17 years of relative peace.

  • Increasing cross-border ties

    16 November 2007, 18:51 GMT

    The success of recent joint initiatives in the energy sector and improving diplomatic relations between the states are acting as much-needed catalysts for cross-border projects.

  • Single market outweighs currency union

    16 November 2007, 16:54 GMT

    Despite speculation over the future of a GCC single currency, member states refuse to abandon their dream of mimicking the success of the euro. However, creating a single market could be more beneficial.

  • More than the sum of its parts

    16 November 2007, 16:47 GMT

    The GCC plan to resolve the deadlock over Iran’s nuclear programme demonstrates the political influence the bloc could have if member states cast aside national interests and act as a single entity

  • Introduction: Presidential elections

    19 October 2007, 12:30 GMT

    If all goes to plan, Lebanon's MPs - shut out of their parliamentary building for more than a year by opposition protests - will convene on 23 October to vote on a successor to President Emile Lahoud. The vote, if it goes ahead, will be loaded with significance.

  • Levant: Forging gas supply links

    12 October 2007, 13:30 GMT

    The countries of the Levant are seeking alternatives to Egypt as a source of gas as their demand for energy increases.

  • Saudi Arabia roads: Resources at full stretch

    13 July 2007, 10:48 GMT

    The kingdom's road infrastructure is expanding rapidly, but will it grow quickly enough to keep up with burgeoning demand?

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