
A MAN ON A MISSION
Amir Lababedi, vice president for development, Middle East and South Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, outlines his ambitious goals for the hotel brand now he has taken on this newly created expansion-focused More...

Ooredoo Announces Net Profit in 3rd Q
Ooredoo announced its financial results for the nine months ended 30 September 2015. Ooredoo group Net Profit reached QAR 1.8 billion in first nine months (9M) 2015, excluding FX impact, Group Net Profit would have More...

QSE Listed Companies Report Net Profits For 9 Month
Qatar Stock Exchange With the end of disclosure period for the third quarter of 2015, forty two companies out of the forty three listed companies at Qatar Exchange (QSE) have disclosed their financial statements More...

Noor Trade extends a hand to Hospitality SMEs
Usman Khakwani, head of business banking at Noor Trade, tells Catering News ME how the newly established banking division is dedicated to guiding SMEs hand-in-hand towards mutual growth and success Usman Khakwani, More...

OPEC daily basket price announced
The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at US$43.20 a barrel on Wednesday, 28th October, compared with $42.40 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes More...

UAE ranked Middle East’s most attractive retail market
A recent report from built asset consultancy, Arcadis, has revealed that the UAE’s strong infrastructure and business friendly environment make the country an attractive market for retailers. The report ranked More...

The end of easy money
Oil prices have fallen 55% since September 2014 and the International Monetary Fund has warned GCC governments to curb spending in the face of predicted budget deficits this fiscal year. As global supply dynamics More...

Pumped up: the year oil fell
Gasoline prices headed up, diesel prices headed down. What do the changes mean for local construction businesses? Stuart Matthews writes The announcement was unexpected, brief and the change came quickly. In More...

Engineering the Gulf’s nuclear switch
Founded in France in 1966 to commission nuclear facilities, Assystem is an international and independent engineering company, recognised worldwide as an independent engineering company in the nuclear sector. StéphaneAubarbier, More...

7th Arab International Forum Discusses Women’s Economic Empowerment Chances
The seventh session of the Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF) discussed opportunities of women’s economic empowerment and mechanisms of cooperation between Qatar and international business community More...

Qatar Investment Authority entered a joint venture with Brookfield
HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, CEO of Qatar Investment Authority with Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) announced today that it has entered in a More...

First Daimler MENA centre opens in Dubai
Daimler has opened its first regional center for commercial vehicles for the Middle East and North Africa, situated in Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA), Dubai, from where 19 countries will be served, including More...

ATM mirrors regional airline growth
Development in the region’s dynamic aviation sector will once again be a major talking point at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2016, as Gulf airlines look to capitalize on their strategic location, connecting East More...

Noor Bank to support deployment of innovative Mobile Wallet
Noor Bank, in conjunction with Yvolv, the joint venture between Dubai-based Holding company Meraas and AliCloud, the cloud computing arm of the Alibaba Group, introduced a unique mobile application, ‘YVO’, during More...

GCC countries will save four billion barrels of oil
Meeting renewable energy targets in GCC countries would save four billion barrels of oil and reduce emissions by 1.2 gigatonnes between now and 2030, said a report from the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable More...

The changing economics of oil
A sharp decline in the oil price has given the construction industry pause for thought about the future. Orlando Crowcroft investigates Low margins and competition have been a challenge in the Gulf for as long More...

“Mall culture” driving brand influence
Shopping malls in the UAE are driving consumer behaviours and influencing brand perceptions according to research conducted by Praxis Research Partners. Consumers in the UAE “show greater willingness to form strong More...

QNB Group Wins Prestigious Awards
QNB Group, the leading financial institution in the Middle East and North Africa, has secured two prestigious recognitions at The Global Investor/ISF Middle East Summit Awards 2015 ceremony held recently in Dubai. QNB More...

Qatar Airways, Jetblue Strengthen their Successful Code-Share Agreement
Qatar Airways has announced the expansion of its code-share partnership with JetBlue, adding 29 new code-share destinations on the airline’s route network from Boston Logan International Airport. The expanded More...

UAE ranked first in Arab world in ”Ease of Doing Business”
The World Bank released today report on the “Ease of Doing Business for the year 2016”, which ranked the UAE first among Arab countries for the third year in a row, ahead of all countries in the region More...

NATRANS Arabia concludes in Abu Dhabi
The inaugural NATRANS Arabia conference and exhibition, which opened on Sunday 25 October 2015, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), came to conclusion today with a call for creating a UAE society More...

Challenging sustainable construction
The UAE government has taken innumerable measures in the last five years towards making the country more sustainable. Lorraine Bangera analyses the role of the construction industry in this transition towards a More...

Interning with Abu Dhabi UPC
After Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s (UPC) announcement to include university students in major projects, Lorraine Bangera speaks with graduating students to know the value of an internship in the GCC In More...

Euromoney Conference in Qatar
Qatar’s prospects for delivering growth during a period of international economic turbulence will be under review in a special session at The Euromoney Qatar Conference 2015, set to run from 9-10 December 2015 More...

