MEED
Issue no 51 18-24 December 2009
View all stories from this issue.
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Anas Kassem
Anas Kassem is transport director, Parsons Brinckerhoff -
Arab Banking Corporation
ABC is focusing on expanding its retail business as it aims to become one of the region’s leading banks -
Arab Banking Corporation: MEED Assessment
ABC’s capital base is strong, so future performance will depend on how successful it is in implementing its revised business strategy -
Aramco awards marine oil and gas exploration deals
Argas wins two seismic data-gathering contracts worth $400m in total -
Bahwan wins Muscat airport mechanical and electrical work
Local contractor will work as a subcontractor on the first construction package at the airport -
Bailout cuts cost of insuring Dubai debt
Abu Dhabi’s $10bn rescue package stabilises borrowing costs by averting default at Nakheel -
Bank guarantee allows Union Properties to accelerate work
Contractors working on projects for local developer Union Properties at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) have accelerated construction work because the company has started to make more regular payments. -
Banks can expect to be squeezed
The completion of the financing for Saudi Aramco’s $10bn Jubail refinery project will be a great achievement, given the turbulence in the region’s financial markets over the past year. -
Bidding on Saudi Aramco service deals stalls
Contractors gain further extension on bidding process for five-year deals -
Brett Doughty
Brett Doughty, is project director, Hyder Consulting -
Contractors express interest in $1.7bn Barzan gas scheme
At least 10 international firms compete to build facilities in the North field -
Contractors submit bids for Saudi Aramco bulk plant
Winning company to build tanks, petrol pumps and substations -
Contractors vie to build City Centre mall in Beirut
Al-Futtaim assesses prices for super-structure contract -
Developer calls for fresh bids for Onyx Towers
Client plans to reduce cost of $187m development -
Dubai recovery will be short term
Dubai’s real estate sector has had a terrible year. With prices falling 47 per cent, it is the world’s worst performing property market, and developers have, unsurprisingly, decided to rein in their plans and cancel projects. -
Egypt launches prequalification for Abu Rawash wastewater project
Deadline for applications is 14 February -
Emirates Aluminium in export credit agency talks
Aluminium project seeks additional financing -
Firms bid for Adnoc headquarters
Abu Dhabi oil company evaluates technical proposals -
Gas firms have to look outside Qatar
As the decade draws to a close, international oil companies (IOCs) and energy contractors working in Qatar have been warned not to expect the state to launch any major gas projects for at least the next five years. -
Gasco selects WorleyParsons to upgrade Asab gas facilities
Australian engineer wins deal to build booster station and pipeline -
Gulf road consultants
Six key people helping to develop the region’s road and bridge networks are: Jesper Damgaard, Anas Kassem, Brett Doughty, John Lee, Hamed Zaghw and Steven Miller -
Hamed Zaghw
Hamed Zaghw, manager, road and highways division, Parsons -
Jesper Damgaard
Jesper Damgaard is managing director, Cowi UAE -
John Lee
John Lee is highway and transport planning adviser, Abu Dhabi Department of Transport -
Kuwait National Petroleum tenders acid gas deal
Ten international contractors prequalified to bid on deal -
Kuwait Oil retenders water injection facilities contract
State energy firm invites fresh bids after cancelling original award -
National oil company receives bids for Kuwait office complex
Winning bidder will build offices to serve the northern oil fields -
National Water Company scraps treatment plant privatisation
State firm to pay for construction of third wastewater facility -
Oman shortlists water contract management bidders
Companies due to submit their bids by 18 January 2010 -
OMV invites proposals for Yemen oil pipeline
Scheme is part of wider plans to boost oil output at Habban field -
Petro-Rabigh: The next stage in Aramco’s evolution
The opening of the Petro-Rabigh facility is a key moment for the energy giant as it moves into the petrochemicals industry, with plans for further integrated plants to be developed across the kingdom -
Politics key to nuclear award
Price will not be the only consideration in the UAE’s choice of power plant developer -
Qatargas delays decision on retendered recovery project
Ras Laffan Industrial City scheme already delayed because of high construction costs -
Riyadh and Beijing: A relationship of convenience
Riyadh and Beijing may not be natural bedfellows, but since establishing diplomatic relations a decade ago, they have developed a strong alliance based on trade and oil -
Riyadh builds for a recovery in logistics trade
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in land, sea and air infrastructure. But it also needs to ensure its people have the skills to work in logistics if it is to provide serious competition to its Gulf rivals -
Riyadh: Raising standards and aspirations with higher education
The drive to transform the kingdom into a knowledge-based economy is key to Riyadh’s long-term economic plans, but it is also presenting a challenge to conservative values -
Sanaa needs outside help
Observers have fretted that the low-level war between Sanaa and the northern Houthi rebels is really a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. But in truth, the conflict’s roots lie firmly in Yemen. -
Satorp to issue $1bn sukuk for Jubail refinery
Deutsche Bank, Samba and Banque Saudi Fransi to launch Islamic bond to help finance refinery -
Saudi Arabia's economy on the brink of recovery
Riyadh’s massive fiscal stimulus has helped stabilise the economy and restore confidence among the kingdom’s business community -
Sokhna seeks financing for refinery
Disclosure of contract awards eases contractors’ fears that the project has been put on hold -
Special Report: Saudi Arabia - Riyadh builds ties with China
Saudi Arabia’s willingness to suppress its oil production to boost crude oil prices in the wider market will result in under-performing domestic growth next year. -
Steven Miller
Steven Miller is Dubai managing director, FX Fowle International -
Ties with China benefit Riyadh
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud’s first visit outside the Middle East after he became king was to China. His January 2006 trip to Beijing, five months after succeeding his half-brother, was the first by a Saudi monarch to the People’s Republic since diplomatic relations were established in 1990. -
Yemen: A threat to regional stability
As fears grow that the conflict between the Yemeni government and northern Houthi tribesmen could spill over into neighbouring states, foreign intervention appears increasingly likely
