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MEED
Oct 2009 Online Content

View all stories from this issue.

  • 3Com wins UAE contract

    3Com has said it has signed a contract with energy provider Schneider Electric in the UAE for the supply of a complete core-to-edge network which aims to help the company make energy safer and more reliable. The network infrastructure at Schneider Electric's regional headquarters in Dubai's Silicon Oasis consists of 3Com switches with a full wireless solution and centralized network management.

  • Abdul Redha Abu Al Hassan, Director of Planning and Development, RTA

    Metro financing, postponement of the purple line and progress of the Al Safouh Tramway, all in Dubai are featured in this update from Abdul Redha Abu Al Hassan, Director of Planning and Development, Rail Agency, RTA, Dubai.

  • Abu Dhabi builds 6640 temporary car parks

    Abu Dhabi said it has completed construction of some 6640 temporary car parks in preparation for the Formula 1 Championship which will be staged in Yas Marina Circuit in the capital. The move aims to provide easily accessible parking areas for the residents and visitors of the city, ease the traffic flow in the events area, and avoid creating negative traffic impacts in other parts of the city.

  • Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank completes $1bn bond

    Success of bank’s bond paves the way for future issues

  • Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank profits fall 90 per cent

    Institution makes large provisions against bad loans

  • Abu Dhabi completes purchase of Dutch oil operator

    Deal part of Taqa’s expansion strategy in North Sea

  • Abu Dhabi delays tram tender

    Department of Transport has more time to award metro consultancy role

  • Abu Dhabi metro phase 1 to be ready in 2015

    A senior official of the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport said the emirate plans to have the first segment of its metro rail line operational by October 2015. Speaking at a Meed conference, Dr Abdul Gader Al Shabani, Senior Transportation Planning Specialist, told delegates the feasibility study to build a metro in Abu Dhabi would begin in November and last 21 months.

  • Abu Dhabi opens bridge to Saadiyat, Yas islands

    A new bridge and expressway linking Abu Dhabi with Saadiyat and Yas Island were officially opened today. The roadworks will link Port Zayed with the Shahama District (on the Abu Dhabi - Dubai highway) passing through Saadiyat and Yas Islands. Saadiyat bridge will link Abu Dhabi with Saadiyat Island - the 27 square kilometre island lying 500 metres offshore the UAE capital. A major portion of the expressway to Shahama passes through Yas Island.

  • Abu Dhabi plans $10bn of contract awards before end of 2009

    Contract awards due on refinery expansion and oil production boost

  • Abu Dhabi prepares to take on the global steel titans

    The international steel market is in the doldrums, but Abu Dhabi is bucking the trend with a massive investment plan for this sector

  • Abu Dhabi prepares tourism centres

    Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has said is will open six new visitor information centres and activate four additional touch-screen visitor kiosks throughout the city within the coming month in time for November's 2009 Etihad Airways Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The first centre to come on line is in the Arrivals Hall of Abu Dhabi International Airport on October 4, while four centres at the Yas Marina Circuit, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Al Wahda Mall, will be open from October 2

  • Abu Dhabi pushes ahead with offshore oil developments

    Engineering firms asked to state interest in design deals as part of scheme to boost offshore oil production

  • Abu Dhabi seeks contractors for Al-Ain fort project

    Authority plans to build research centre near Qasr al-Muwaiji

  • Abu Dhabi stalls Ruwais expansion plans

    Gasco re-evaluates feasibility of $300m sulphur terminal project

  • Abu Dhabi to finalise funding for Shuweihat 2 project

    Adwea to secure $3.2bn for independent power and water project on 15 October

  • Abu Dhabi to upgrade gas pipeline network

    Gasco delays deadline for final bidding round

  • Abu Dhabi tourism firm starts sukuk roadshow

    Tourism & Development Investment Company plans to raise up to $1bn

  • Abu Dhabi Tourism launches stakeholder programme

    The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has launched its 'Partners in Progess' stakeholder programme which aims to coordinate industry-wide destination development and tourism promotion efforts, Khaleej Times has reported. Under the programme, the authority has established five industry development committees representing the tour operators, retail and attractions, accommodation, transport and business tourism sectors. The committees will meet regularly with the authority to identify challenge

  • Abu Dhabi, Chicago ink airport MoU

    Abu Dhabi International Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chicago O'Hare International Airport to become 'sister airports' and share technical, commercial and environmental best practices. Under the agreement, the airports will set up joint working groups to evaluate ways in which they can work together on a wide range of areas, with a focus on a personnel exchange programme to provide training and skills development opportunities for Abu Dhabi Airport staff.

  • Abu Dhabi's ICT arm inks deal with Microsoft

    The Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre, the ICT arm of the Abu Dhabi government, has signed a master business and services agreement agreement with Microsoft Gulf to enable the emirate's local government affiliates to purchase Microsoft licenses and engage Microsoft Consultancy Services. The agreement will allow local government entities to benefit from Microsoft government pricing for their license requirements.

  • Adnoc plans to make contractors' lives easier

    Abu Dhabi energy giant is planning key policy changes

  • Adnoc to roll out artificial island drilling plans

    State energy giant seeks to slash offshore field development costs

  • Agency challenges Dubai’s willingness to support state firms

    Economic crisis weakens Emirate’s financial position

  • Agility inks Formula One deal

    Yas Marina Circuit and Formula One Management UK have appointed Agility to handle all Formula 1 shipments during the inaugural 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Under the contrac, Agility Fairs & Events will be the exclusive customs clearing and on-site handling agent and will arrange amn around-the-clock customs-bonded area at the Circuit.

  • Air Arabia to launch Egypt hub in Q1, 2010

    Adel Ali, CEO of low-cost carrier Air Arabia, said the airline's Egypt hub should start operations in the first quarter of 2010. The carrier had announced last month that it was launching a new budget airline in a joint venture with Egypt's Travco Group and establishing a third hub in Alexandria.

  • Air Arabia to launch Samara flights

    Sharjah-based low-cost carrier, Air Arabia will launch regular flights to the Russian city of Samara in October 26, 2009, according to a statement by the city airport. The twice-weekly service will take off from Sharjah on Mondays and Fridays and the route will be served by Airbus A320-214 aircraft in economy-class configuration.

  • Ajman launches bus inspector campaign

    An a joint effort by police and the Emirates Transport Corp, 72 men and women employed as supervisors began riding school buses this week to improve safety for pupils, The National has reported. The campaign covers more than 100 school buses that carry 11,000 private and state school pupils. The agencies plan to have a supervisor in every school bus by next year, Abdul Aziz al Suwaidi, head of the safety section at Emirates Transport said.

  • Ajman Sewerage signs banking deal

    Plan to helps customers pay wastewater tariffs

  • Al Ain Rotana given 5 star rating

    Al Ain Rotana has received the official classification of a 5-star hotel from the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). 'Being the only 5-star hotel in town, we are aiming to introduce as many new concepts and facilities as possible in order to give the truly Rotana hospitality to all our guests and clients,' the hotel's General Manager, Ayman Gharib said.

  • Al Ghurair to look at Alcan, Amcor assets

    Al Ghurair's Arabian Flexible Packaging, a subsidiary of Dubai-based Al Ghurair Group has said that it will look at any assets that may be sold off by either Rio Tinto Group's Alcan unit or Australia's Amcor Ltd., Bloomberg has reported. Alcan may be forced to sell by European regulators, the company's general manager, John Hetherton said.

  • Ala Ghanem, Regional Business Director, Invensys Rail

    Safety is paramount for any transport system and with the high speeds attained by rolling stock on modern rail systems the requirement is for ‘state of the art’ signalling.

  • Alcatel-Lucent inks STC network deal

    Alcatel-Lucent has inked a contract with Saudi Telecom Co for the upgrade of its network, providing STC its packet optical transport solution for DSLAM traffic aggregation and Ethernet business services, along with its DSL and GPON /MSAN technology, Saudi Gazette has reported. The company will also offer expertise in the areas of project management, network analysis, software integration, integration services and technical support services to deliver a true turnkey services solution.

  • Aldar to open seven hotels in Abu Dhabi

    Paul Bell, Managing Director of Aldar Hotels and Hospitality, has unveiled plans to open seven hotels on Yas Island in time for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1, Emirates Business has reported. Six of the hotels are in a plaza and are about 200 metres from the track. The track runs underneath Yas Hotel, which is managed by Aldar. There will be one five star, four four-star and two two-star properties, Bell said.

  • Algeria issues tender for power plants

    Sonelgaz subsidiary plans construction of gas turbines at Batna and F’Kirina

  • Algeria: Control equipment vehicles

    Supply of vehicles for non-destructive control equipment. Closing date: not stated

  • Algeria: Fork-lift truck

    Supply of a five-tonne fork-lift truck. Closing date: not stated

  • Algeria: Mining drill nicking

    Provision of of mining drill nicking. Closing date: 28 October 2009

  • Algeria: Mining exploitation

    Exploitation and/or exploration of minerals. Closing date: 28 October 2009

  • Algeria: Monetary development consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services comprising technical assistance for monetary development. Closing date: 15 October 2009

  • Algeria: Monetary development consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for a monetary development project. Closing date: 3 November 2009

  • Algeria: Mosque construction

    Construction of a large mosque in Mohammedia including a cultural centre and a school. Closing date: not stated

  • Algeria: Power plants

    Construction of two gas turbine power plants. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Al-Khafji extends bid deadline for Divided Zone deals

    Firm plans to expand oil and water facilities

  • Almarai completes Hadco takeover

    Almarai Co. has said it had completed the $253.2m cash and stock takeover bid of Hail Agricultural Development Co (Hadco), allowing the firm entry into the lucrative poultry business, Reuters has reported. Hadco shareholders would be paid by October 29 at the latest, the company said.

  • Almarai Q3 profit up 24%

    The Gulf's largest dairy company by market value, Almarai Co. has posted a 23.7% rise in third-quarter net profit but said its sales had slowed down as swine flu kept pilgrims away from the kingdom, Reuters has reported. Net profit was SR363.4m ($96.9m) compared with SR293.7m in the same period last year. Operating profit rose 26% to SR413.9m. Sales growth during the third quarter stood at 11.4%, down from 16% during the second quarter, the company said.

  • Aloft Hotel set to open in Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide have announced the Aloft Hotel in Abu Dhabi will be opened on October 25 during the inaugural Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. The 408-room Aloft Hotel, which is connected to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, is 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

  • Alps Hotel to open in UAE

    Geneva-based Swiss Hospitality Holding has opened the Alps Hotel, its first hotel in the Middle East, in the UAE emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. The hotel is franchised to UniEstate, a real estate subsidiary of Union Group of Companies. Swiss Hospitality Holding plans to open 20 hotels in the GCC at a total cost of $100m.

  • Alstom to supply turbines to Samra 3 gas project

    Hanwha to increase power plant capacity to 900MW

  • Al-Suwaidi fronrunner for Aramco gas deal

    Contractor to upgrade acid piping system at Shedgum processing plant

  • Alumco wins Meena Plaza deal

    UAE-based Alumco Group has said that it has won a contract to supply aluminium facades to the Meena Plaza Project in Abu Dhabi. The contract involves the installation of a total of 36,000 square metres of curtain walls and glazing, among which 25,000 square metres of unitized panels and includes about 60,000 square metres of aluminium composite panels.

  • Ambitious plans to reform global finance

    IMF goals to regulate the behaviour of banks to prevent a repetition of the credit crunch and set up a global lender of last resort are the biggest financial reforms in decades

  • Apple posts surging profits on iPhone and Mac sales

    Apple has bucked the trend for declining year on year profits, posting a fourth quarter rise of 47%. The company made a net profit of $1.67bn, up from $1.14bn a year earlier, and saw sales rise by 25% to $9.87bn. While a number of technology companies have recently reported improved results, these are generally quarter on quarter comparisons, rather than year on year. The recession busting results were put down to a 500,000 unit jump in iPhone sales to 7.4 million during the final quarter, an

  • Aquatech wins desalination project in Egypt

    Aquatech, a water purification technology company has won the contract to design and supply a Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) seawater desalination system for the Abu Qir thermal power plant, commissioned by West Delta Electricity Production Company in Egypt. Aquatech will provide the design, equipment supply, testing, and commissioning of two MED units complete with accessories to produce distilled water. The plant will be located near Alexandria, will use seawater from the Mediterranean

  • Arab Banking Corporation reports $26m profits

    Institution hit by provisions of $1bn in 2008

  • Arab Fund provides loan to Ghannouch power project

    Latest loan brings fund’s commitments to TD180m

  • Arabic-enabled password recover tool launched

    UK-based Secure 1st has launched the first password recovery tool in the market which supports the Arabic language Graphical User Interface (GUI). The new Windows-compatible tool, called Secure1st Password Recovery, retrieves saved user credentials such as user names and passwords, login URLs and remote accesses from applications, the company said.

  • Aramco and Total appoint HSBC to arrange Jubail bond

    Banks commit $8.3bn loans to joint venture

  • Aramco sets first Karan gas field production target

    Gas due online by mid 2011

  • Aramco starts talks with lenders on Jubail refinery

    Terms on the bank loans for the $9.6bn project start

  • Aramex breaks ground on new facility

    Dubai-based logistics provider, Aramex has broken ground on its new Dhs120m Logistics Centre, located in Dubai Logistics City (DLC). The new facility, due for completion in the first quarter of 2011, has capacity for more than 40,000 pallet locations and a specialized terminal dedicated to express air cargo, sea cargo and land freight shipments.

  • Aramex Q3 profit climbs 23%

    Dubai-based logistics provider Aramex has reported a 23% increase in its net profit for the three months ending September 30, 2009. Net profit for the period stood at Dhs41.7m, compared to Dhs33.9m in the corresponding period of 2008. Revenues for the third quarter of 2009 had declined by 11% to Dhs487.6m, compared to Dhs545.7m in the same period last year. The decline was attributed to 'a marked reduction in global freight forwarding activity, resulting in a decline of 20% in freight revenue

  • A'Saffa to expand operations

    Oman-based A'Saffa Poultry Farms has said it plans to expand its operations in the south of the country to meet growing demand at home and overseas and to increase its market share to over 35% within two years. The firm is the Sultanate's biggest producer of chicken with current annual production of 17,000 tons of product produced for supermarket shelves in Oman, the GCC and other countries.

  • Asec to run gold mine in Algeria

    Egypt-based Asec Mining has said it will plan and manage operations of an Algerian gold mine held by GMA Resources, following a deal to buy 10% of the company, Reuters has reported. The acquisition aims to leverage Asec's relative liquidity and continue its expansion into North Africa, Asec said. Asec has broad operations in geology, mining and manufacturing across the Mena region and manages gold mining and exploration projects in Sudan, Ethiopia and Libya.

  • Atheeb awards services deal to NetSol

    Atheeb Intergraph Saudi Company (AISC) of Saudi Arabia has awarded an IT services contract to NetSol Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of US-based NetSol Technologies, the Saudi Gazette has reported. According to the terms of the agreement, NetSol will build a Telecom Operations Management System for AISC, which will then be deployed to its existing customers in the telecommunications domain. The project was facilitated by Atheeb NetSol, a recently announced joint venture between Atheeb Trading Comp

  • Ausra wins Jordanian solar power contract

    US company to supply steam boiler for Maan project

  • Autodesk seizes Dhs1m of pirated software in Abu Dhabi

    Autodesk Inc, which makes 2D and 3D design software, said its joint effort with the UAE's Ministry of Economy has led to seizing pirated copies of its 'AutoCAD 2007' software with a total value of Dhs1m ($272,000) from an engineering consultancy firm in Abu Dhabi. The consultancy firm has been contacted several times prior to the raid, but a lack of response has prompted taking a more drastic action, the company said in a statement.

  • Averda buys Al Ghadeer Waste Collections

    Environmental services company Averda has bought Sharjah-based waste management company Al Ghadeer Waste Collections Company (GWC), the company has said. Averda is also planning expansions in Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco and Algeria. GWC provides municipal solid waste collection and transportation for the Sharjah Industrial Areas, free zones, airports, aeaports and other public and private organizations.

  • Averda buys Al-Ghadeer Waste Collections in Emirates

    Lebanese company plans to expand in the region

  • Averda buys majority stake in Oman's TWM

    Averda, a regional environmental services firm, has said it has acquired a 70% stake in Oman-based Technique Waste Management. TWM provides cleaning and waste collection services to the Sultanate's commercial, industrial, residential and public sectors.

  • Bahrain airport plans two new terminals

    Bahrain International Airport plans to open two new terminals in the next four years as part of a $4.7bn expansion of the facility, Gulf Daily News has reported. The expansion, planned over the next 30 years, will triple the passenger capacity at the airport to 27 million a year. Terminal Two will be commissioned by 2012 and Terminal 1A will become operational a year later, Bahrain Airport Company chief executive officer Dr Osama Alali told the paper.

