http://www.meed.com/rss/rss_meed_news.xml en-uk France’s Nexans has signed a contract for the phase 8 expansion and development of Qatar’s electricity transmission network. http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/nexans_signs_contract_for_qatar_phase_8_expansion.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/nexans_signs_contract_for_qatar_phase_8_expansion.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Karin Maree 23 July 2008 17:12 Bids for the phase 6 extension of Saudi Electricity Company’s (SEC) Rabigh power plant are due on 20 August. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/august_date_for_rabigh_6_bids.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/august_date_for_rabigh_6_bids.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Karin Maree 23 July 2008 16:42 Members of Jordan’s parliament have requested that the government becomes more transparent about how it sets the price of petrol, diesel and gas amid growing popular unrest at the rising cost of fuel. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/mps_request_more_transparent_pricing_for_petrol_diesel_and_gas.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/mps_request_more_transparent_pricing_for_petrol_diesel_and_gas.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Will Hadfield 23 July 2008 17:18 Maroc Telecom has grown its customer numbers in its home market by 21 per cent to 14.2 million over the last year, according to the company’s latest financial results. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/maroc_telecom_grows_customer_numbers_by_21_per_cent.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/maroc_telecom_grows_customer_numbers_by_21_per_cent.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Will Hadfield 23 July 2008 16:41 Etihad Airways will launch flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan from 2 December. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/etihad_to_launch_flights_to_kazakhstan_this_year.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/etihad_to_launch_flights_to_kazakhstan_this_year.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Hugh Tomlinson 23 July 2008 16:51 Financing for the $3.7bn Ras Laffan C independent water and power project (IWPP) will now include a $250m Islamic tranche provided by Qatar Islamic Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/ras_laffan_c_adds_islamic_tranche.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/ras_laffan_c_adds_islamic_tranche.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Matthew Martin 23 July 2008 15:20 India’s Kalpataru Power Transmission is low bidder at OR19.3m ($50.7m) for the contract to build the Oman Gas Company (OGC) gas pipeline network in southern Oman. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/indians_bid_low_for_oman_gas_pipeline.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/indians_bid_low_for_oman_gas_pipeline.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Ed James 23 July 2008 12:39 Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy has confirmed the award of the $418m contract to design and build its planned Taweelah-Fujairah pipeline. http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/dolphin_confirms_pipeline_award.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/dolphin_confirms_pipeline_award.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Ed James 23 July 2008 14:50 DP World says it will continue to seek work in India, despite Delhi’s decision to ban all companies from Dubai, Hong Kong, China and Pakistan from investing in port projects in the country. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/dp_world_to_target_work_in_india_despite_ban.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/dp_world_to_target_work_in_india_despite_ban.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Hugh Tomlinson 23 July 2008 16:11 Sharjah-based Tameer Holding has invited contractors to express interest in the contract to build an estimated AED5bn ($1.36bn) 125-floor tower on Sheikh Zayed road. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/contractors_approached_for_tameer_tower_project.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/contractors_approached_for_tameer_tower_project.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Colin Foreman 23 July 2008 11:56 Financial bids for the Addur independent water and power project (IWPP) in Bahrain will be opened on 24 July, with an award for the project expected to be made within the following week. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/addur_iwpp_financial_bids_to_be_opened_on_24_july.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/addur_iwpp_financial_bids_to_be_opened_on_24_july.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Matthew Martin 22 July 2008 13:34 The local Al-Redwan has been awarded a contract to construct villas in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Saudi Arabia. http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/alredwan_awarded_king_abdullah_economic_city_villa_contract.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/alredwan_awarded_king_abdullah_economic_city_villa_contract.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Christopher Sell 23 July 2008 13:39 The Saudi-based contractor Manazel is the low bidder for the construction contract at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/saudibased_manazel_lowbids_for_university_contract.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/saudibased_manazel_lowbids_for_university_contract.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Christopher Sell 23 July 2008 13:58 The joint venture between US-based Hill International and Egypt’s Talaat Moustafa Group Holding (TMG) has been awarded contracts to manage nine projects with a total construction value of $3.8bn for TMG. http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/hill_joint_venture_takes_on_work_in_egypt_and_saudi.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/contractawarded/2008/07/hill_joint_venture_takes_on_work_in_egypt_and_saudi.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Colin Foreman 23 July 2008 11:48 Qatar has agreed to buy two Boeing airlift planes for the country’s armed forces in a deal worth up to $400m. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/qatar_buys_boeing_in_400m_defence_deal.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/qatar_buys_boeing_in_400m_defence_deal.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Hugh Tomlinson 22 July 2008 15:12 http://www.meed.com:80/images/boeing_resized_70_tcm24-1739378.jpg Mubadala, the investment company owned by the Abu Dhabi government, has announced an $8bn partnership with US-based conglomerate GE to establish a commercial financial business. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/mubadala_announces_8bn_partnership_with_ge.