MEED
Issue 4 27 January-2 February 2012
View all stories from this issue.
-
Abdulaziz Mohammed al-Hokail
Abdulaziz Mohammed al-Hokail is President, Saudi Railways Organisation -
Abu Dhabi ends speculation with project approvals
Sentiment in the capital worsened in 2011 as contract awards dipped -
Abu Dhabi tenders offshore oil facilities
Contracts involve early production facilities at Umm al-Lulu and Sarb fields -
Ala Ghanem
Ala Ghanem is regional director, Middle East, North Africa & Turkey, Invensys Rail -
Al-Assad rejects Arab League call for power transfer
Saudi Arabia to withdraw monitors from observer mission in Syria -
Al-Muhaidib/Besix joint venture wins Jizan grain silos contract
Partnership will build grain silos project with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes -
Al-Rajhi plans gather pace
The huge steel complex will make a big contribution to the kingdom’s industrial diversification -
Al-Rajhi prepares to tender $3bn steel project
Local company sets ambitious timeline for huge steel complex in Saudi Arabia -
Conares Metal Supply
The steel pipe manufacturer hopes to hit revenues of $500m in 2012, despite weaker regional demand -
Conares Metal Supply: MEED Assessment
The slump in demand for construction materials has forced the company to cut operating rates -
Contractors submit bids for Petrokemya plant
Thermoplastic plant in Jubail will be the first of its kind in the region -
David O’Reilly
David O’Reilly is executive project director, high-speed rail, URS Corporation -
Dubai Economic Department to present revised 2015 growth plan
The new plan is expected to involve a significant change in the emirate’s ambitions -
Dubai Holding subsidiary repays $500m debt
Repayment is first of Dubai’s $11bn debt due in 2012 -
EU agrees on Iran oil embargo
Embargo takes effect from 24 January, but existing oil delivery deals will be allowed to run until July -
Few expect UAE market to change
Firms realise that the days when inefficiency is absorbed by double-digit economic growth are gone -
Foreign ownership limits under reform in the UAE
A new companies law allowing foreign investors to take majority control is awaiting final approval. It could enable the UAE to gain emerging market status -
Gas crunch looms ahead for UAE
With its gas deficit expected to widen by 2025, the UAE needs to reduce its reliance on gas-fired power plants and take bold steps such as reducing fuel subsidies to manage demand -
Gazprom extends tender deadlines for Iraq oil processing facility
Russian firm is also seeking bids for civil works -
Gulf Capital to deploy remainder of $533m fund this year
Private equity firm will focus on energy and healthcare -
Ignasi Nieto
Ignasi Nieto is chairman and chief executive, INECO -
Iran and Iraq boost Gulf projects sector
GCC index grows 0.2 per cent as Oman, Qatar and the UAE all record an increase in value -
Iraq approves two new oil engineering deals
Samsung Engineering and Petrofac await contract awards worth a total of $1.33bn -
Islamists win landslide victory
Solving Egypt’s economic woes and reassuring investors will be top priority for the country’s newly elected members of parliament over the coming months -
Jordan in talks with first-ranked IPP bidders
Nepco may opt for power plant expansion, greenfield project or both -
Jubarah bin Eid al-Suraiseri
Jubarah bin Eid al-Suraiseri is Transport Minister, Saudi Arabia -
Kuwait to expand two power plants
Contracts to extend Al-Zour South and Subiya power plants to be tendered -
Labour minister gets tough on Saudisation
Companies could lose work permits if Saudi nationals are not hired -
Marafiq aims to close $1.2bn loan in February
Bank group in place and pricing set for 15-year corporate loan -
Mostorod refinery scheme to go back to banks
Egyptian refinery project takes on new shareholders and targets financial close by March -
Oil contractors remain wary
With fears that Iraq is set for another round of sectarian strife, risks and costs in the country are spiralling -
Property slump continues in Abu Dhabi
Falling prices as a result of oversupply are is still depressing the UAE real estate sector, with the capital now feeling the pressure. However, better-quality schemes are holding their prices -
Q&A: Bharat Bhatia, chairman and managing director, Conares
We are not doing as well as we might have hoped, but we are still here -
Qatar invites project management bids for Doha metro
Bid deadline is 20 February -
Sabic and ExxonMobil set bid deadlines for $2bn Elastomers project
Both technical and commercial submissions are due throughout the first quarter for Saudi Arabian project -
Sadara to start seeking bank debt in second quarter
Aramco wants to complete financing for the $20bn project by the end of 2012 -
Saudi and Dubai markets make gains
Saudi stock market rises as bourse opens up to foreign listings -
Saudi Arabia's Haramain railway
Six executives involved in the Middle East’s first high-speed passenger railway project: Jubarah bin Eid al-Suraiseri, Abdulaziz Mohammed al-Hokail, Ala Ghanem, David O’Reilly, Ignasi Nieto and Teofilo Serrano Beltran -
Saudi liquidity to benefit borrowers
Downward pressure on pricing in the local market is likely to continue, making loans even more attractive -
Slowing China resets priorities
With China’s economy forecast to slow further in 2012, petrochemicals producers will need start looking for alternative export markets -
State dominates loan and deposit growth in Qatar banking sector
Credit growth expected to slow during 2012 -
State drives Saudi construction market
Saudi government clients award 92 per cent of contracts in 2011 -
Teofilo Serrano Beltran
Teofilo Serrano Beltran is president, Renfe Operadora -
The risk from China’s slowdown
The cooling of the world’s second-largest economy poses a threat to energy and petrochemicals exporters -
UAE economic growth to remain sluggish
The continued global economic uncertainty and a new conservative policy in Abu Dhabi mean UAE economic growth is set to slow in 2012 -
UAE Special Report: Ownership law to boost capital markets
The approval of a new companies law by the UAE parliament in December is a major step towards what could potentially be the biggest shake-up in the country’s corporate history -
UAE: Water Scada control centre
Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a new water supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) control centre