  • Bahrain Petroleum Company appoints chief

    National Oil and Gas Authority implements succession plan after head of firm retires

  • Bahrain to discuss Muharraq bid deadline extension

    Tenders Board to hold talks over wastewater plant

  • Bahrain to drill new wells in gas boost

    State-run firm aims to boost gas production by over a third

  • Bahrain: Building renovation

    Renovation of administration buildings. Closing date: 2 December 2009

  • Bahrain: Excitation and SFC cards

    Supply of excitation and system file check (SFC) cards. Closing date: 25 November 2009

  • Bahrain: Medical equipment

    Supply of medical equipment. Closing date: 9 December 2009

  • Bahrain: Mortuary renovation and expansion

    Renovation and expansion of a mortuary. Closing date: 23 December 2009

  • Bahrain: Power plant control room works

    Removal of measurement panels for a control room at a power plant. Closing date: 18 November 2009

  • Bahrain: Power station chimney lights

    Supply of chimney lights for a power station. Closing date: 25 November 2009

  • Bahrain: Power station manpower (Riffa)

    Provision of overseas contracted manpower for one year at power stations. Closing date: 18 November 2009

  • Bahrain: Power station manpower (Riffa/Sitra)

    Provision of overseas contracted specialist manpower for three years at power stations. Closing date: 18 November 2009

  • Bahrain: Steam turbine

    Supply, installation, commissioning and testing of a steam turbine. Closing date: 4 November 2009

  • Bahraini port expansion is years away

    Organisation plans to double capacity at Khalifa Bin Salman Port

  • Bank forecasts economic recovery in Emirates

    Standard Chartered predicts 4 per cent growth in 2010

  • Banque Saudi Fransi profit down 1.9 per cent

    Brokerage activities slow at one of Saudi Arabia’s largest lenders

  • Bassam Mansour, Expert - Trains & Railway Systems, National Transport Authority

    The UAE has one of the world’s current biggest rail projects in the planning stages. With tender due to be issued early next year, Bassam Mansour outlines the importance of independent regulation.

  • Bidders request more time on Rabigh 6 scheme

    Contractors expect mid-January deadline for bids

  • Bids delayed on Abu Dhabi road project

    Second deadline extension gives bidders until 6 December

  • Bids in for Kuwait road works

    Five companies submit bids for new intersection

  • Bids in for Kuwaiti Education Ministry headquarters

    Al-Kharafi bids low for construction contract

  • Bids in for Marib 2 and 3 power plants

    Bharat Heavy Electricals and Technopromexport submit bids for Yemeni projects

  • Bids in for Omani Transport Ministry headquarters

    Special Technical Services is low bidder for construction deal

  • BNP to fund Emirates plane deal

    Dubai-based Emirates Airline has hired BNP Paribas SA to arrange funding the purchase of two aircraft, Bloomberg has reported. The $289m deal, which is backed by the US Ex-Im Bank, involves the purchase of two 777-300 ER planes, the Paris-headquartered lender has said.

  • Boeing posts quarterly loss

    US plane maker Boeing has posted a net quarterly loss of $1.6bn, compared with a profit of $695m a year earlier, Reuters has reported. However, analysts were surprised that, despite the larger-than-expected loss, the firm has reaffirmed that its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner is on track to fly this year. 'The surprise was they reiterated the schedule,' said Alex Hamilton, senior managing director at Jesup & Lamont. 'I think there's a lot of scepticism growing on the street about their delivery

  • Boeing, Airbus moot engine upgrades

    Aircraft manufacturers, Airbus SAS and Boeing Co. have said that they are considering an upgrade to their most popular jets with different engines to cut fuel consumption and buy time to design all-new successors, Bloomberg has reported. Engine makers including General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney say they could make a turbofan engine available as soon as 2016 which would reduce fuel consumption and noise. Redesigning planes to accommodate the engine would cost less than $1bn, compared wi

  • Borouge set to tender petrochem expansion

    Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge) Ruwais petrochemicals complex is moving ahead of its expansion, and will tender construction contracts in October, worth more than $1bn, MEED has reported. Borouge is set to award the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the third-phase expansion of the complex. The expansion is expected to produce 4.5 million tonnes a year (t/y) of plastics at Ruwais.

  • BP waits for Rumaila deal confirmation

    UK energy giant BP says it is yet to receive confirmation that the Iraqi government has approved a contract to develop the giant Rumaila oil field in the south of the country.

  • Brown-McFarlane to open Jebel Ali hub

    UK-based Brown McFarlane, a distributor and processor of steel plates, has said that it is setting up a dedicated facility in Jebel Ali to supply ex-stock high-specification steels to emerging industries for high-end applications in the Gulf region. The new facility is due to open on March 31 next year, the firm said. Brown McFarlane, which has a large ex-stock range of carbon and stainless plates, serves a variety of markets, including process engineering, mining and the nuclear- and renewab

  • Busi Impianti to rebuild Algiers military hospital

    Contract covers demolition and renovation of civil buildings

  • Cairo to issue university hospitals tender

    Private firms to build two projects for Alexandria University

  • Call for foreign banks to resume loans to Saudi firms

    Institutions unwilling to provide credit after family businesses default on debt

  • Car Syndicate Haj plan approved

    Saudi Arabia's Haj Minister has approved the operation plan of the Car Syndicate's which transports foreign pilgrims around the kingdom upon arrival, Arab News has reported. The Syndicate will provide a total of 19,501 buses with 900,543 seats for pilgrim transportation in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah as well as airports, seaports and all the roads linking the three cities and various holy sites, the syndicate said.

  • Cegelec wins Qatar petrochemicals control centre deal

    French contractor values deal at $40m

  • Centamin Egypt aims to boost gold output

    Centamin Egypt, the gold mining firm which had moved into production at the end of June, expects to end the year with gold output at some 200,000 ounces a year, Reuters has reported. The company is targeting an increase to at least 500,000 ounces in 2012, Centamin's chief executive Josef El-Raghy said. The company also said it expects to move up to the London Stock Exchange's main market in the first week of November. It had previously announced it expected to move from the junior AIM market

  • CEVA opens warehouse in Dubai

    CEVA Logistics has launched a 12,000m2 warehouse in Dubai that will serve as the Middle East headquarters for the company. The facility, which has been named 'Pyramid', has 13 loading bays and will manage products for four key regional customers working in the electronics, fashion and industrial sectors. 'We are rapidly expanding our presence in Dubai,' Shamsudeen Ahmed, Regional Director, CEVA in the Middle East said in a statement. 'We anticipate that our Jafza facilities will grow by a fur

  • Cisco buys Tandberg to target collaboration market

    Cisco is buying video-conferencing competitor Tandberg for $2.98m, the companies have said. Networking giant Cisco, which has a sizeable video-conferencing operation - will take all of Norwegian company Tandberg's outstanding shares, paying 11% over Wednesday's closing price of Kr153.5 ($26.57). The deal, which is subject to US regulatory approval, is expected to be completed in the first half of 2010. Cisco said that it would use the acquisition to 'expand its collaboration portfolio to offe

  • Citadel subsidiary buys stake in gold mining company

    Ascom acquires 9 per cent stake in GMA Resources

  • Close ties between business and IT more by accident than design

    Middle East IT heads work far closer with their organisation's business units than their counterparts in the US and Europe - but often it is through a culture of mistrust rather than respect. Research earlier this year by analysts Forrester, and presented during Gitex, found that of the IT heads they spoke with in the region, all said they were closely aligned with internal business units. But to an extent, this is more by accident than design.

  • Commercial Bank of Qatar reports third quarter profit rise of 18 per cent

    Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) has reported an 18 per cent increase in profits in the third quarter of 2009 as a result of rising interest income.

  • Confusion over Kuwait's plans to boost oil output

    State energy firm refutes minister’s claims of production delays

  • Consultants submit prices for Bahraini campus deal

    UK team bids low for masterplan and design services

  • Contractors prepare bids for Qatargas maintenance work

    Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) has set a 25 October deadline for commercial construction bids for its $1.2bn plateau-maintenance project

  • Contractors prequalify for Louvre Abu Dhabi deal

    Tenders for Saadiyat Island museum to be issued by end of October

  • Contractors prequalify for Mafraq and Al-Ain hospital project

    Health authority plans multi-billion dirham expansions

  • Contractors submit bids for Jordan phosphate terminal

    Terminal will export 4 million tonnes a year of rock

  • Contractors to prequalify for Al-Ain safari park

    Construction project includes visitor centres and animal enclosures

  • Daelim frontrunner for South Pars gas deal

    Consortium set to win engineering, procurement and construction work

  • Damas to investigate alleged unauthorised transactions

    Chief of jewellery retailer resigns after stock market disclosure

  • Dana Gas finds reserves in Egypt

    Company increases oil production by 20 per cent in 2009

  • Dar al-Arkan plans $2bn Jeddah residential scheme

    Construction of Shams al-Arous project to start in 2010

  • Dell launches lightest Inspiron laptop into Middle East

    Dell is now selling its latest Inspiron laptop, the 11z, in the Middle East. Initially launched in August in other regions, the laptop is the lightest and thinnest Inspiron Dell has released, weighing just 1.4kg and measuring a little under 26mm in thickness. The laptop comes preloaded with Microsoft Windows 7, runs Intel's consumer ultra-low voltage (Culv) processor, which is designed for ultra thin laptops, has 2GB of memory, a 160GB hard disk and 11.6inch high definition LED display. Dell

  • Dell launches Windows 7 in 80 models

    Dell has announced that initially more than 80 models of its brands are available with the new operating system powered by Microsoft Windows 7. Depending on specific needs, customers can configure most Inspiron, Studio, Adamo and Alienware systems with Windows 7 Premium, Professional or Ultimate. A pre-installed Windows Live Essentials on all Windows 7 is alo available for consumer PCs.

  • Dell, Juniper ink networking deal

    Dell and Juniper Networks have agreed to offer networking solutions under Dell's PowerConnect brand that enable customers to deploy a common network management platform and network operating system to help reduce operating expenses. In addition, the companies plan to work together on open, standards-based solutions for virtualized data centers and deliver technology solutions using converged enhanced ethernet, also known as data centre bridging and iSCSI to improve network economics.

  • Developers complete Shuweihat 2 financing

    Suez and Marubeni secure $2.2bn for water and power project

  • Doha extends rail station tender

    Bidders given two more weeks to prepare

  • Doha issues tender for rail station construction contract

    The New Doha International Airport Steering Committee has invited contractors to bid by 20 October for a construction contract to build a railway station at the $11bn New Doha International Airport.

  • Doha plans undersea tunnel

    Qatar's Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning has announced a plan to link the New Doha International Airport road and the Ras Abu Aboud area to the West Bay with a 12-km undersea tunnel, Gulf Times has reported. 'We are almost finished with the design work of the project and now waiting to refer it a contractor,' Ali al-Abdullah, Director of Planning at the ministry added.

  • DP re-operates Aden Container Terminal

    Dubai Ports World (DP World) has said it has re-operated the Aden Container Terminal, after being hit in late September by torrential rains and gusting winds, WAM has reported. During that period, ACT had received only fifteen container ships, half of the usual monthly capacity.

  • DP World boosts crane facility at Jeddah port

    Global marine operator DP World has received 15 new cranes for its Jeddah facility, within the South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port. Each Super-Super Post Panamax (SSPP) crane has a capacity of 65 tonnes and an outreach of 55 metres, capable of servicing next-generation Mega container vessels.

  • DP World CFO to step down in December

    Dubai-owned DP World, the largest port operator in the Middle East, has announced that Yuvraj Narayan will resign his post as chief financial officer effective Dec 10. Narayan will join Dubai World as group chief financial officer, the company said in a statement to Nasdaq Dubai today.

  • DP World completes fundraising for Senegal port

    Port operator will seek a further $430m in 2010

  • DP World says container market stabilizing

    Dubai-based port operator DP World has said the container market was beginning to show signs of stability and the decline in the company's volumes had slowed in the third quarter, Bloomberg has reported. The government-controlled company's container volume had dropped 6% in the three months ending September 30. Nine-month container volume had declined 8%, the company said.

  • DP World starts talks to finance $2.5bn London Gateway project

    Ports operator seeking long term finance for London scheme

  • Drydocks World sets up in Abu Dhabi

    Drydocks World has announced the establishment of its representative office in Abu Dhabi, inaugurated on the sidelines of the Middle East Workboats Exhibition. The unit will be headed by Adel Al Rustamani - Manager, Public Relations of Drydocks World - Dubai.

  • Dubai airport to boost capacity to 90m passengers a year

    Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports, has said that Dubai International Airport has increased its projected capacity growth to 90 million passengers at the end of the next decade from its earlier target of 75 million, The National has reported. The capacity gains are expected to come from new systems and processes at the airport, rather than additional infrastructure, he said. The revision follows delays at the emirate's second airport, the $8.2bn (Dhs30.11bn) Al Maktoum Inte

  • Dubai Civil Aviation Authority mulls bond issue

    Dubai Civil Aviation Authority may issue bonds to refinance a $1bn sukuk maturing next month, Bloomberg has reported, citing two bankers familiar with the transaction. The authority has hired UBS, Dubai Islamic Bank, Standard Chartered and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ to manage the Islamic and conventional bond sale, according to the bankers.

  • Dubai completes $1.93bn sukuk

    Unrated Islamic bond issue fails to reach $2.5bn

  • Dubai holds talks over $10bn loan from central bank

    Second tranche of bond programme to be issued at the end of 2009

  • Dubai International Capital asks banks for $15m each

    Dubai Holding investment arm seeking to refinance $600m loan

  • Dubai Islamic Bank reports 31 per cent fall in profit

    Provisions for bad loans hit profit in third quarter

  • Dubai kickstarts bond plan

    Dubai is starting to deal with the challenge of repaying the debt it owes banks. It is going to ask them to lend the emirate more. One of the world’s oldest jokes is that the best way to avoid having to repay banks is to owe so much that they cannot afford to let you go bust.

  • Dubai plans private funding for rail projects

    Transport authority considers public-private partnership model

  • Dubai to issue $2.5bn Islamic bond

    Government to list sukuk on Dubai and London bourses

  • Dubai to study taxi scheme

    A 10-year plan, being put together by consultants Booz & Co, would see changes made to Dubai's taxi service throughout 2010, including an increase in the estimated 7,600 vehicles currently on the road, The National has reported. Mansoor Rhama al Falasi, acting director of the franchising and enforcement department at the Public Transport Agency has said that the study will cover the supply and demand for the sector until 2020 and will look at the regulations, rules, and operational plans for

  • Dubai World axes 10,500 jobs

    Company plans to save $800m over three years

  • Dubai-based firm drops talks on Continental tyre plant

    German auto parts maker Continental AG has said that negotiations with Dubai-based MAG Group on a possible takeover by MAG of a tyre making plant in France have been ended by 'mutual agreement,' AFP news agency has reported. Continental had given MAG until September 30 to reach agreement on a letter of intent regarding the factory, located in Clairoix, northern France. MAG 'would continue to examine the matter', MAG Vice President Fawaz Sabri said.

  • DuPont to introduce new insecticide

    DuPont, the science-based products and services firm, has announced its plans to introduce its fast-acting Coragen insecticide across the Middle East and Africa region. DuPont, in coordination with local distributor Al Jammaz, will hold launch seminars in Saudi Arabia in late October 2009 to mark the launch. Coragen will be used on alfalfa, potato, grape, tomato, pepper and other vegetable and field crops in Saudi Arabia in alternation with products such as Avaunt to enhance pest control and

  • Egypt approves new fertilizer production line

    Egypt's Industrial Development Authority has approved the construction of an EGP400m nitrogen fertilizer production line at the Egyptian Chemical Industries' (KIMA) Aswan facility, The Daily News Egypt has reported. The new line, which will be powered by natural gas, will produce 600,000 tons of urea and 600,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, both nitrogen-fixing fertilizers.

  • Egypt expects tourism to rise

    Egypt's tourism industry will make a full recovery from the global financial crisis by the third quarter of 2010, Tourism Minister Zoheir Garranah told Reuters. Revenue from tourism fell 6.4% in the first nine months of 2009, compared with a 17% decline in the first quarter, he said.

  • Egypt eyes cargo port expansions in Nile

    Egypt will announce the results of existing tenders to build two more ports in the Nile river by the end of this year, according to Transport Ministry officials, Reuters has cited. The two existing tenders were for ports in the northern Mediterranean city of Alexandria and in Qena in central Egypt. Four more cargo ports are eyed in 2010 for tender. The report has cited Transport Ministry official, Alaa El Ghadban as saying 'the four new tenders were for ports in northern and southern Egypt'.

  • Egypt releases core inflation index

    Inflation rises to 6.3 per cent in September

  • Egypt secures funding for power and water projects

    European Investment Bank grants $73m loan for Red Sea wind farm

  • Egypt: Port sector regulation consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for the development of the regulation of the port sector. Closing date: 5 November 2009

  • Egypt: Steel plates

    Supply of steel plates. Closing date: 12 December 2009

  • Egypt: Ultrasonic flow measurement equipment

    Supply, installation and commissioning of ultrasonic flow measurement equipment. New closing date: 4 November 2009

  • Egyptian firm eyes Belgian textile factories

    Egypt-based Oriental Weavers, the world's largest machine-woven carpet producer, has said it is considering buying three Belgian textile factories, Reuters has reported. The investment aims to utilize the factories' machinery and equipment, which Oriental Weavers would move to its Egyptian factories after signing the contracts.