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/mubadala_announces_8bn_partnership_with_ge.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Matthew Martin 22 July 2008 14:41 Vodafone Egypt increased its customer numbers by 38 per cent in the April to June quarter, its slowest rate of growth for 18 months. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/vodafone_egypt_grows_at_slowest_rate_for_18_months.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/vodafone_egypt_grows_at_slowest_rate_for_18_months.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Will Hadfield 22 July 2008 15:14 Jordan’s economic growth will fall to 4.4 per cent in 2008, increasing the pressure on the already deteriorating public finances, according to a former government minister. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/economic_growth_will_fall_to_44_per_cent_in_2008_says_analyst.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/economic_growth_will_fall_to_44_per_cent_in_2008_says_analyst.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Will Hadfield 22 July 2008 16:17 http://www.meed.com:80/images/jordan_resized_70_tcm24-1739349.jpg DP World has reported a 21 per cent increase in cargo throughput at its ports during the first half of 2008. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/dp_world_sees_21_per_cent_cargo_growth_in_first_half.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/dp_world_sees_21_per_cent_cargo_growth_in_first_half.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Hugh Tomlinson 22 July 2008 14:46 http://www.meed.com:80/images/dp_resized_70_tcm24-1569711.jpg Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has received seven bids for the first phase of the project to develop Station P at Hassyan. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/bids_in_for_station_p.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/bids_in_for_station_p.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Karin Maree 22 July 2008 11:18 Singapore’s Sembcorp is evaluating quotes from consultants for the project to expand the capacity of the Fujairah 1 independent water and power project. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/sembcorp_weighs_fujairah_1_extension.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/sembcorp_weighs_fujairah_1_extension.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Karin Maree 22 July 2008 13:02 Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority has received bids from four firms for the consultancy contract on the extension to the green line on the Dubai Metro. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/four_firms_bid_for_dubai_Metro_s_green_line_contract.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/four_firms_bid_for_dubai_Metro_s_green_line_contract.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Colin Foreman 22 July 2008 13:30 http://www.meed.com:80/images/metro4-station-metro_resized_70_tcm24-1324090.jpg Banking group Emirates NBD has reported a 45 per cent increase in profits driven by growth in loans, fee income and synergies achieved from the merger of Emirates Bank and National Bank of Dubai. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/emirates_nbd_reports_45_per_cent_in_profit.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/emirates_nbd_reports_45_per_cent_in_profit.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Matthew Martin 22 July 2008 10:48 Dubai-based Limitless has broken ground on its $300m Sanaya Amman towers project in Jordan, at a ceremony attended by Jordanian Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi and Omar Maani, mayor of Amman. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/limitless_breaks_ground_on_jordans_tallest_buildings.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/limitless_breaks_ground_on_jordans_tallest_buildings.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Colin Foreman 22 July 2008 13:35 http://www.meed.com:80/images/limitless_resized_70_tcm24-1329468.jpg Three bids have been submitted for the Al-Tameer office building in Kuwait, all from local firms. The low bidder is Khalid Ali al-Kharafi & Brothers Company with a bid of KD41.5m ($157m). http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/kuwait_firm_khalid_ali_alkharafi_bids_low_for_altameer_project.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/kuwait_firm_khalid_ali_alkharafi_bids_low_for_altameer_project.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Christopher Sell 22 July 2008 08:38 The US-based Human Rights Watch has called on the Saudi Arabian government to implement its proposed reform to the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system and extend protection to domestic workers. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/human_rights_group_calls_on_saudi_government_to_reform_labour_law.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/human_rights_group_calls_on_saudi_government_to_reform_labour_law.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Christopher Sell 22 July 2008 09:29 Tamweel is pricing a AED1.1bn ($300m) sukuk at the Emirates interbank offered rate (Eibor) plus 225 basis points, about 40 basis points lower than the average sukuk trading price in the GCC. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/tamweel_300m_sukuk_priced.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/tamweel_300m_sukuk_priced.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Matthew Martin 21 July 2008 12:15 Export credit agency the Japanese Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) is seeking support from Middle East governments for a new investment fund. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/japanese_credit_agency_seeks_middle_east_partners.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/japanese_credit_agency_seeks_middle_east_partners.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Bernadette Redfern 21 July 2008 15:35 Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) will hold clarification meetings with the two bidders for the Ras al-Zour captive power plant project on 28 and 29 July.  http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/maaden_plant_award_due_in_august.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/maaden_plant_award_due_in_august.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Karin Maree 21 July 2008 13:57 Dubai-based property developer Deyaar Development has announced a net profit for the second quarter of 2008 of AED247m ($67m), almost three times the figure for the same period in 2007. http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/dubaibased_deyaar_development_releases_profit_figures.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 http://www.meed.com:80/news/2008/07/dubaibased_deyaar_development_releases_profit_figures.html;jsessionid=833D6CF649D900B008D919B426FD7363 Christopher Sell 21 July 2008 06:38