  • Egyptian General Petroleum finalises $900m loan

    Oil firm’s deal is 30 per cent oversubscribed

  • Egypt's tourist arrivals beat expectations

    Tourist arrivals to Egypt will be higher than expected in 2009 and the numbers will improve in 2010 as Europe rebounds from the economic crisis, Tourism Minister Zoheir Garrana told Reuters in an interview. After months of decline, Egypt saw tourist arrivals advance by 10.7% in September compared to a year earlier, boosted by strong Russian and British arrivals, he noted. Overall, tourism numbers will fall 1-3% this year, but grow 3-5% next year, he predicted.

  • Emaar Hospitality appoints new COO

    Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality arm of Emaar Properties, has appointed Patrick Heuze as Chief Operating Officer. Reporting to Marc Dardenne, CEO, Heuze will assume a leadership and guidance role to ensure a key focus on quality standards, superior guest experience, high operational efficiencies and upholding the brand's core ethos across all properties, the company said in a statement.

  • EMC signs Computerlinks as Middle East distributor

    Network storage company EMC is signing up Computerlinks as a Value Added Distributor for the Middle East. EMC has said the agreement, which will be formally unveiled at Gitex in Dubai next week, 'will address customer demand' by giving them access to 'Computerlinks' deep market knowledge and expertise'. Computerlinks' current list of clients includes amongst others McAfee, Kaspersky, Microsoft and Blue Coat.

  • Emirates appoints BNP Paribas to arrange $289m loan

    Airline mandates bank to raise financing for two Boeing 777s

  • Emirates bank profits rise $287m

    Emirates NBD says outlook remains uncertain

  • Emirates launches service to Luanda, Angola

    Emirates Airline has launched new non-stop service to the capital of oil-rich Angola. The new service to Luanda will leave on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday using an Airbus A330-200. This new route marks the 18th destination in Africa for Emirates.

  • Emirates offers 3-month interest free payment

    Dubai-based Emirates Airline has announced the launch of its 'Emirates Advantage payment system' for customers who book their Emirates flight online. The new service allows customers in the UAE, with credit cards from selected banks including ADCB, Citibank, Emirates Bank, HSBC and NBD, to select the option to pay for their ticket at zero per cent interest, over three monthly instalments.

  • Emirates refutes report on pilot fatigue

    Emirates has rejected a newspaper article claiming that pilot fatigue is causing safety issues at the Dubai-based airline. Australia's Sunday Herald said Emirates pilots are suffering from 'micro-sleeps' while landing aircraft, and quoted a pilot as saying that safety is becoming increasingly impaired. Richard Vaughan, Emirates divisional senior vice president for commercial operations, strongly rejected the report, saying it was 'one-sided' and defended the airline's 'absolute commitment to

  • Emirates secures finance for 3 Boeing 777-300ER

    Emirates airline has secured financing for three new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The transaction amounting to $413.7m with a fixed rate coupon of 3.465% per annum are due 21 August 2021 and are payable in installments of principal and interest on a quarterly basis. The inaugural US bond offering was guaranteed by the Export Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).

  • Emirates Steel posts raised Q3 figures

    Emirates Steel Industries has said that its Q3 sales figures are higher than the second quarter, despite the global slump in demand, Reuters has reported. 'During the second quarter we ramped up the mills so we are running at full capacity of 1.8 million tons per year,' Ahmed AlÙ€Dhaheri, assistant vice president for projects said. Chief Executive Gregor Munstermann told reporters that the firm was looking at two possible acquisitions, but declined to give details.

  • Emirates to increase flights to India

    Emirates Airline has announced plans to increase frequencies from Dubai to Kozhikode in India's southern state of Kerala to 11 flights a week by December. The carrier, which currently operates six weekly flights to Kozhikode, said the total number of flights from the state would go up to 37 a week. Emirates operates 166 weekly flights to 10 Indian destinations connecting to over 90 destinations in 60 nations via Dubai.

  • Emirates to review Serbia agreement

    A delegation from the UAE's Directorate of Civil Aviation, which includes representatives of Emirates Airline, has arrived in Belgrade to sign an agreement on flying rights between Serbia and UAE, according to local newspaper Blic. Aside from the regular Belgrade-Dubai route, the carrier wants to use the Serbian capital for flights to a number of destinations the newspaper said.

  • Emirates to spend extra $11.9bn in 2010

    Federal budget expands but rate of growth slows

  • Emirates to tender $8bn rail network

    Union Railway to invite bids for transport project in 2010

  • Eships wins contract to transport alumina

    Emirates Ship Investment Company (EShips) has announced it has won a three-year contract to transport approximately one million tonnes of alumina annually to Emirates Aluminium Company (Emal), which is building a $5.7bn aluminium smelter in Abu Dhabi. Eships will transport the alumina in lots of 60,000 tonnes in 'Panamax' ships, the largest ships able to pass through the Panama Canal. The ships will initially unload at Jebel Ali port, Dubai, but will switch to Khalifa Port in Taweelah when re

  • Etihad Airways signs $1bn financing deal

    Abu Dhabi carrier agrees first export credit guarantees

  • Etihad to launch two Japanese routes

    Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is set to open its first Japanese services early next year, with connections to Tokyo and Nagoya. The carrier will operate a four flights a week service to Nagoya, via Beijing, from Monday February 1, increasing to five flights a week from March 27. A five flights a week direct service to Tokyo's Narita airport is also scheduled for launch on March 27.

  • Etihad to resume flights to Sri Lanka

    Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has said that flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka will be resumed starting in January 2010. The carrier will operate four flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka's largest city and commercial capital, using an Airbus A320 aircraft. Flight EY266 will depart Abu Dhabi on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 9.55pm and arrive at Colombo's Bandaranaike international airport at 3.45am the following day. Return flight EY267 will depart Colombo on Mondays, Tues

  • Etisalat launches Gulf's fastest internet service

    Etisalat has announced that it is rolling out the fastest fixed broadband internet in the Middle East for its residential customers in the UAE with its new 30 Mbps package. The upgrade is based on the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) technology network, which has been set up in over 550,000 homes in the country. The new 30 Mpbs package will be priced at Dhs699/month.

  • Etisalat, Ajman ink cooperation agreement

    Ajman's General Department of Financial and Administrative Affairs has announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with Emirates Telecommunications Corp. (Etisalat), Wam has reported. Under the agreement, Etisalat will provide technical consultations to the government of Ajman to help it set up effective electronic government.

  • Etisalat, China ink IP VPN deal

    Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) and China Telecom have signed a partnership agreement to enhance IP VPN connectivity for customers from the UAE and China. Under the agreement, China Telecom will be setting up their node in UAE, which will enable customers to connect to China through Etisalat's backbone network.

  • ExxonMobile eyes mega petchem complex in Qatar

    Qatar Petroleum and Exxon Mobil have signed ana agreement to do progress studies for a proposed large-scale petrochemical complex in Qatar, Gulf Times has reported. 'The proposed project would position Qatar very well in the global petrochemical industry,' ExxonMobil senior vice-president Mark W. Albers told the daily. The complex would be located in Ras Laffan.

  • Fertil awards Ruwais fertilizer plant contract

    Fertil, (Ruwais Fertilizer Industries) a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has awarded Samsung Engineering a $1.2bn contract for its fertilizer plant project. Samsung Engineering will execute engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning project on a lump-sum turn key basis. The project is located in Ruwais, 250km west of Abu Dhabi, UAE, and is expected to produce in ammonia and urea by January 2013.

  • Firms bidding on Hamriyah deal name two frontrunners

    Contracting & Trading and Al-Jaber Energy submit bids of $150m for fuel storage project

  • Firms express interest in Saadiyat apartments deal

    Tourism Development & Investment Company requires contractor to build towers

  • Firms line up for Abu Dhabi gas deal

    Scheme set to boost Asab distribution capacity

  • Firms line up for Abu Dhabi gas work

    Scheme to increase gas processing capacity in the emirate

  • Firms line up for Ruwais refinery process deals

    Contracts are part of $8bn scheme to almost double Ruwais refining capacity

  • Firms plan Timimoun gas development in Algeria

    Scheme will produce 160 million cubic feet a day of gas

  • Firms to bid on sale of regional and Pakistani power plants

    Shortlisted companies to make final offers to AES Oasis by end of October

  • First Gulf reports 9.4 per cent increase in profits

    Abu Dhabi bank reports increase in profits despite $133m in writedowns

  • Flydubai to launch flights to Khartoum

    Flydubai has announced that it will launch daily service to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, from November 8. At a distance of 1,600 miles from Dubai, the flight to Khartoum will be the longest in the low-cost carrier's network and its eighth destination since it started operations in June.

  • Flydubai to launch service to Doha

    Low-cost carrier Flydubai has announced plans to launch intra-GCC service with flights to the Qatari capital Doha. The twice daily flights, which will begin on October 18, will be the first direct service between Dubai and Qatar to be operated by a low-cost airline. One-way fares to Doha from Dubai will cost from Dhs200, which includes all taxes and one piece of hand baggage weighing up to 10kg.

  • Flydubai's new plane takes off to Doha

    Dubai's low cost airline, Flydubai has received its fifth aircraft, Boeing 737-800NG, which will immediately serve the airline's inaugural fliht to Doha. The first flight begins on Sunday, October 18, 2009. The plane is part of the historic order of 50 aircraft placed with Boeing at the Farnborough Airshow.

  • Foster Wheeler signs Saudi wastewater deal

    Sete Energy plans to expand industrial treatment plant

  • Four Seasons Beirut to open in December

    Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has said that its Four Seasons Hotel Beirut is all set to open in December 2009. The new property offers 230 guest rooms and suites, glass-enclosed swimming pool, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, a full-service spa, in addition to meeting and event facilities including a grand ballroom.

  • 'Free' version of Office 2010 to be issued

    Microsoft has announced that it will work with PC manufacturers to put a free software package called Office 2010 Starter Edition on new machines, PC World magazine has reported. The new version will replace the company's Microsoft Works, and will provide reduced-functionality versions of Word and Excel and which features embedded advertising. Upgrade cards that turn Starter Edition into the full Office programme will be available from retailers.

  • Gaza/West Bank: Solar power plant consultancy

    Provision of consultants for an assessment of the development of a concentrated solar power plant. Closing date: 3 November 2009

  • Gaza/West Bank: Solid waste collection trucks

    Supply of solid waste collection trucks and a ro-ro trailer. Closing date: 16 November 2009

  • Gaza/West Bank: Wastewater treatment plant equipment

    Supply of plant and equipment for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant. New closing date: 25 November 2009

  • Gulf Air flights move to London Heathrow T4

    Gulf Air has announced its recent move at London Heathrow Terminal 4 (T4) from T3. First and Business passengers and Gold and Silver members of Gulf Air's Frequent flyer programme will have access to the Sky Team lounge located opposite Gate 10 at T4.

  • Gulf Air in talks on plane orders

    Samer Majali, chief executive of Bahrain's Gulf Air, has said that the carrier is in talks with Airbus and Boeing over its plane orders and expects to make a decision by year-end, Reuters has reported. Starting this October until April next year, the airline will be phasing in 10 new Airbus A320s and removing five old Airbus aircraft from its fleet, he said.

  • Gulf Air opens Bahrain maintenance facility

    Gulf Air has opened a new comprehensive line maintenance facility in Bahrain, Gulf Daily News has reported. The new facility is three times larger than previous ones, and accommodates all Bahrain line maintenance engineers and mechanics for Gulf Air craft and other third party airplanes transiting through the kingdom. The facility is equipped with a control centre, ramp management offices, operations room, technical library, ramp stores to stock aircraft spares and materials and a rest area f

  • Gulf Air receives first craft in re-fleet programme

    Marking the start of its re-fleeting programme, Gulf Air has taken delivery of the first of 15 new 'fuel efficient' Airbus A320 aircraft into the fleet. Powered by CFM56 engines, the new A320 aircraft can carry 136 passengers in a two class configuration with 16 business class and 120 economy class seats. The new A320 aircraft together with the nine others that will follow between now and the end of 2010, will replace the airline's older narrow body aircraft, the carrier's CEO, Samer Majali s

  • Gulf Air to resume flights to Bangalore

    Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier, has said it will resume its non-stop flights to the southern Indian city of Bangalore from October 24. The daily flight will depart Bahrain at 2150hrs and reach Bangalore at 0435hrs. The return flight will leave Bangalore at 0525hrs and reach Bahrain at 0750hrs.

  • Gulf Air to start flights to Erbil, Iraq

    Bahrain-based Gulf Air plans to beginregular service to the Iraqi Kurdistan city of Erbil from October 26, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government. The airline plans three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

  • Gulf Air union protests management pay rise

    The union at Bahrain-based Gulf Air is planning a sit-in at company headquarters, expressing their protest against pay rises for senior management amid planned lay-offs, Reuters has reported. Unions claimed that Gulf Air plans to lay off 272 employees by the end of the year. Regarding the issue, Gulf Air has issued a statement, 'The Gulf Air trade union is an important partner within this process with whom we engage on a regular basis.'

  • Gulf Aviation Academy invests $34m in new simulators

    Bahrain-based Gulf Aviation Academy has taken delivery of the first of three flight simulators purchased under a $34m investment plan. The new simulator will allow pilots to train on the A320 aircraft type. The second and third simulators are due to arrive in January and March 2010, the academy said.

  • Gulf carriers warned about safety

    International Air Transport Association Director General Giovanni Bisignani issued a warning about safety to Middle East carriers at the Arab Air Carriers Organization's annual general meeting. 'As of the end of September, the region's accident rate is six times worse than the global average,' Bisignani said, adding the figure should serve 'as a wake up call for all of us'. Despite a regional committment to embrace the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), only Syria and Egypt have made the s

  • Gulf denies plan to end trading oil in dollars

    GCC currency will form part of new basket, claims report

  • Gulf Finance House moves out of real estate

    Bahraini bank to reduce property assets from 80 per cent of its balance sheet to 20 per cent

  • Gulf Finance House sells stake in Qatar investment bank

    Institution adopts strategy to combat economic recession

  • Gulf financial services sector survives economic crisis

    Private investors will buy part of $10bn bond

  • Gulf Keystone discovers oil in Kurdistan

    Potential of finding light oil in Shaikan Block increases

  • Gulf Keystone issues new Kurdistan oil reserves number

    Reserves update follows independent evaluation

  • Gulf Petrochemical wins Omani oil and gas deals

    Occidental awards long-term contracts worth $200m

  • Gulf petrochemicals firms accuse China and EU of protectionism

    Overseas countries introduce regulations to block GCC imports

  • Gulf Projects 12 October 2009: Index rises 3.4 per cent

    The MEED Project index made a slight recovery in the week ending 12 October as it rose by 3.4 per cent to $2.67 trillion

  • Gulf Projects 19 October 2009: Index rises 0.5 per cent

    The value of projects planned and under way in the GCC is down 9.1 per cent year-on-year

  • Gulf Projects 26 October 2009: Index rises 0.2 per cent

    The MEED Projects index rose by 0.2 per cent in the week to 26 October.

  • Gulf Projects 5 October 2009: Index rises 0.7 per cent

    The MEED Projects Index rose 0.1 per cent to more than $2.58 trillion in the week ending 5 October

  • Gulf railway may extend to Yemen

    A UAE official has said that GCC countries have agreed in principal to extend their multi-billion dollar railway project to Yemen, Reuters has reported. The 1,940-km railway would connect the six Gulf nations, each of which would contribute a share of the start-up capital. Yemen had asked for the railway to be extended over its border with Oman. Gulf officials have also agreed to appoint a single authority for the rail project and approved its design.

  • Gulfmena Alternative Investments launches hedge fund

    Dubai firm plans to target rising investor demand

  • Gulfnav net profits drop to Dhs11.62m

    Gulf Navigation Holding (Gulfnav) has announced its nine-month consolidated performance. It has posted a net profit of Dhs11.62m compared to Dhs136.9m for the same period of 2008. The company's operating profit has dropped to Dhs101.62m against Dhs189.85m, while revenues posted declines at Dhs255.46m as against Dhs306.45m.

  • H.E. Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman, Union Railway

    The keynote address by H.E. Hussain Al Nowais at Middle East Rail Projects Conference looked at the creation of the UAE’s Union Railway Company.

  • Hadco shareholders positive on AlMarai takeover

    More than 98% of Saudi Arabia-based Hail Agricultural Development Co.'s (Hadco) shareholders have approved the takeover bid by AlMarai in the first of a fourÙ€day voting period, Reuters has said. Hadco shareholders holding about 20.5% of voting rights had voted on Saturday to decide whether to approve or reject the $253.2m cash and stock bid AlMarai first unveiled in July.

  • Haya Water delays Omani plant bid deadline

    Winning firm to design, build, operate and maintain wastewater treatment scheme

  • Hilton launches second RAK hotel

    Hilton Worldwide has announced the official launch of its second Hilton hotel in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa features 324 guest rooms and 151 villas designed in classic Arabesque style. The new property also offers four free-form temperature controlled pools including one with salt water, a rooftop bar, Italian and Asian restaurants, a spa and Turkish Hammam.

  • Hilton opens first regional Garden Inn

    Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide has opened the first Hilton Garden Inn property in the Middle East and Africa, the Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya in Saudi Arabia. The new hotel is the first of several openings within the Strategic Development Agreement signed between Hilton and the Al Hokair Group. The Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya features 180 guest rooms and suites, a complimentary business centre, and three meeting rooms.

  • Hilton to offer brand at Marsa Alam, Egypt

    Hilton Worldwide has announced it will manage another Hilton brand in Marsa Alam, on the west coast of Egypt's Red Sea. Hilton has signed a management agreement with Concord Co. for Tourist Development S.A.E. for the 370-room new-build property, scheduled to open in 2012. The property has 1.5km ofbeachfront, located approximately 20km south of Marsa Alam International Airport, and 30km from Marsa Alam town.

  • Holiday Inn Express to be built in Bahrain

    Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding, the exclusive developer of the Holiday Inn Express brand of hotels in the GCC excluding Saudi Arabia, has started construction work on the first Holiday Inn Express hotel in Bahrain. The 279-room limited service hotel, will offer a mini-gym, an 'Express Communications Centre', in addition to meeting rooms, lounge, and an all-day dining restaurant.

  • IATA: Carriers up fuel effeciency pledge

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that the world's airlines have agreed to new fuel efficiency and carbon emission targets which go much further than the levels required through regulation, Reuters has reported. Carriers, airports and aerospace firms had pledged to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5% a year annually until 2020, IATA said. 'No other industry has been able to achieve what we have done,' IATA Director-General Giovanni Bisignani said. 'We are on the high gro

  • IATA: Worst over for airlines

    Giovanni Bisignani, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that the hard conditions suffered by airlines hit by the global downturn were improving but that the road to recovery will be long, AFP has reported. The aviation industry had forecast a worldwide drop in revenues of $80bn, from $535bn in 2008 to $455bn in 2009, he said. 'A drop of this dimension will not be easy to address. It will take three or four years to return to the old levels,' he noted.

  • IMF says UAE stimulus package must continue

    Financial support is still necessary but the government must begin to plan its withdrawal

  • Industries Qatar plans skyscraper

    State-run downstream energy company Industries Qatar is planning to build a 460-metre-tall tower that will be the second-tallest building in Qatar

  • Industries Qatar posts 47% drop

    Industries Qatar has recorded a 47% drop in its nine-month profit, as the global recession cut demand for petrochemicals and steel, Bloomberg has reported. Net income declined to QR3.8bn ($1.04bn), from QR7.2bn in the year-earlier period, the firm has said.

  • Inflation rises in Egypt

    Egypt records first rate increase since November 2008

  • Intel earnings better than expected

    Intel has reported better than expected third quarter results, as the IT industry continues to show strong signs of recovery. Although its results are down on Q3 2008, they are - with that exception - the strongest results since 2005. Q3 net income was $1.86bn, down from $2bn for the same period last year. Revenue fell from $10.22bn last year to $9.39bn in Q309. Those figures do not include the $1.45bn fine from the European Union for anti-trust practices.

  • Intel introduces performance rating system

    Intel is planning to introduce a star rating system for PCs to outline their performance. Scaled from one to five, each star represents a combination of features including cores, threads, GHz, cache, performance per watt, architecture, and other technologies. More stars equates to better performance. "This Stars rating system aims to simplify the buying process and be a guiding tool for consumers in the Middle East to relate to technological advances" said Nassir Nauthoa, Intel General Manage

  • Intel ships Clarksfield mobile CPUs

    Intel has brought out it latest processors aimed at the laptop market, the Core i7 Mobile Processor and Core i7 Mobile Processor Extreme Edition. Previously known by their codename Clarksfield and available now in the Middle East, the processors are designed to handle data intensive tasks such as digital video and gaming. Based on the Nehalem micro-architecture, Intel says that features include the ability to increase the CPU's clock speed by up to 75% and two channel DDR3 1333MHz memory supp

  • Iran awards South Pars gas sweetening contract

    Korean and Iranian companies secure $1.4bn deal to build plant

  • Iran claims talks resume over South Pars gas development

    Total refuses to comment on Tehran’s statement

  • Iran: Aluminium fluoride

    Supply of aluminium fluoride. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Analytical equipment parts

    Supply of spare parts for analytical equipment. Closing date: 7 November 2009

  • Iran: Carbon ferro-manganese

    Supply of 1,000 tonnes of carbon ferro-manganese. Closing date: 20 October 2009 

  • Iran: Chemical fertilisers

    Supply of chemical fertilisers. Closing date: 14 November 2009

  • Iran: Chemicals

    Supply of SDD chemicals. Closing date: 21 October 2009

  • Iran: Control panel parts

    Supply of parts for generator control panels. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Cryolite

    Supply of cryolite. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Down hole tools

    Supply of down hole tools and surface tools for an MWD system. Closing date: 25 November 2009

  • Iran: Down-hole services

    Provision of fishing and down-hole services. Closing date: 12 December 2009

  • Iran: Drilling services

    Provision of integrated drilling services. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Excavation machinery

    Supply of excavation machinery. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iran: Feed-effluent exchangers (eight)

    Design and supply of eight high-pressure reactor-combined feed-effluent exchangers. Closing date: 11 November 2009

  • Iran: Feed-effluent exchangers (five)

    Design and supply of five high-pressure reactor-combined feed-effluent exchangers. Closing date: 12 November 2009

  • Iran: Fire-fighting pipe network EPC

    Provision of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the replacement of a fire-fighting pipe network. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Generator parts

    Supply of parts for freshwater generators. Closing date: 28 November 2009

  • Iran: High alumina mortar

    Supply of high alumina mortar. Closing date: 29 November 2009

  • Iran: Irrigation and drainage tertiary system

    Construction of an irrigation and drainage tertiary system for an integrated land and water management project. Closing date: 1 December 2009

  • Iran: Locomotive engine test facilities

    Provision of facilities for testing locomotive engines. New closing date: 22 November 2009

  • Iran: Mobile cranes

    Supply of mobile cranes. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Iran: Olefins saturation catalyst

    Supply of olefins saturation catalyst. Closing date: 7 November 2009

  • Iran: PDC bits

    Supply of PDC bits. Closing date: 21 November 2009

  • Iran: Pilot mill

    Supply of a pilot mill. Closing date: 21 November 2009

  • Iran: Polyethylene pipes and manholes

    Construction and laying of polyethylene (PE) pipes and manholes. Closing date: 8 November 2009

  • Iran: Rail cranes

    Supply of rail cranes. New closing date: 31 October 2009

  • Iran: Rails

    Supply of rails. Closing date: 2 December 2009

  • Iran: Railway construction

    Carrying out, on an engineering, procurement, construction and financing basis, of a railway. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Sulphuric acid plant

    Engineering, procurement and construction of a 3,000-tonne-a-day sulphuric acid plant at a copper complex. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Technical inspection services

    Provision of technical inspection services. Closing date: 21 November 2009

  • Iran: Transfer line heat exchangers

    Supply of transfer line heat exchangers (TLEs). Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Wastewater collection and treatment facilities

    Provision of investors for the construction and operation, on a build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis, of a wastewater collection and treatment facilities. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: Wastewater treatment plant

    Design, supply, build, transport, installation and operation of a wastewater treatment plant. Closing date: not stated

  • Iran: X-ray vehicle inspection systems

    Supply of an X-ray container/vehicle inspection systems. Closing date: 27 November 2009

  • Iraq and Norway resolve dispute over oil exports

    Kurdistan Regional Government allows exploration firm to restart operations

  • Iraq denies delay in second bid round

    Bids from oil majors remain scheduled for December 2009

  • Iraq narrows metro project bid list

    Iraq has said has narrowed down the number of companies competing to build country's first metro to eight foreign firms and expected the project to cost $3bn-$4bn, Reuters has reported. The companies include France's Systra, Britain's Pell Frischmann and Cyril Sweett Group Plc, US firms Parsons Brinckerhoff and Aecom, Germany's RMS, Turkey's Makyol and Mebex, a Lebanese firm.

  • Iraq prepares workshop for second oil bid round

    Terms of contracts to be sent to oil companies

  • Iraq to supply power to Talafar villages

    Electricity minister holds talks with local council

  • Iraq: Acetylene hydrogenation catalyst

    Supply of acetylene hydrogenation catalyst. Closing date: 29 October 2009

  • Iraq: Air conditioning system rehabilitation

    Rehabilitation of an air conditioning system. Closing date: 28 October 2009

  • Iraq: Air processing unit

    Supply of an air processing unit for a power station. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iraq: Booster pump spares

    Supply of spare parts for boosters. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Iraq: Cement laboratory equipment parts

    Supply of spare parts for cement laboratory equipment. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Iraq: Centrifugal pumps

    Supply of centrifugal pumps driven by electric motors with control systems. Closing date: 12 November 2009

  • Iraq: Chemical materials

    Supply of chemical materials. Closing date: 25 October 2009

  • Iraq: Court helpdesks

    Establishment of a national hotline and pilot court helpdesks. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iraq: Crude oil flowmeters

    Supply of crude oil flowmeters. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iraq: Detergent dispersant additive

    Supply of 1,500 tonnes of detergent dispersant additive. Closing date: 2 November 2009

  • Iraq: Drilling rig

    Mobilisation of a drilling rig. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Iraq: Drilling rig equipment

    Supply of materials and equipment for drilling rigs. Closing date: 28 October 2009

  • Iraq: Dust collection plant works

    Carrying out rehabilitation works for an industrial dust collection plant. Closing date: 28 October 2009

  • Iraq: Excavator

    Supply of a wheeled excavator. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Iraq: Fuses

    Supply of fuses. Closing date: 11 November 2009

  • Iraq: Heat exchanger propeller fan

    Supply of a propeller fan for an air-cooled heat exchanger. Closing date: 3 November 2009

  • Iraq: IT systems

    Provision of IT systems. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iraq: Local governance assessment project

    Provision of technical assistance for a local governance assessment. Closing date: 22 November 2009

  • Iraq: Materials mobilisation

    Mobilisation of materials from a port to stores. Closing date: 20 October 2009

  • Iraq: Mineral wool fibres

    Supply of mineral wool fibres. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Iraq: Motor-driven centrifugal pumps

    Supply of complete centrifugal pumps. Closing date: 28 October 2009

  • Iraq: Natural gas compressor

    Supply of a raw natural gas compressor. Closing date: 29 October 2009

  • Iraq: Oil tanker charter

    Chartering of an oil tanker. Closing date: 25 October 2009

  • Iraq: On-load switches

    Supply of 11/33kV on-load switches. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Iraq: Pipes

    Supply of pipes and fittings. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Iraq: Positive displacement flow meters

    Supply of positive displacement flow meters. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Iraq: Power generation consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services comprising support for the planning, financing and development of additional power generation. Closing date: 25 November 2009

  • Iraq: Power plant parts

    Supply of spare parts for a power plant. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iraq: Power plant valves

    Provision of motorised valves for a power plant. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iraq: Power station parts

    Supply of spare parts for the Shuaiba power station. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Iraq: Reciprocating steam pumps

    Supply of two complete reciprocating steam pumps. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Iraq: Reverse osmosis units

    Supply of reverse osmosis units. Closing date: 14 October 2009

  • Iraq: Rig mobilisation

    Mobilisation of rigs. Closing date: 19 October 2009

  • Iraq: Steel coils

    Supply of steel coils. Closing date: 25 October 2009

  • Iraq: Substation equipment

    Supply of substation equipment. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Iraq: Tube fittings

    Supply of tube fittings. Closing date: 11 November 2009

  • Iraq: UPS systems

    Supply of uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems. Closing date: 29 October 2009

  • Iraq: Water injection system biocide

    Supply of biocide for a water injection system. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Iraq: Water treatment plant

    Implementation of a 1,000-cubic-metre-an-hour water treatment plant. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Iraq: Well logging equipment

    Supply of well logging equipment. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Isco wins $38m Kuwait Oil Company services deal

    Local firm to provide engineering services at workshops

  • Islamic bank completes $1.1bn loan for Qatari Diar

    Real estate firm to make investments in Europe

  • Jazeera Airways plans new direct Syria flights

    Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways is launching three direct flights a week to Lathqiyah, Syria, starting December 15. The flights will be on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week, the budget airline said.

  • Jazeera Airways ups winter 2009 frequencies

    Kuwait's Jazeera Airways has announced an increase of frequencies in its winter schedule, including additional weekend flights between Dubai and Kuwait, bringing the total number of weekly flights to the emirate to 45. In addition, flights between Bahrain and Dubai and Bahrain and Sana'a have increased to three per day.

  • Jazeera rules out second Gulf hub

    Stefan Pichler, CEO of Kuwait-based low-cost carrier, Jazeera Airways has ruled out establishing its second hub in a Gulf state, as fierce competition within the GCC has made locations outside the region more favourable, Emirates Business has reported. 'We are working on a second hub and our plans are pretty advanced. We are in the good position of not having to reveal it now; we can finish our homework and then launch it. We will announce the next hub within the next four to six months,' he

  • Jebel Omar to raise $450m in rights issue

    Mecca redevelopment company will sell shares to fund project

  • Jeddah airport opens new runway

    Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) has announced the official opening of its new runway, Arab News has reported. The west runway is 4,000 meters long and 60 meters wide, with 7.5-meter shoulders on either side.

  • Jordan airport plans $750m expansion

    Queen Alia International Airport has announced plans to invest $750m in redevelopment of the airport, including the construction of a state-of-the-art 86,000 square metre passenger terminal. Speaking on the last day of the Low Cost Airlines World Mena 2009, Curtis Grad, CEO of Airport International Group - QAIA, said phase I of the project will be ready by early 2012, which would expand the airport's capacity to 9 million passengers.

  • Jordan Airports to float Marka tender

    Jordan Airports Company (JAC) will float a tender for the upgrade and renovation of the Amman Civil Airport in Marka on a commercial basis, the Jordan Times has reported. The Transport Ministry, in cooperation with JAC, will develop the necessary plan to upgrade the terminal and cargo facilities. A tender will be floated to invite bidders to undertake the renovation project, Mohannad Qudah, JAC's Chairman has said. The airport mainly serves as a regional airport servicing domestic and nearby

  • Jordan launches water conveyor scheme

    US agency funds pipeline from Zaatary to Hofa

  • Jordan Phosphate Mines posts lowered Q3 profit

    Jordan Phosphate Mines Company has said that its third-quarter net profit after tax and provisions came to JD81m, compared to JD218m at the end of the same period last year, the Jordan Times has reported. The firm's total assets stood at JD570.1m and its equity rights rose to JD460.4m, compared to JD417.1m at the end of 2008.

  • Jordan signs exploration deal with BP

    UK company to produce and export gas from Risha field

  • Jordan to complete power project financing

    National Electric Power Company plans $500m loans for Al-Qatrana plant

  • Jordan to float tender for $5bn rail network

    The Jordanian Minister of Transport has said that a tender will be floated next year for a $5bn national railway network, the Jordan Times has reported. The network aims to place Jordan as a regional logistics centre and connect the kingdom with neighbouring countries and develop trade, he said.

  • Jordan: Municipal services and infrastructure consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for municipal services and infrastructure. Closing date: 22 October 2009

  • Joss Dare, Partner at Ashurst

    With so many rail networks planned in the Middle East, project structure is critical for their success. Get that structure wrong, and it could be terminal for the project, says Joss Dare, Partner at Ashurst.

  • Jumeirah prepares to tender beach club redevelopment

    AED750m project was first launched in 2006

  • Khorfakkan Terminal receives new gantries

    Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT), operated by Gulftainer, has said that it has taken delivery of another two new container gantries as part of the ongoing expansion of the terminal. The two Liebherr Super Post-Panamax cranes, (Megamax) with tandem lift capability, are the latest additions to the terminal's equipment, bringing the total number of gantries at KCT to eighteen, with two more due in December, to be added before the expansion is completed, the company said.

  • Korean firm in line to build Kuwaiti gas facility

    SK Engineering submits lowest price of $725m for deal to enhance Kuwait’s gas distribution network

  • Kraft Foods post 10% growth in Mideast

    UAE-based food and beverage manufacturer, Kraft Food Middle East and Africa, has reported 10% growth in the first half of the current year. The half-yearly growth has exceeded the group's global organic net revenue growth of 2.9% for the same period, the firm said.

  • Kuwait creates firms to boost private sector

    Company shares to be distributed to Kuwaiti citizens

  • Kuwait delays oil production scheme

    State firm modifies Jurassic field project specifications

  • Kuwait inks open sky agreements

    Kuwait's General Directorate of Civil Aviation has said that the country has signed seven free skies agreements with foreign states, Kuna has reported. The accords were signed with Austria, Poland, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Kirgizstan, Finland and Iceland, during the recent international air services conference, organized by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, in Istanbul.

  • Kuwait International plans new terminal

    Kuwait's International Airport will have a new passenger terminal to triple its capacity at an estimated cost of KD213m ($2.72bn), Bloomberg has reported. The new terminal, planned for completion by November 2016, will have an annual capacity of 13 million passengers, taking Kuwait's total to 20 million passengers, according to the country's Ministry of Public Works. Four companies from the UK, France, Germany and the US submitted bids for the design phase of the project.

  • Kuwait lends $51m to Morocco for water project

    Agreement will help fund Tamlot dam for irrigation and water supply

  • Kuwait Oil Company awards $123m compressor deal to second-lowest bidder

    Spain’s TR submitted lowest price in May bid round

  • Kuwait Projects Company issues $500m bond

    Deal is a catalyst for regional bourses

  • Kuwait scraps bids for Mina Abdullah water complex

    Ministry sets 27 December deadline for construction and maintenance deal

  • Kuwait set to name Supreme Petroleum Council

    Top decision-making body an increasing source of controversy in the emirate

  • Kuwait tenders gas bottling plant deal

    Contractors value deal at $100m plus

  • Kuwait: Air-conditioning

    Supply of air-conditioning machines and devices. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Automatic academic management system

    Carrying out an automatic academic management system project. Closing date: 24 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Bus leasing

    Leasing of buses for transporting students. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Computer leasing services

    Provision of leasing services for computer devices and related supporting services. Closing date: 17 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Computer maintenance

    Maintenance of personal computers and accessories. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Discharge water treatment plant

    Supply of mechanical equipment and a discharge water treatment plant. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Emergency generators (Al-Razi)

    Supply and installation of emergency generators. Closing date: 24 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Emergency generators (Hawally)

    Supply and installation of emergency generators. Closing date: 24 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Fire-fighting systems works

    Maintenance of fire alarm and fire-fighting systems. Closing date: 15 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Internet services

    Connection of internet services for a ministry. Closing date: 24 November 2009

  • Kuwait: IT network upgrade

    Upgrading of infrastructure for an information technology (IT) and communications network. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Local technology network

    Upgrading of a local network for Central Authority for Information Technology. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: LPG filling plant project

    Provision of supply, design and construction works for a new LPG filling plant project. Closing date: 25 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Maintenance and construction works (middle area)

    Maintenance of facilities and services and carrying out minor construction works. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Maintenance and construction works (southern area)

    Maintenance of facilities and services and carrying out minor construction works. Closing date: 20 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Mobile emergency generators

    Supply, testing and delivery of mobile emergency generators. Closing date: 17 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Mosque rehabilitation works

    Carrying out rehabilitation and overhaul maintenance works for a grand mosque. Closing date: 1 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Pipe casing

    Supply of pipe casing. Closing date: 22 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Power and water distillation plant elevators

    Replacement of elevators at electrical power and water distillation plants. Closing date: 5 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Pumping and lifting station O&M

    Operation and maintenance (O&M) of pumping and lifting stations. Closing date: 17 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Refinery chemicals

    Supply of chemicals for three refineries. Closing date: 8 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Road crossings

    Construction, completion and maintenance of main road crossings. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Sub-transformer station cleaning

    Cleaning of sub-transformer stations. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Technical and administrative services

    Provision of technical and administrative services for a scientific institute. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Transformer tension exchanger maintenance

    Maintenance of transformer tension exchangers. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • Kuwait: University security works

    Provision of security and guard works for university sites. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Water cooling units

    Replacement of three central water cooling units. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Water distribution complex

    Construction, completion and maintenance of a water distribution complex. Closing date: 27 December 2009

  • Kuwait: Water filling station

    Construction, completion and maintenance of a water filling station. Closing date: 5 January 2010

  • Kuwait: Wellheads and X-mas trees

    Supply of wellheads and X-mas trees for deep excavation and gas wells. Closing date: 3 November 2009

  • Kuwait: Zakat House construction

    Construction of a Zakat House building. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Kuwaiti leader tells government and parliament to co-operate

    Ruler suspended National Assembly three times since 2006

  • Kuwait's PIC to close, sell fertilizer business

    Petrochemicals Industries Company, a unit of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, is planning to sell or shut its fertilizers business to focus on its more profitable petrochemicals division. 'Our plan is to quit from the fertilizers business in the medium to long-term through privatization or closing down,' Yousef Al-Ateeqi, the company's deputy managing director, told Reuters.

  • Lebanon: Archaeological project infrastructure

    Provision of infrastructure for an archaeological project. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • Lebanon: Sewer networks, pumping stations and treatment plants (a)

    Construction of sewer networks, pumping stations and treatment plants. New closing date: 19 November 2009

  • Lebanon: Sewer networks, pumping stations and treatment plants (b)

    Construction of sewer networks, pumping stations and treatment plants. New closing date: 18 November 2009

  • Lebanon: Wastewater treatment consultancy services

    Provision of consultancy services including a sewerage masterplan and wastewater treatment plant design for a spring protection project. Closing date: 30 November 2009

  • Lebanon: XLPE and pilot cables

    Supply of high-voltage cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables and pilot cables. Closing date: 16 November 2009

  • Lecico aims to double production capacity

    Lecico, an Egyptian ceramics company, plans to double the production capacity of its sanitary ware division to 10 million pieces by 2015 and will launch an existing higher-end brand in Egypt in 2010, Reuters has reported. 'We are looking to double our earnings (for) the next three or four years by filling up our capacity,' Gilbert Gargour, the company's chairman, told the news service.

  • Lenovo launches Windows 7 optimizations

    Lenovo has launched the Windows 7 Lenovo Enhanced Experience - a certification only available on Lenovo products that consists of new features, tools and optimizations designed to improve system performance and enhance the computing experience for customers running Windows 7 on Lenovo PCs. Among the benefits of the certification is advanced performance tuning, which enables both Think and Idea PCs to start-up significantly faster than identical configuration, non-optimized PCs, the company sa

  • Libya appoints oil corporation chief

    Announcement follows departure of Shokri Ghanem

  • Libya reinstates Ghanem as oil chief

    Former chairman returns to original position

  • Libya: Appraisal well drilling

    Drilling of an appraisal well. Closing date: 4 November 2009

  • Libya: Drilling related services

    Provision of various services in connection with drilling activities. Closing date: 5 November 2009

  • Libya: Drilling rigs and services

    Provision of drilling rigs and services. Closing date: 1 November 2009

  • Libya: Office and staff accommodation maintenance

    Provision of maintenance services for offices of an oil company and staff accommodation premises. Closing date: 15 December 2009

  • Libya: Offshore drilling unit

    Supply of a jack-up mobile offshore drilling unit. Closing date: 18 October 2009

  • Libya: Oil and gas pipeline civils

    Carrying out civil works for oil and gas pipelines. Closing date: 22 October 2009

  • Libya: Oil field accommodation facilities

    Engineering and construction of oil field accommodation facilities. Closing date: 5 November 2009

  • Libya: Oil field PA system

    Implementation of a public address (PA) system for an oil field. Closing date: 2 November 2009

  • Libya: Oil pipeline

    Replacement of 76 kilometres of a 12-inch oil pipeline. Closing date: 25 October 2009

  • Libya: Sand removal works

    Carrying out sand removal and cleaning works at contract areas A and B in the R82 and A100 oil fields. Closing date: 29 October 2009

  • Libya: Well drilling cuttings recovery and disposal

    Provision of cuttings recovery and disposal equipment and services for the drilling of offshore wells.Closing date: 19 October 2009

  • Libya: Wireline logging services

    Provision of wireline logging services. Closing date: 9 November 2009

  • Linux 'not failed' to take advantage of poor Vista uptake on enterprise desktops

    With the full release of Microsoft Windows 7 today, it begs the question of why the industry has not seen a big rise in Linux-based enterprise desktop implementations, given that over the past couple of years it has had an unpopular and weak operating system as competition.

  • Mace to manage Syrian construction project

    Bena Properties awards Taj Halab development deal

  • MAR Group signs ThyssenKrupp MoU

    Abu Dhabi-based shipbuilder, the MAR Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany-based ThyssenKrupp AG to establish Blohm+Voss Naval, a 50-50 joint venture to design and make naval frigates and offshore patrol vessels, Reuters has reported. The deal will also give MAR Group an 80% stake in the yacht business of ThyssenKrupp's Hamburg-based Blohm + Voss Shipyards, Blohm + Voss Ship Repair and Blohm +Voss Industries units.

  • Marriott to manage resort in Oman

    Oman's Dhofar Tourism Company has signed an agreement with Marriott International for the management of the 234-room Salalah Beach Marriott Resort. Scheduled to open in December 2009, the resort will be part of a mixed-used, beachfront development, located approximately 75 kilometres from the Sultanate's southernmost city.

  • Masafi begins biodegradable film use

    UAE-based mineral water company, Masafi has announced the introduction of Oxo Biodegradable films in its shrink-wrap packaging for water bottles as part of its 'Carbon Action Plan.' Initially, the eco-friendly packaging will be introduced in Masafi's 1.5 litre bottles, after which the packaging will be extended to the 500ml bottles and flavoured water bottles

  • Masiya opens Iraq offices

    Kuwait-based systems integrator and IT services provider, Masiya has set up new corporate offices in Baghdad, Iraq, to cater to the company's expanding list of projects executed in the country. The projects include a bundle of versatile Value Added Services and platforms for Zain, in addition to SUN infrastructure deployment, maintenance and support services rendered to Nokia Siemens Networks and Motorola.

  • Microsoft allows Windows 7 to be burned onto DVD

    Microsoft has said that netbook users can use the company's newly revamped online store to download 'Windows 7 for Netbooks' onto a bootable USB, or burn it onto a DVD, according to eWeek website. 'For netbook users without DVD drives, the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool [WUDT] will take an ISO image and create a bootable USB device that can be used to install Windows 7,' Microsoft spokesperson Brandon LeBlanc said.

  • Microsoft has high hopes for Windows 7

    Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer has said the company's new operating system will help pull it out of the worst period of its history, UK-based Sky News has reported. Windows 7, which will launch at the end of the month, will succeed where its unpopular predecessor Vista had failed, he said. 'Eight million copies (of Windows 7) are out on Beta tests and people love it,' he said. Profits at Microsoft fell by almost a third in the quarter between April and June.

  • Microsoft Windows 7 Arabic version due in November

    Microsoft has confirmed that the Arabic version of Windows 7 will hit the streets two weeks after the operating system's general release. The operating system was rolled out to enterprise customers in August and will go on general sale later this week, on 22 October. Microsoft hopes Windows 7 is more popular than its predecessor, which the company admits suffered a 'perception challenge'. Microsoft says it has worked to ensure that there are no compatibility issues with the operating system a

  • Middle East contracts awarded: October 2009

    More than $10.7bn worth of contracts have been awarded across the Middle East up to 31 October 2009, according to this selected checklist compiled from MEED reports

  • Millennium and Copthorne to open hotels in Kurdistan

    Iraq-based Faruk Group Holding has signed a hotel management and operation agreement with Millennium & Copthorne Middle East for three hotels in Kurdistan, Iraq. The three hotels are two 4-star hotels branded as Tara Hotel with 100 rooms and Copthorne Hotel featuring 140 rooms with full service and facilities, and a 5-star hotel, which will be branded as Grand Millennium offering 254 rooms.

  • Momentum Logistics wins UASC contract

    UAE-based Momentum Logistics, a subsidiary of international port management company, Gulftainer, has signed a contract with United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) to provide the company with logistics services. Under the agreement, Momentum will provide UASC with dedicated warehouse space and other logistics services, in addition to their regular business at the company's container repair and washing facilities.

  • Morocco delays Safi coal plant deadline

    Bids for independent power project due in January

  • Morocco holds talks over Tarfaya wind farm bids

    Suez Energy and International Power continue technical clarifications

  • Morocco signs phosphate deal with Jacobs Engineering

    Office Cherifien des Phosphates seeks project management services

  • Morocco: Drinking water supply works

    Reinforcement of the supply of drinking water in Taounate. Closing date: 25 November 2009

  • Morocco: Power network works

    Carrying out transitional works for a power network. Closing date: 4 November 2009

  • Morocco: Water intake consultancy services

    Provision of consultancy services for an urban and rural water intake project. Closing date: 9 December 2009

  • Mubadala receives bids for Rosewood hotel

    Abu Dhabi-based developer plans five-star resort on Sowwah Island

  • Mubadala seeks loan for Sowwah Square project

    Royal Bank of Scotland to act as financial adviser

  • Mubadala struggles to finance Zayed University

    State-owned developer hopes to conclude funding deal by 26 November

  • Muscat extends airport tender

    Bidders have more time to prepare prices

  • Naffco facility on track for Jafza opening

    UAE-based National Fire Fighting Manufacturing (Naffco), which makes fire fighting equipment, has said that construction on its one million square feet central production facility in Jebel Ali free Zone (Jafza) in Dubai is on schedule and set to be fully operational by the end of the year. Naffco's core business entails design, manufacturing, supply, installation and maintenance services of products from basic firefighting equipment to sophisticated fire trucks.

  • Nakheel completes securitised bond payback

    Dubai real estate developer Nakheel has completed the repayment of an AED4.4bn ($1.2bn) securitised bond issued in January.

  • Nakilat profit doubles on fleet size

    Qatar Gas Transport Co. (Nakilat) has said its nine-month net profit had surged by more than 200% to QR347.9m ($95.6m), compared to QR151.9m in the year-earlier period - which was attributed to the increased fleet size. Nakilat charters LNG tankers under fixed, 25-year contracts to Qatar Liquefied Gas Co. and Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Qatar's two LNG producers.

  • Nakilat receives LNG carrier

    Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has taken delivery of the world's largest and most advanced Q-Flex LNG carrier, which is chartered to Qatar Liquefied Gas Company IV (QG4). The 'Al Karaana' (210,000 CBM) will be used to ship LNG produced by QG4, to markets primarily in North America.

  • National Bank of Bahrain profits rise 20 per cent

    Institution records 30 per cent increase in non-interest income

  • National Bank of Kuwait third quarter profit up 10 per cent

    Kuwait’s largest bank says nine-month profit down 17 per cent

  • National Water Company shortlists bidders for Saudi deals

    Riyadh makes progress on three water management contracts

  • New $300m fund to invest in Mena hospitality

    Abu Dhabi Investment House has announced that it is launching a $300m Hospitality Development Fund that will focus on projects within the Middle East and Asia. The fund, which will target sectors such as tourism and airlines, will cater to investors seeking to diversify their portfolio by adding Shariah-compliant hospitality-related products to their current range of investments, said Rashad Y Janahi, managing director, ADIH.

  • New Doha airport to open in 2011

    Qatar's Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning has announced that the new Doha International Airport will be ready by 2011 instead of 2015, while the existing airport will be restructured, the Peninsula has reported. The first and second phases have been merged to cope with the fast growth in passenger traffic being witnessed by national carrier Qatar Airways, the ministry said.

  • New Holiday Inn to open in Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi-based Al Qudra Real Estate, a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Qudra Holding, has said that its Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi hotel will be opening to the public this October. The new hotel will be managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) as a 4- star business hotel. The hotel comprises over 200 rooms, including standard, executive, and suite rooms, as well as two restaurants, a bar and a cafe lounge.

  • New hotel opens in Dubai Media City

    The Media One Hotel in the Dubai Media City has received the official classification of a four-star hotel by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), marking the hotel's soft opening. The 260-room hotel occupies the first 23 floors of a 43-storey tower and offers food and beverage outlets, gym, outdoor pool and terrace. It also houses a fully equipped business centre and seven meeting rooms.

  • New ibis to open in Jordan

    Kuwait-based Action Hotels Company and Accor Hospitality Middle East have announced the official opening of Jordan's first internationally branded economy hotel, ibis Amman. The 158-room hotel offers three meeting rooms, three non-smoking floors, a restaurant and snack bar, indoor car parking, free safety deposit boxes at reception, and an airport shuttle service.

  • Non-Latin internet domain names under consideration

    The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will meet this week in the Korean capital, Seoul to discuss the addition of non-Latin characters to its list of available domains, PC Magazine has reported. If the move goes through, the organization will likely begin rolling out domains in languages such as Arabic and other non-Latin languages in the middle of next year. 'This is the biggest change technically to the internet since it was invented 40 years ago,' ICANN chairman P

  • Oberoi signs Al Wa'ab deal

    Qatar-based developer, Al Wa'ab City Management has signed a memorandum of understanding with India's Oberoi Hotels and Resorts to build a hotel in the developer's mixed-use development, Al Wa'ab City, the Peninsula has reported. The new hotel will have 225 rooms and suites, 30 serviced apartments in addition to premium outlets for fine dining, leisure and health amenities and is due to be completed by 2014.

  • Oceanic Hotel to get makeover

    Sharjah Islamic Bank, owner of Sharjah National Hotels, has signed an agreement with Hotelier Holding to write a renovation and development plan for the Oceanic Hotel, located on the shoreline of the eastern province of Khorfakkan, Sharjah. The project includes design, renovations and development of the existing building, with additional villas and chalets to be incorporated in the resort's new design.

  • Oil above $80 on weak US dollar

    Crude hits 12-month high of $82 a barrel on 21 October

  • Oil price drops below $80 a barrel

    Stronger dollar and US inventory data hits crude price

  • Oil price rises above $70 a barrel

    Poor demand outlook in US causes concern for traders

  • Oil prices at highest level in a year

    US dollar falls to a new low

  • Oil trades above $70 as equity market rallies

    Projected increase in US demand drives crude price higher

  • Oman Air launches Paris service

    Oman Air has launched its non-stop scheduled services between Muscat and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The new route will be run four times per week. The carrier has recently taken delivery of its second A330-300. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the A330 will be configured in a three-class layout with six First, 20 Business and 196 Economy seats.

  • Oman Air starts Maldives flights

    Oman Air has started a non-stop service between the Sultanate and the Republic of Maldives. The flights to the Maldives capital, Malé are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, returning the same day. The route will be operated by Oman Air's newly introduced Airbus A330 aircraft, which has first, business and economy class seating, the airline said.

  • Oman delays Duqm airport tender

    Ministry gives firms more time to prepare bids for runway infrastructure

  • Oman receives bids for Jabal al-Akhdar hotel consultancy

    Firms from Oman, UAE and Europe compete for architectural and engineering role

  • Oman sets aside OR119m for airport, port development

    Oman's economy minister, Ahmad Mekki has said that the Sultanate plans to spend OR119m on expansions of the Salalah airport and sea port, Reuters has reported. The extension of the Salalah airport, which currently handles only domestic and regional flights, will cost OR91m and aims to expand it into an international airport. Bechtel, India's Nagarjuna, and a Turkish joint venture of CCC and TAV Construction are among firm which made bids for the tender for the expansion of Salalah airport las

  • Oman tenders water reservoir expansion

    Public Authority for Electricity & Water to ugrade infrastructure

  • Oman to award $60m refinery deal

    Bidders expect an award in the first half of November

  • Oman to award Duqm advisory in late November

    Six law firms in line for consultancy

  • Oman to launch rail tender in December

    According to a Tender Board official in Oman, the Sultanate plans to invite bids in December for the construction of a 230 km railway, part of a planned Gulf Arab network valued at up to $25bn, Reuters has reported. A tender for a second phase will be issued next year, the official said. 'The third phase, which is under study, will involve a railway network construction from the south of Oman to Yemen, expected to be tendered out in 2010,' he added.

  • Oman: Court construction

    Construction of a regional preliminary and appeal court. Closing date: 2 November 2009

  • Oman: Field service engineering services

    Provision of field service engineering services and refurbishment of parts for gas turbines. Closing date: 17 November 2009

  • Oman: Gas transportation facilities insurance

    Insurance of gas transportation facilities. Closing date: 30 November 2009

  • Oman: Grid station operator services

    Provision of operator services at grid stations. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Oman: Health centre

    Construction of a health centre. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • Oman: Health centre

    Construction of a health centre. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: Hospital ward refurbishment

    Refurbishment of six wards at a hospital. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Oman: Hotel architect of record and engineering consultancy

    Provision of architect of record and engineering consultancy services for the development of a hotel. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: Hotel interior design consultancy

    Provision of interior design consultancy services for the development of a hotel. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: Housing and mosque construction

    Construction of housing units, a majlis and a mosque. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: Housing development

    Construction of a housing development. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Oman: Medical equipment

    Supply, installation, commissioning and end-user training of medical equipment for health facilities. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Oman: Ministry extension building

    Construction of an extension building for a ministry. Closing date: 30 November 2009

  • Oman: Ministry headquarters building

    Construction of a proposed headquarters building for a ministry. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Oman: Office building and warehouse

    Implementation of a proposed office building, warehouse and a store. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • Oman: Oil and gas facilities’ inspection services

    Provision of oil and gas facilities’ inspection services. Closing date: 2 December 2009

  • Oman: Power transformers and switchgear

    Supply of power transformers, switchgear and batteries. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Oman: Power transmission metering system

    Supply and installation of a metering system for an electricity transmission company. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • Oman: Propane recovery unit

    Provision of a propane recovery unit and associated facilities. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: Public key infrastructure

    Design, build, operate and transfer of public key infrastructure. Closing date: 12 December 2009

  • Oman: Road development

    Development of a road (corniche). Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: School construction

    Construction of a basic education school for boys. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: School construction

    Construction of a boys’ school. Closing date: 21 December 2009

  • Oman: Seawater pumping station

    Implementation of a seawater pumping station (2) and return system. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Oman: Sewage treatment plant and sewerage network system

    Implementation of a sewage treatment plant and sewerage network system. Closing date: 30 November 2009

  • Oman: Sewerage network rehabilitation

    Rehabilitation and upgrading of a sewerage network. Closing date: 14 October 2009

  • Oman: Water and related utility services

    Provision of a strategic alliance partner for water and related utility services. Closing date: 7 December 2009

  • Oman: Water project insurance

    Provision of principal controlled programme insurance for water projects. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Online malware threats leap

    New IT security threats are now appearing online every two seconds, meaning companies face potential threats from over 43,000 bits of malware every hour. With the number of threats rising every year anti-virus companies are saying it is becoming ever more important that organisations get out of the habit of having software that is just good enough, and also ensure that they are running regular virus protection updates.

  • Orascom Construction rating upgraded

    CI Capital has upgraded its rating on Egypt's largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers, Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) to 'hold' and raised its target price on to EGP268.4 per share, Reuters has reported. 'We believe OCI's 2010 fertiliser ... margins will be supported by a number of factors, including fertiliser price increases, the establishment of strategic alliances with global fertiliser distributors and production capacity growth,' the research firm said. CI Capital forecast OCI's

  • Over half of Gulf firms outsource part of their IT

    According to research by Egypt's Information Technology Industry Development Agency, and YouGov, GCC firms are becoming increasingly reliant on outsourcing with over half (52%) of respondents claiming to outsource some aspect of their IT or business processes. The research found that Egypt was ranked the second most popular destination with 31% of those surveyed stating that their companies are outsourcing services to the country. Only long-term leader India was more popular among respondents

  • PC shipments grow in Q3

    International Data Corporation (IDC), the market research and analysis firm specializing in information technology, has said that personal computer shipments rose 2.3% in the third quarter as the sector continued its recovery, with Acer Inc replacing Dell Inc as the world's No. 2 PC maker, Reuters has reported. Hewlett-Packard has maintained the top spot in the global rankings with a 20.2% market share. All regions except Japan either met or surpassed expectations, IDC said.

  • Pierlite upgrades Sharjah facility

    Pierlite Middle East, a manufacturer of light fittings and accessories, has said it has completed the first phase of expansion of its production and administrative facility at Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, Emirates Business has reported. The Dhs22m upgrade would add 100,000 sq ft to the existing facility and would house new machinery available. By the end of 2009, the new facility will have an output capacity of 1.2 million units of recessed ceiling light fittings and Louvres, alon

  • Pilgrimage airline get license in Saudi

    Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation has granted the Saudi-based pilgrimage airline Alwafeer Air an Air Operation Certificate to start flying during the Hajj season in November, Reuters has reported. The Jeddah-based airline is the kingdom's fourth after state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines and low-cost carriers Nas Air and Sama. The charter airline will focus on flying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia starting with three Boeing 747 aircraft, and may expand its fleet to eight planes withi

  • Qafco-V plant set for 2011 start-up

    Qatar's Deputy Premier Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah has announced that Qatar Fertiliser Company's latest expansion, Qafco-V, is 'on schedule' and will be completed in late 2010 or early 2011, Gulf Times has reported. Qafco-V, a 75:25 joint venture between Industries Qatar and Norway-based Yara International, will boost the fertiliser major's urea production by 43% and ammonia by 73%.

  • Qatalum production to begin soon

    Qatar Aluminium (Qatalum), a 50-50 joint-venture between Qatar Petroleum and Norsk Hydro ASA, is set to start production before the end of 2009 with 90% of the construction already completed, the Peninsula has reported. The $5.6bn project has entered the commissioning stage and will gradually increase production during the first six months to the full annual capacity of 585,000 tons of primary aluminium with potential for increase to 609,000 tons per year.

  • Qatar Airways eyes Bombardier's CSeries

    Akbar al-Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways, has said the airline is 'very interested' in buying Bombardier Inc's CSeries jetliners, but needs to address commercial issues before it makes an order, Reuters has reported. The carrier had previously said it is looking to boost the number of smaller planes in its fleet and in June ordered 24 Airbus A320 series aricraft, which can carry between 107 to 185 passengers.

  • Qatar Airways launches flights to Goa

    Qatar Airways has launched new non-stop service to Goa, which is now the carrier's 10th Indian destination. The new route will be serviced by a two-class Airbus A320 with 12 seats in business and 132 seats in economy. The Goa flights will leave Doha at 9.25pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

  • Qatar Airways makes historic flight

    Qatar Airways has become the first carrier in the world to operate an aircraft powered by gas-to-liquid kerosene on a revenue flight. The Airbus A340-600 flew a six-hour flight from London Gatwick to Doha with all four of its Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines powered by a 50/50 blend of GTL and Jet A1 kerosene. Qatar is set to be the market leader in the production of GTL, with Qatar Petroleum and Shell having created a multi-billion dollar integrated GTL 'Pearl' plant.

  • Qatar Airways to add new India route

    Qatar Airways will launch its first flight to Amritsar in India's Punjab State on October 11, the Gulf Times has reported. The new route will have four weekly flights which will be serviced using a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft.

  • Qatar and Turkey sign energy co-operation agreement

    Memorandum covers potential projects and supply of liquefied gas

  • Qatar awards $610m fertilisers expansion deal

    Italian/South Korean group wins deal after direct negotiations

  • Qatar bank denies signing Iranian oil investment deal

    Tehran plans to triple production at Esfandiar and Forouzan fields

  • Qatar confident of A350 delivery

    Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways has said that the carrier is 'more confident' that Airbus SAS will deliver its planned A350 long-haul plane on schedule following Boeing's problems with the 787 Dreamliner, Gulf News has reported. Qatar's national carrier has 80 A350s on order.

  • Qatar drafts tourism master plan

    The Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has drafted a master plan for the development of tourism in the country, which is expected to become a major destination in three to five years, Gulf Times has reported. The plan includes developing sites across the country to cater to business tourists, who would like to combine leisure with their trip, QTA said.

  • Qatar International Cables awards plant deal

    Qatar International Cables Company (QICC) has said that it has awarded a contract for the turnkey construction of its cable factory in Messaieed Industrial City, Qatar. Amana Contracting and Steel Buildings has been chosen to undertake the deal. The new plant will produce power cables, low-voltage, medium voltage and high voltage up to 80kV, the company said. Production is scheduled to start in the second half of 2010, QICC said.

  • Qatar National Bank profits drop 7.5 per cent

    Institution takes provisions against potential losses on loan book

  • Qatar Navigation profit dips 12%

    Qatar Navigation has reported a 12% drop in its net profit to QR429.77m in the first nine months of this year, on declining operating income and net interest and investment earnings, Gulf Times has reported. Gross profit fell 15% to QR268.35m as operating revenues fell faster than expenses. Operating revenues dropped 11% to QR878.83m and operational expenses by 9% to QR610.48m, the company said.

  • Qatar Petroleum delays Ras Laffan office tender

    Bidders given two extra weeks to prepare prices

  • Qatar prepares fresh tender for Doha World Trade Centre

    The Qatar General Insurance & Reinsurance Company is preparing to invite contractors to bid for the main construction contract on the estimated $200m Doha World Trade Centre tower.

  • Qatar Steel raises prices in Doha

    Industries Qatar subsidiary, Qatar Steel, has raised the prices of uncoated and epoxy coated reinforced steel bars of various dimensions, Gulf Times has reported. The increase, effective from this month, is applicable to delivery at site within Doha city, the company said.

  • Qatar: Breakwater wall EPIC

    Engineering, procurement, installation and construction (EPIC) of a privacy and breakwater wall at a water sports facility. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Qatar: Fahahil plant maintenance

    Carrying out maintenance works at Fahahil main, north and south and stripping plants within the Dukhan fields. Closing date: 22 November 2009

  • Qatar: Fenders

    Supply of cylindrical fenders. Closing date: 1 November 2009

  • Qatar: Fork-lift trucks

    Supply of diesel-driven fork-lift trucks. Closing date: 2 November 2009

  • Qatar: Harbour scavenger craft

    Supply and commissioning of a harbour scavenger craft. Closing date: 8 November 2009

  • Qatar: Harbour tugs, pilot boats and mooring gangs

    Supply of harbour tugs, pilot boats, mooring gangs and shore personnel. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Qatar: Hospital medical training centre

    Construction, completion and maintenance of a hospital medical training centre. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Qatar: Linepipe

    Supply of linepipe. Closing date: 26 October 2009

  • Qatar: Machining, balancing and metal spraying services

    Provision of machining, balancing and metal spraying services. Closing date: 22 November 2009

  • Qatar: Monoethanolamine

    Three years’ supply of monoethanolamine (MEA). Closing date: 8 November 2009

  • Qatar: Pumping station plant change requests

    Implementation of miscellaneous plant change requests (PCRs) at pumping stations. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Qatar: RO water desalination plant and pipelines

    Construction of a reverse osmosis (RO) water desalination plant and associated pipelines. Closing date: 10 December 2009

  • Qatar: Road construction and upgrade

    Construction and upgrade of roads at a plant in the Dukhan fields. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Qatar: Road development

    Development of the Al-Amir road. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Qatar: Road development (block 1300)

    Development of roads in block 1300. Closing date: 8 December 2009

  • Qatar: Road development (zone 46)

    Development of main roads in zone 46. Closing date: 8 December 2009

  • Qatar: Road improvement (56-57)

    Carrying out road improvement works in zones 56 and 57. Closing date: 24 November 2009

  • Qatar: Road improvement works

    Carrying out improvement works to roads. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Qatar: Road improvement works

    Carrying out improvement works to roads. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Qatar: Shipyard project equipment

    Provision of equipment for a shipyard project. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • Qatar: Traffic flow improvement

    Improvement of the traffic flows in various areas of Greater Doha. Closing date: 10 November 2009

  • Qatar: UPS system and battery charger upgrade

    Upgrading uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems, battery chargers and battery banks at offshore facilities. Closing date: 29 November 2009

  • Qatargas awards liquefied gas deal to US firm

    GE Oil & Gas to build and deploy pipeline management system

  • Qatargas awards Ras Laffan deal to Kentz Group

    UK company to build receiving and loading facility

  • Qtel to optimise IT to improve service offerings

    Telco Qtel has signed a three year deal with HP Technology Services Group to support the company's business technology optimisation project. The project, which will be completed in 2011, aims to upgrade and automate the Qatari company's IT operations.

  • Qurain Petrochem net profit up 115%

    Kuwait-based Qurain Petrochemicals Industries Company (QPIC) has said that its net profit for the nine month period to the end of September 30, 2009, rose by 115% to KD7.79m ($27.26m), from KD3.63m ($12.70m) for the same period last year. Operating profit for the first nine months of 2009 increased by 83% to KD8.92m ($31.22m) compared with KD4.88m ($17.08m) in the same period in 2008, the firm said.

  • Rail bridge to be added to Qatar-Bahrain causeway

    GCC leaders have added a rail bridge to plans for the proposed Qatar-Bahrain causeway as part of broader plans to have a regional rail link, The Peninsula has reported. The rail bridge is a new addition to the mega Doha-Manama over-sea link project and that is why the venture's implementation is being delayed, said Ali Al Abdullah, director of Planning at the Ministry of Muncipality and Urban Planning.

  • Rail plan will advance the GCC vision

    The GCC railway line is targeted to open in 2017. It will do more for regional convergence than monetary union.

  • RAK Ceramics Q3 profit up 31%

    UAE-based RAK Ceramics, one of the world's largest tile makers, said its third-quarter profits rose 31% to Dhs64.2m ($17.4m), from Dhs49.1m in the same period last year, The National has reported. The firm's total assets at the end of September stood at Dhs4.65bn, slightly higher than Dhs4.5bn reported at the end of last year. 'The profit is largely generated from forward contracts secured from multiple markets,' Hettish Kumar, a Global Investment House analyst told the daily.

  • Raysut Cement Q3 profit dips 22.9%

    Oman-based cement manufacturer, Raysut Cement has said its third-quarter net profit had increased by 22.9% rise to RO6.88m ($16.44m), compared to RO5.6m in the corresponding period of 2008, Reuters has reported. Net profit in the first nine months of the year had amounted to RO24.18m, compared to RO26.13m in the prior-year period.

  • Regional economy to grow more than 4 per cent in 2010

    Higher oil price and global recovery stimulate growth

  • Renaissance to open five hotels in GCC

    Marriott group's lifestyle brand, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open five properties in the Middle East over the next three years, Emirates Business 24/7 has reported. Renaissance Doha is set to open later this year 257 rooms. Three more properties will open in 2010 - two in Dubai and one in Bahrain, while 411-room Renaissance Abu Dhabi will be ready in 2012.

  • Rezidor opens two hotels in Abu Dhabi

    Brussels-based Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the opening of two new hotels in Abu Dhabi; the Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island and Park Inn Abu Dhabi, Yas Island. The opening of the Park Inn marks the launch of the firm's mid-market brand in the UAE. Featuring a combined total of 601 guest rooms, the hotels are positioned adjacent to one another on Yas Island.

  • Riyadh gives tariff responsibilities to power regulator

    Electricity authority to amend and approve non-residential prices

  • Riyadh launches Ras al-Zour roadshow

    Saline Water Conversion Corporation to introduce power and desalination project

  • RJ profits rise but passenger numbers fall

    Jordan's national carrier, Royal Jordanian has reported a net profit of JD25.5m for the first nine months of 2009, compared to JD3.8m in net losses during the same period of last year. Gross profit increased by 89% to JD40.7m from JD21.5m in the corresponding period of 2008. However, there was a 3% drop in the number of passengers and 32% drop in cargo that the airline carried during the period. This resulted in operating revenues falling 16% to JD449m, from JD532m during the first three quar

  • Rocco Forte to manage Shepheard hotel

    The Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels has announced the appointment of The Rocco Forte Collection to manage The Shepheard Hotel in Cairo as a five-star hotel within their brand after assisting in the full renovation of the hotel. The Rocco Forte Collection team will assume temporary management of the 279-room hotel as of November 2009, running it outside of its main brand, after which it will close for total refurbishment and renovations. The hotel will be re-opened in early 201

  • Royal Falcon ups Iraq service

    Jordan-based Royal Falcon Airline has announced the launch of its first flight on Friday to the Iraqi city of Najaf, Petra news agency has reported. The carrier will operate two weekly flights to the southern Iraqi city using Boeing 373-400 aircraft. The company has recently also launched two weekly flights to Mosul.

  • Ruwais refinery scheme to cost $10bn

    Takreer expansion plan will increase plant’s capacity

  • Sabic arm awards Jubail engineering deal

    Al Jubail Fertilizer Company (Al-Bayroni), an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), has awarded KBR a contract to provide engineering, procurement and supply of proprietary equipment for Al-Bayroni's existing ammonia plant located in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. According to the contract, KBR will provide engineering design, procurement and installation support services for a new auxiliary boiler and a reformer convection section for the ammonia plant, which was originally built i

  • Sabic profits double in third quarter

    Revenues improve as commodity prices increase

  • Sabic Q3 proft falls 50%

    Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), the world's largest petrochemicals maker, has reported a 50% fall in third-quarter profit, Bloomberg has reported. Net income plunged to SR3.6bn ($960m) from SR7.24bn a year earlier, the firm said.

  • Sabic, Exxon JV to cost $5bn

    Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) and Exxon Mobil Chemical's joint-venture synthetic rubber plants are expected to cost approximately $5bn, Reuters has reported. The plants, which will be based at the Kemya complex in Jubail and the Yanpet complex in Yanbu, were expected to come online between 2013 and 2014. The project will have a combined production capacity of about 400,000 tons per year of carbon black, rubber and speciality polymers for both domestic and international sales.

  • Safco Q3 profits down 74%

    Saudi Fertilizers Co. (Safco) has said that its net profit in the three months to end-September had dropped by 74.6% to SR464m, compared to a record SR1.83bn a year earlier, Reuters has reported. New competition from Egypt and a decline in demand from the US market have added to the impact of a decline in global prices of the company's third-quarter earnings, Safco Chairman Mohamed al-Mady said. Saudi Basic Industries Corp holds a 42.9% stake in Safco.

  • SafeNet opens office in Dubai

    Information security specialist SafeNet, Inc., a global specialist in information security has announced the opening of its new office in Dubai to support the business needs for data protection. SafeNet will be at Gitex on October 18-22. The company specialises in Enterprise Data Protection Solution Suite which includes database and application data encryption, disk and file encryption, centralized key management, network and WAN encryption, and two-factor authentication.

  • Sama switches to New Skies by Navitaire

    Saudi Arabia-based low-cost carrier Sama has announced it will be replacing its reservations and distribution system with the New Skies system by Navitaire. The new system, which will be launched on October 23, offers new services including advanced seat selection and the opportunity to pre-purchase excess baggage will be available from this date, plus a new range of fares to suit all passengers.

  • Sama to buy 20 aircraft, says exec

    Kevin Steele, Chief Commercial Officer of Saudi Arabia's Sama Airlines, has said the company plans to buy 20 aircraft over the next four years from either Boeing or Airbus, Reuters has reported. The privately-held low-cost carrier would make a decision on Airbus' A320 or Boeing's 737-800 by year-end, he said.

  • Sama to relaunch flights to Sharjah

    Saudi Arabia-based low-cost carrier, Sama Airlines, has announced the restart of its flights from Riyadh to the UAE emirate of Sharjah starting November 11th, 2009. The airline will operate three flights per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The new flights are in addition to Sama's current three weekly flights from Jeddah to Sharjah.

  • Sanaa plans Yemen oil reserve study

    Decision for survey part of ongoing negotiations with World Bank

  • Saudi Alwafeer plans IPO

    Adnan Dabbagh, chief executive of Alwafeer Air, Saudi Arabia's first airline for pilgrims, has said that the carrier plans to hold an initial public offering within the next two to three years, Reuters has reported. The Jeddah-based airline, which is owned by Saudi companies including the Bin Laden Group and the Naghi Group, obtained an operating licence on October 4 and is expected to start flying during the Hajj season in November. The carrier has leased three Boeing 747 planes from Malaysi

  • Saudi and Netherlands firms plan catalyst plant

    Tayf and Albermarle value scheme at $80m

  • Saudi Arabia: Air-conditioning maintenance workshop

    Construction of an air-conditioning maintenance workshop. Closing date: 14 October 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Bridge and tunnel maintenance

    Maintenance of bridges and tunnels. Closing date: 17 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Buildings maintenance

    Maintenance and cleaning of buildings. Closing date: 22 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Chemical technology equipment

    Completion of chemical technology equipment. Closing date: 7 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Cultural centre

    Construction of a cultural centre. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Dental supplies

    Provision of dental supplies. Closing date: 1 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Drinking water pipes

    Rehabilitation, repair and replacement of drinking water pipes. Closing date: 12 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Gas emission monitoring system

    Provision of a continuous gas emission monitoring system for power and desalination plants. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Hospital entrance

    Development of a hospital entrance. Closing date: 16 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: HVAC system

    Rehabilitation, supply and replacement of a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Closing date: 16 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Irrigation system reinforcement

    Reinforcement of a community irrigation system. Closing date: 17 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Medical supplies

    Provision of general medical supplies. Closing date: 3 November 2009 

  • Saudi Arabia: Power station

    Construction of a power station. Closing date: 2 January 2010

  • Saudi Arabia: Property management software

    Provision of software for a property management system. Closing date: 18 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Rotary jib cranes

    Design, supply, insatallation and commissioning of two 15-tonne rotary jib cranes. Closing date: 19 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: School student bus transportation services

    Provision of supplementary bus transportation services for school students. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Schools and kindergarten construction

    Construction of schools and kindergartens. Closing date: 18 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Schools construction

    Construction of girls’ schools. Closing date: 18 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Sludge treatment units

    Supply and installation of mechanical sludge treatment units. Closing date: 2 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Storage yard works

    Construction of a shelter at a storage yard. Closing date: 23 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Surgical equipment

    Provision of surgical equipment. Closing date: 8 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Technical institute sanitation and catering services

    Provision of sanitation and catering services at a technical institute. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Vehicles

    Supply of vehicles. Closing date: 4 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Water network maintenance and pipe supply

    Maintenance of a water network and supply of pipes. Closing date: 12 December 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Water pipes

    Development, upgrade and replacement of water pipes. Closing date: 21 November 2009

  • Saudi Arabia: Water transmission pipeline conversion

    Conversion of a water transmission pipeline. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Saudi Aramco awards deals for seismic studies

    BGP Arabia to gather data on Empty Quarter, Red Sea and Manifa reserves

  • Saudi Aramco invites Wasea bulk plant bids

    State oil firm set to award contract in December

  • Saudi awards $800m road contracts

    Saudi Arabia has awarded contracts worth over SR3bn ($800m) for new roads in the kingdom as part of a massive investment programme, Reuters has reported citing the state news agency. The contracts were signed with various local firms, SPA said. Saudi Arabia has vowed to spend over $400bn as part of plans to diversify the economy, upgrade infrastructure and create jobs.

  • Saudi Binladin wins $3.7bn financial district contract

    Contractor will design and construct 30 buildings at King Abdullah Financial District

  • Saudi Electricity plans to launch independent power projects

    State utility will build plants at Al-Daba, Ras al-Zour and Shuqaiq

  • Saudi Electricity profits up by 15 per cent

    Profits for third quarter reach SR1.73bn

  • Saudi Electricity signs Qurayyah power contract

    Bemco and Doosan to complete work by early 2015

  • Saudi expands licensing in mineral sector

    A report from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in Saudi Arabia has shown an earning of SR14.5bn through exploitation of various minerals, and profits amounted to SR5.4bn, Gulf News has cited. Investments in Saudi Arabia's mineral sector were reported to have reached an estimated SR50bn. A total of 488 licences issued in the mineral sector in 2008, including 269 licences renewed. A total of 192 licences were issued for quarries of building materials, 49 for survey, 14 for explor

  • Saudi Kayan to retender two deals in Jubail

    Saudi Kayan Petrochemical has reissued a tender for the construction of a low density polyethylene plant in Jubail, Reuters has reported. The company has asked contractors to resubmit bids for the building of the 300,000 tonne per year (tpy plant) and a 210,000 tpy amines plant. The Kayan complex was due online in 2010 and will have an annual production capacity of 5.6 million tpy of petrochemical products.

  • Saudi Maaden Q3 net falls

    Saudi Arabian Mining has said its third-quarter net profit dropped by 23% to SR49m ($13.07m), compared with SR64m in the same period last year, Reuters has reported. The mining firm has attributed the decline to provisions for the Islamic tax of Zakat. Quarterly operational profit stood at SR21m, compared with a loss of SR28m for the same period last year, thanks to rising gold revenues, the company said in a statement.

  • Saudi petrochem exports fall

    According to figures by the Saudi Central Department of Statistics, the kingdom's petrochemicals exports fell 27.8% in July compared with the same month last year, after dropping 22.2% in the second quarter, Reuters has reported. Exports of petrochemicals made in Saudi Arabia had amounted to SR2.49bn ($664m) in July, compared with SR3.45bn in July last year, the figures showed. Petrochemicals and plastics, produced by companies such as state-controlled Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) and

  • Saudi Qassim Cement plans bonus share issue

    Saudi Qassim Cement has announced plans to offer its shareholders one bonus share for each existing stock to double its capital to SR900m, Reuters has reported. Shareholders would be invited to vote on the board proposal on November 16, the company said.

  • Saudi tourists spend SR4.7bn

    According to a report by the Data Centre for Tourism Research of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, 870,000 Saudi tourists had spent SR4.7bn holidaying outside the kingdom this year, the Saudi Gazette has reported. Bahrain topped the list of the destinations of Saudis for the second consecutive year with 406,500 tourists. Jordan was second with 169,000 tourists and the UAE third with 78,000 tourists.

  • Saudi Transformers to build Dammam plant

    Saudi Transformers Company and the Belgian Power Systems Company (PSC) have signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of an SR100m transformer factory, the largest in the Gulf region with a production capacity of about 100 MVA, Arab News has reported. The factory, which will be built in Dammam with the cooperation of PSC, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2010, with production to start in early 2011.

  • Saudia adds two Airbus A320s to its fleet

    Saudi Arabian Airlines has taken delivery of two more aircraft as part of its new fleet of A320 Airbus planes. The new 120-seat planes are part of its plans to modernise its fleet with 70 new aircraft, which will consist of 35 Airbus A320s, 15 Airbus A321s, eight Airbus A330s and 12 Boeing 787s. The airline has now taken delivery of four new A320s.

  • Saudia receives A320 delivery via Alafco

    Alafco Aviation Lease and Finance Company (Alafco) has delivered to Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) its first A320 aircraft of the 13 A320 aircraft it will provide to Saudia on operating lease. The A320 is intended for routes in the region, to Europe and to the Indian subcontinent, from Saudia's hub in Riyadh. Depending on the configuration, the A320s will seat between 120 and 132 passengers in two classes. The aircraft are powered by CFM56 engines.

  • Saudia to float 30% of catering unit

    Saudi Arabia's national carrier, Saudia has said that it will offer 30% of its catering unit through an initial public offering in nine months as part of its privatization efforts, Reuters has reported. 'We are now in the path of going further into IPO mode ... it will be the first listed company from the group of Saudia,' Khalid Almolhem, director general of the airline said. The airline's catering unit was the first to go as Saudia sold 49% of it in January 2008, followed by the cargo unit

  • Savola in deal for Turkish sugar plants

    Saudi Arabia's second-largest food producer, Savola Al Azizia United, has announced the signing of an agreement to form a venture with Turkey-based Tarim Kredi and Saudi Arabia-based Nesma Group to buy Turkish sugar plants, Bloomberg has reported. Under the terms of the preliminary agreement, Savola and Tarim Kredi will each hold a 40% stake in the venture, while the Nesma Group will hold the remaining 20%. Savola and its partners plan to buy six sugar plants in Turkey, which are being sold b

  • Savola to buy Tate and Lyle stakes

    Saudi-based Savola Group is in talks to buy British sugar refiner and sweetener group Tate and Lyle's stakes in sugar refineries in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, a Savola executive told Reuters. The talks are about Tate and Lyle's 10% stake in a 1.2 million tonnes per year sugar refinery in Saudi Arabia and a 3% stake in a 750,000 tonnes per year sugar refinery in Egypt, according to the executive, who asked not to be The deal would end a business partnership between Savola and Tate and Lyle that

  • Savola's Q3 proft climbs 76%

    Savola Al Azizia United, Saudi Arabia's largest food products firm by market value, has reported a 75.8% increase in its third-quarter profit on higher sales, Reuters has reported. Net profit was SR277.8m ($74.1m) in the three months to end-September, compared with SR158m a year earlier, the company said.

  • Schlumberger begins operations in Saudi

    US-based oil services company, Schlumberger has announced the opening of a new reservoir completions manufacturing centre in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The new centre, located in the Dammam Industrial City represents an investment of approximately $25m in manufacturing equipment, facility lease and inventory and houses a team of design and manufacturing engineers specialized in the production of customized downhole reservoir completions equipment, the company said.

  • Sembcorp to complete Salalah financing with fewer Chinese banks

    Institutions fail to raise funding for deal before deadline

  • Sete Energy secures deal to build Yanbu wastewater plant

    Saudi contractor to use treated effluent to irrigate land

  • Sewedy Cables begins production in Ethiopia

    Egypt-based El Sewedy Cables has announced it had started production at its power cables plant in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes of copper and aluminium, Reuters has reported. The company owns 85.7% of the new $35m facility while its partner, Dynamic General Trading, owns the balance.

  • Sewedy wins $183 power contract

    Egypt-based El Sewedy Cables has announced it was part of a consortium that has won an EGP1bn ($183m) electricity link project, Reuters has reported. The project will link the Abu Qir area in the north of Egypt to Badr City, 50km east of Cairo, through a 340km power line, the firm said. The project is scheduled for completion within two years, the company added.

  • Sharjah hotels see increased occupancy

    Mohamed Al Noman, Director General of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has said that hotels in Sharjah are starting to experience an upswing in occupancy rates. 'We are closely monitoring the performance of Sharjah's hotels and we are very pleased to say that they have rebounded from the lowest levels, which occurred at the end of 2008, and are currently experiencing occupancy rates of around 75%, which is in line with the figures recorded at the same time last y

  • Sharjah raises power tariffs for expatriates

    Residents respond negatively to higher costs

  • Silicon developer Dow Corning opens Bahrain hub

    Silicon-based materials developer and manufacturer Dow Corning has announced the opening of its Middle East headquarters and commercial entity in Manama, Bahrain. The new unit is intended to help Dow Corning provide support to construction, textiles, petrochemical and oil and gas industries with silicon-based materials and solutions. Dow Corning's Bahrain office will house engineers, chemists and sales professionals with diverse expertise in silicon-based technology.

  • Sipchem plans Saudi petrochemicals research centre

    Private firm signs memorandum of understanding to build and manage scheme

  • Sipchem's new plant to start fully in November

    Saudi International Petrochemical Co (Sipchem) has said it will fully start its new $1.8bn petrochemical plant in November, Reuters has reported. The new facility is the second phase of a Sipchem project, and will consist of an acetyls complex that will produce 450,000 tonnes of acetic acid, 330,000 tonnes of vinyl acetate monomer and 345,000 tonnes of carbon monoxide annually.

  • Six killed in Sharjah airplane crash

    A Boeing 707 cargo plane bound for Sudan crashed yesterday shortly after takeoff from Sharjah International Airport north of Dubai, killing the entire six-member crew but causing no other casualties on the ground. The Sudanese cargo plane fell in an unpopulated area about two miles from the airport, Sheik Khalid al-Qassimi, director of the Sharjah department of civil aviation said.

  • Sonatrach awards El-Merk pipeline deal to Bonatti

    Italian firm set to build three pipelines in eastern Algeria

  • Sonatrach plans to award pipeline design deal

    Pipeline network will link oil and gas fields with Hassi R’Mel distribution hub

  • Sonatrach pushes ahead with major refinery schemes

    Projects were delayed in 2008 as subsidiary was reintegrated into state energy giant

  • Sony Vaio adapters recalled over electric shock risk

    Sony has announced a voluntary recall of certain power adapters and docking stations for its Vaio range of laptops. The decision was made after the company received four reports of customers receiving electric shocks from faulty adapters. Models of affected AC adaptors have been identified as VGP-AC19V17 and VGP-AC19V18, and VGP-PRFE1 for the docking stations.

  • Southern Cement Q3 profit down 5.4%

    Southern Province Cement Co, Saudi Arabia's largest cement maker by market value, has posted a 5.4% fall in third-quarter net profit due to a long-standing exports ban, Reuters has reported. Net profit for the quarter stood at SR141m ($37.6m), compared with SR149m in the same period a year ago. Operational profit had declined by 5.2% to SR146m from SR154m in the year-earlier period.

  • SriLankan adds new flights to Dammam

    SriLankan Airlines has launched another flight to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, offering now a total of four flights per week to its Dammam-Colombo route, Arab News has reported. SriLankan has two flights from Riyadh and two from Jeddah.

  • Steve Parker, Head of Rail, EC Harris

    The important aspects of railway project development and delivery are talked about by Steve Parker, Head of Rail, EC Harris, looking at the stages from investment through to delivery.

  • Sudan carrier banned from UAE following crash

    The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has imposed a temporary ban on Sudan-based Azza Transport from operating in the country after last week's crash of its Boeing 707 on takeoff from Sharjah International Airport, Khaleej Times has reported. The ban is a preventive measure until investigations into the cause of the crash are completed, the authority said.

  • Sudan: Core fiduciary consultancy services

    Provision of consultancy services comprising the provision of PPU procurement advisers for a core fiduciary project. Closing date: 3 November 2009

  • Sudan: Pavement management system consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services comprising the design and establishment of a pavement management system. Closing date: 25 November 2009

  • Sudan: Pick-up trucks

    Supply of eight double-cabin pick-up trucks. Closing date: 28 November 2009

  • Suez Canal revenues fall 19%

    Revenues of Egypt's Suez Canal had dropped 18.5% to $382.5m in September, compared to $469.6m in the same month last year, but were up from $371.8m in August, Reuters has reported. The number of vessels using the waterway was 1,454 in September down from 1,872 in September 2008 and little changed from 1,453 in August.

  • Swiss firm bids low for Omani power work

    ABB to supply supervisory control and data acquisition systems to Majan Electricity

  • Swissotel Makkah to open in Q1 2011

    Swissotel Hotels & Resorts has announced it expects its first hotel in the Middle East, Swissotel Makkah in Saudi Arabia to open in January 2011. The new hotel is going to have 1571 guest rooms, including 88 suites, spread over 53 floors, with half of all the rooms and suites enjoying a view of the Holy Mosque. Additionally, Swissotel Makkah will have four restaurants, an Executive Lounge, two meeting rooms and a Business Centre.

  • Symantec launches FileStore for the Middle East at Gitex

    Symantec is launching its latest software into the Middle East at Gitex technology exhibition in Dubai, which opens today. Called FileStore, the software targets businesses that want to build scalable, file-based storage services. Symantec says the product can manage and protect business critical information. It can add or remove storage dynamically without taking systems offline, scales up to 16 nodes and 2petabytes of storage. Prices start from $6,996 for two nodes and two CPU sockets. 'Fil

  • Syria sees 37% rise in tourists in September

    Syria has recorded a 37% increase in the number of tourists visiting the country during September, with a total number (including expatriates, Arabs and foreigners) of 518,905, compared to 379,289 in September 2008, the Syrian Arab news agency has reported. European tourists' number during the first 9 months had grown by 24% to 272,402, while Gulf tourists' number increased by 19% to 643,447m according to the country's ministry of tourism.

  • Syria: DGPS surveying unit

    Supply of a complete DGPS surveying unit. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Syria: Drive head parts

    Supply of spare parts for right angle drive heads. Closing date: 13 December 2009

  • Syria: Electric train parts

    Supply of spare parts for diesel electric trains. Closing date: 19 October 2009

  • Syria: Seismic equipment

    Supply of a complete down hole/up hole unit for seismic applications. Closing date: 14 December 2009

  • Syria: Separators

    Provision of separators for delivery at oil field warehouses. Closing date: 8 December 2009

  • Syria: Tubular rubber rolls

    Supply of tubular rubber rolls. Closing date: 16 November 2009

  • Tandberg opens Middle East office

    Tandberg has opened its Middle East head office, the Middle East Executive Briefing Centre in Dubai Internet City, the company has said. The facility is equipped with Tandberg's technology, telepresence and video conferencing solutions.

  • Taqa chief executive quits

    Peter Barker-Homek set to begin new role in energy sector

  • Tayf, Ablemarle sign plant deal in Saudi

    Saudi Arabia-based Ibn Hayyan Plastic Products Company (Tayf), an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and Albemarle Corporation, a catalysts producer, have entered into a 50-50 joint venture to build a large-scale organometallics catalyst plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The new JV, Saudi Organometallic Chemicals Company, will build a plant that will have the capacity to produce 6,000 metric tonnes of tri-ethyl aluminium equivalents annually. Tri-ethyl aluminium is used pri

  • TDIC issues $1bn sukuk

    Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has issued the largest GCC sukuk of 2009 with its inaugural $1bn 5-year Reg S Sukuk Al Ijara, the group has said. The Sukuk was issued under a $1.45bn Global Sukuk Trust Certificate Issuance Programme. This transaction is the first sukuk issuance by a 100% indirect Government of Abu Dhabi-owned entity.

  • Technip to open Iraqi office

    Contractor plans to secure oil and gas construction work

  • Technip wins Bahraini power plant work

    State petroleum company plans to replace steam turbine generators

  • The Address adds The Montgomerie to portfolio

    Emaar's The Address Hotels + Resorts has added The Montgomerie Dubai golf club in its portfolio and will now operate and manage the boutique-styled clubhouse effective October 8, 2009. The Address Hotels + Resorts will manage all operational aspects of the property, while the golf course and adjoining golf academy will still be managed by Troon Golf.

  • The Address Dubai Marina opens

    The Address Hotels + Resorts has announced the opening of The Address Dubai Marina, catered as a five-star business and leisure hub. The hotel offers 200 rooms, including 28 suites. Apart from the hotel rooms, The Address Dubai Marina also has 442 serviced apartments.

  • Top Kuwaiti oil executive retires

    Political issues hit development of energy sector

  • Torah Cement's H1 2009 profit up 9%

    Egypt-based Torah Cement has reported an 8.6% rise in net profit to EGP178.3m in the first six months of 2009, according to the Egyptian stock exchange. The firm had made a net profit of EGP164.3m in the same period of 2008. Torah Cement is a subsidiary of Suez Cement, which is itself majority-owned by Italy's Italcementi.

  • Travelport opens Abu Dhabi office

    Travelport, a global distribution system provider, has announced the launch of its new direct operations for Galileo-connected travel agents in Abu Dhabi. Travelport's new office will offer a wide-range of Galileo solutions and services and will house dedicated sales, training and helpdesk teams focussed on providing the highest levels of customer support, the firm said.

  • Tunisia: Project IPR consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services for the independent procurement reviews (IPRs) of selected projects. Closing date: 30 November 2009

  • Turkey signs Iraqi irrigation contract

    Water ministry to use Ninawa project to improve agricultural production

  • UAE broadband speeds panned

    According to a study by the Said Business School of Oxford University, the UAE has ranked in the bottom quarter of 42 nations in terms of the quality of high-speed internet services, below neighbours Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well as countries including Egypt and Tunisia, The National has reported. The notion of a "digital divide" between those with internet access and those without is now shifting to a "quality divide," according to the report.

  • UAE demand for data centre service seen to double

    In a study made by Frost & Sullivan study, the Middle East and South Asia market for third party data centre services stands at $230.2m. The report suggested the UAE market is set to witness most of third-party data centre participants expanding their data centres almost double in the next few years, while managed services space is expected to grow at 25.7%. Saudi Arabian market is seen to be at an early stage, largely dominated by local companies with a regional presence.

  • UAE domain name registration up

    The UAE's Telecommunication Regulation Authority (TRA) has said that registrations of the .ae domain name have increased by 30% this year, with the most being from Dubai, Emirates Business has reported. The growth this year was mainly due to the new policy framework and a non-monopolistic environment among registrars, the regulator said.

  • UAE firm seeks protection from steel dumping

    UAE-based Al Ghurair Iron and Steel has said it will formally request government protection from steel dumping, Reuters has reported. 'The excess supply from India and China is being dumped in the UAE market and is hurting our prices,' said the company's CEO Abu Bucker Husain.

  • UAE has largest share of hotels being built in Mena

    A new study has found that nearly half the 120,589 hotel rooms being built in the Middle East and Africa are to be located in the UAE. The UAE is building 57,126 rooms, said the STR Global report, while Saudi Arabia is a distant second with 10,986 rooms. Morocco and Qatar will add 5,924 and 5,408 rooms respectively, the report added.

  • UAE inks air services deal with Cyprus

    The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority has signed an agreement with the Republic of Cyprus to increase flights between the two countries. According to the pact, both parties have agreed to increase to nine, the weekly frequencies for UAE designated airlines.

  • UAE inks open skies deal with Dominican Republic

    The General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE has initialled an 'open' Air Services Agreement with the government of the Dominican Republic. The agreement allows unrestricted frequencies, capacity and types of aircraft, whether owned or leased, to be operated by the designated airlines of each country in any type of service, passenger or cargo, on the routes between the Dominican Republic and the UAE.

  • UAE inks 'open sky' agreement with Zambia

    The UAE has inked an 'open' Air Services Agreement (ASA) and with the Government of Zambia, during ICAO's 2009 Air Services Negotiations Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced. The two delegations have agreed that any number of designated airlines of both parties will have the right to perform scheduled air services. The UAE has designated Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, RAK Airways, Air Arabia and FlyDubai as UAE national airlines under t

  • UAE rail project to begin by end 2010

    Hussain Jasem Al Nowais was appointed as chairman of Etihad (Union) Railways Company, the UAE railways company recently founded with Dhs1bn capital, WAM has reported. Al Nowais has revealed the national rail project will have an initial estimated cost between Dhs25-30bn. The railway line will be constructed at a total length of 1100km, connecting Ghuwaifat boardering Saudi Arabia to the west and the border points with Oman to the east.

  • UAE signs open skies deal with Kyrgyz Republic

    The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority has signed an "open" Air Services Agreement (ASA) with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Kyrgyz Republic. The agreement allows unrestricted frequency of flights, capacity and types of aircraft, whether owned or leased, to be operated by the designated airlines of each country for passenger or cargo services on routes between the Kyrgyz Republic and the UAE. The agreement comes days after the UAE signed an open skies deal with Zambia.

  • UAE signs open skies deal with Serbia

    The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority has signed an open air services agreement with the Republic of Serbia that allows unrestricted frequencies, capacity and types of aircraft to be operated by the designated airlines of each country in any type of service (passenger or cargo) on routes between the two countries.

  • UAE TRA to offer 50 free domain names

    The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has signed an agreement with Emirates Internet Group (EIG) to cover the fees of registering 50 UAE websites under the national domain name for a year, Wam has reported. The domain names will be donated to 50 distinguished Emirati websites, the TRA said. The agreement aims to encourage young Emiratis to use the UAE national domain name (.ae) and to highlight their Emirati identity on the internet.

  • UAE TRA ups domain registration campaign

    The UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has launched the second phase of its marketing campaign, which aims to target new businesses that have yet to register a domain name as well as existing organisations and businesses that have a web presence but have not registered for a (.ae) domain name. 'There are more registrars providing .ae domain name registration. Customers have the choice to select their registrar as competition leads to better service. The registration process b

  • UAE women become pilots at Etihad

    For the first time, Emarati women have earned their wings as pilots at Etihad Airways, the airline has announced. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier said the women, Salma al-Baloushi and Aisha al-Mansouri, graduated from flight training alongside nine male colleagues and earned the airline transport pilot licence (ATPL). 'Everyone at Etihad is delighted that Salma and Aisha - our first female cadet pilots - have made history as the first women to graduate from the programme,' Etihad Airways Chief E

  • UAE: Cable laying works

    Carrying out cable laying works for four substations. Closing date: 15 November 2009

  • UAE: Data centre equipment

    Supply of equipment for a data centre. Closing date: 27 October 2009

  • UAE: Electricity distribution substations

    Installation, testing and commissioning of electricity distribution substations. Closing date: 9 November 2009

  • UAE: Hostel renovation works

    Renovation of a hostel. Closing date: 17 November 2009

  • UAE: Overhead power line works

    Installation, dismantling and recovery of overhead power lines. Closing date: 3 November 2009

  • UAE: Palm cultivation factory manpower

    Provision of manpower for palm cultivation factories. Closing date: 11 November 2009

  • UAE: Park construction

    Construction of a park. Closing date: 5 November 2009

  • UAE: Patient satisfaction survey

    Implementation of a patient satisfaction survey. Closing date: 28 October 2009

  • UAE: Power station beach wells

    Supply of beach wells at a power plant. Closing date: 24 November 2009

  • UAE: RCC water tanks

    Supply of two reinforced concrete (RCC) water tanks. Closing date: 24 November 2009

  • UAE: Road development

    Development of an interchange. Closing date: 8 December 2009

  • UAE: Scada system upgrade

    Upgrade of supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) systems for substations. Closing date: 23 November 2009

  • UAE: Slaughterhouse service building

    Provision of a service building at a slaughterhouse. Closing date: 1 November 2009

  • UAE: Substations

    Supply, installation, commissioning and testing of three 132/11kV substations. Closing date: 6 December 2009

  • UAE: Water distribution pipes

    Laying and maintenance of water distribution pipelines. Closing date: 22 November 2009

  • UAE's IT spend to top $1.8bn by 2013, says report

    The UAE's IT services sector will grow annually by 12% to 2013, according to a new report by IDC. The study, which forecasts growth for the country's IT industry from 2008 to 2013, projects spending to increase annually by 12.4% with IT services' expenditure set to surpass $1.828bn in 2013. The report also said the UAE's IT services market was worth $1.02bn last year, up 29.1% year-on-year.

  • Union Cement Q3 profit falls 69%

    UAE-based Union Cement said third-quarter profit plunged 69% as sales in the three-month period dropped 49% compared to the same period a year ago. Net income dropped to Dhs10.8m from Dhs35.4m a year earlier, the company said.

  • Union Rail to award bids

    The UAE's Union Railway Company will begin to award contracts to build the country-wide rail network in early 2010, HE Hussain Al Nowais Chairman of the group told delegates at Meed's Middle East Rail Conference this morning. The Dhsd30m project will connect the emirates of the UAE as well as joining rail networks in Oman and Saudi Arabia.

  • US firm wins control system deal in Riyadh

    GE signs contract to help make plant more reliable and efficient

  • Vodafone Egypt predicts 160k broadband users

    Vodafone Egypt has said that it expected to add 100,000 mobile broadband customers in 2009, raising its total broadband client base to 160,000, Reuters has reported. Despite being a high rate of growth, this pace of expansion would not impact service performance, Vodafone's CEO, Hatem Dowidar said. Analysts estimate the number broadband users at around one million, suggesting Vodafone Egypt had 10% or more of the market.

  • Windows 8 details leaked

    A leak from Microsoft's research and development team in the US, has revealed the software giant's plans for a 128-bit architecture successor to its upcoming Windows 7 operating system, PC World magazine has reported. 64-bit computers, which can address more RAM and are theoretically more powerful than 32-bit equivalents, are likely to become more popular with Windows 7, and a 128-bit version of Windows 8 would represent the next leap in performance. According to Microsoft's plans to release

  • Without strong IP there will be no innovation, experts warn

    Industry experts have warned that without strong intellectual property laws, Dubai will never be able to attract companies that will innovate and invest in technology research and development. At a conference organised by Dubai Silicon Oasis during Gitex, speakers said that the emirate has a huge opportunity to attract talent, but it must lay the foundations for that to happen.

  • World Bank forecasts Middle East recovery in 2010

    The World Bank is forecasting a recovery in the Middle East economy in 2010 after suffering a growth setback in 2009.

  • World Bank helps Dubai develop regional bond markets

    Political risk insurance will attract investment in the Gulf

  • WTO: Tourism sector to recover in 2010

    The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has said that the global tourism industry is over the worst and recovery in 2010 seems likely. Although the decline in the Middle East is significant (-13%), this is the only region, apart from Africa, which has posted positive results in June and July this year. Arrivals are still well above the 2007 level as the current decline follows two very strong growth years. Also in the Middle East various destinations bucked the overall trend and report notewor

  • Yas Hotel gears up for F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    Yas Hotel on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi is set to welcome guests for the inaugural Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The hotel is owned and operated by Aldar Hotels and Hospitality. The hotel has announced that it will open its doors to the public on 3 November, the day after the final race of the F1 season.

  • Yas Hotel gets five-star classification

    The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has awarded the new Yas Hotel a five-star classification. 'Properties such as the Yas Hotel and Emirates Palace are currently classified as five-star but obviously they go well beyond the requirements of that particular ranking,' Nasser Al Reyami, Tourism Standards Director at ADTA said. Scheduled to open to the public on November 3, a day after the final race of this year's Formula 1 season, the hotel is owned and operated by Aldar Hotels and Hospitality.

  • Yemen: Bank risk management consultancy

    Provision of consultancy services comprising a risk management framework and capacity building of an Islamic bank. Closing date: 23 October 2009

  • Yemen: Independent power project

    Development of an independent power project. Closing date: 14 November 2009

  • Yemen: Mobile soil testing laboratory equipment

    Supply of equipment for a mobile soil testing laboratory. Closing date: 16 November 2009

  • Yemen: School furniture

    Supply, delivery and installation of furniture for schools. Closing date: 5 December 2009

  • Yemeni oil export earnings rise 58 per cent in August

    Stronger oil prices and state’s growing share of crude production increases earnings

  • Yokogawa to upgrade Shuwaikh desalination plant

    Japanese firm to replace control systems at plant

  • Zadco gas processing expansion put on hold

    Offshore oil developer considering integrating project into artificial islands scheme

  • Zadco plans Satah oil field tender

    Project worth an estimated $500m

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