Arabian Tunnelling Conference to highlight over US$200b in underground infrastructure projects
3rd Arabian Tunnelling Conference and Exhibition 2015 With over US$200 billion in planned and ongoing underground infrastructure projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, the surge and buoyant growth More...

Real Estate Trading Volume Exceeds QR One Billion in a Week
The total value of trading in real estate sales contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice from 18 to 22 October mounted to QR 1,239,912,229. According to the weekly More...

2016 budget shows UAE government’s determination to continue ambitious projects
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy of the UAE, on Sunday said the Cabinet’s approval of an AED48.5 billion federal budget shows it is determined to continue to carry out ambitious projects in More...

Ministry of Economy Recalls Toyota Sequoia Models
Toyota Sequoia The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has recalled the 2008-2010 models of Toyota Sequoia to update the electronic system of smart stop in the vehicle which reduces the acceleration of the engine gradually More...

Demanding change
Sayyid Wasfi Jamshid, chairperson of the Board of Directors at NAPCO, speaks with Lorraine Bangera about how the company plans to undergo a complete transformation to compete with a demanding market by embracing More...

Qatar Finance, Business Academy Announces 2016 Programs
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Horr, CEO Finance and Business Academy Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) on Monday announced its new programs and courses for 2016 as it continues efforts to enhance the level of competencies More...

United Development’s Profits Up 5.3%
United Development Company announced Monday its financial results for the first three quarters of 2015. The net profit of the company grew 5.3% year-on-year. The profits for the period was QR619.8 million, compared More...

Qatar Airways Expands Its Network in UK
Qatar Airways announced an new expansion in its network in the UK by operating a new service between Doha and Birmingham, from 30th March 2016. The carrier said in a press release today that the new destination More...

DMCC ranked “best free zone in the world”
DMCC, the authority on trade, enterprise and commodities in Dubai, has been named ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ 2015 by The Financial Times fDi Magazine. The annual global survey, considered the most prestigious More...

Energising Education goes global with RasGas-CPC joint CSR initiative
RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) and CPC Corporation, Taiwan (CPC) have launched a joint corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign that will benefit nine local schools in Taichung, Taiwan, bringing tangible More...

Qatar Airways Organizes Los Angeles Pop-Up Event
Thousands of Los Angeles residents turned out to enjoy the “Discover Qatar Airways” pop-up event, hosted throughout the weekend at The Grove. The unique event celebrated the upcoming daily, non-stop More...

Construction continues despite oil dip, Knight Frank reports
Knight Frank’s 2015 H1 Abu Dhabi Office Research Report highlights that there has been a lower number of office space enquiries during the year. This is attributed to having a possible connection with the drop More...

Real expectations
After a major dip in the last few years, the real estate sector kept a sturdy development in 2014. Lorraine Bangera speaks with industry experts who forecast the industry’s potential in the upcoming year, keeping More...

Infrastructure advisor
Tim Armsby, Partner at Eversheds on trends and challenges in the Middle East’s infrastructure development Eversheds worked with RTA (Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai) over a period of six months to assist More...

Expo: The Legacy
Neil Petch; chairperson and founder of Virtuzone writes about the potential legacy of Expo2020 Now less than five years away, talk of winning the hosting rights to Expo2020 are quickly turning to how Dubai will More...

GCC Undersecretaries Responsible for Environmental Affairs Meet in Doha
Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada, Assistant undersecretary of the Ministry of the Environment for Environmental Affairs Doha will host on Monday the 36th meeting of the GCC undersecretaries responsible for environmental affairs More...

Breakbulk Middle East 2015 Brings Projects Meets Logistics Event to UAE
Breakbulk Middle East 2015 The 2000 project cargo and traditional breakbulk cargo logisticians and distinguished sponsors and exhibitors will take part in the First Annual Breakbulk Middle East Conference & More...

Etihad Airways Wins German Court Injunction
Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, today welcomed the ruling by the Administrative Court of Braunschweig allowing it to continue operating all its codeshare flights with airberlin More...

In pictures: Pride of the Land Toyota Land Cruiser
Pride of the Land Toyota Land Cruiser, the UAE’s most renowned SUV and Toyota’s longest running production vehicle, has debuted in the UAE. Coming with 13 exterior changes, a new interior layout dubbed ‘Life More...

GCC Environment Ministers to Meet in Doha on Wednesday
Qatar will host GCC environment ministers this coming Wednesday as they meet with regional and international organizations to discuss climate change among other environmental topics. Under-secretaries of GCC environment More...

Oil Prices to Stabilise at USD55.0 in 2015-16
Qatar National Bank (QNB Group) forecasted in its weekly financial analysis that oil prices will stabilise around an average of USD55.0 in both 2015-16 before picking up to USD60.2 per barrel in 2017 as the supply More...

DIFC hosts IMF 2015 economic outlook for MENAP panel
Masood Ahmed, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a global a global financial hub connecting businesses and institutions with emerging More...

Emirates Group embarks on enterprise-wide transformation strategy
Emirates Group, comprising the global businesses of Emirates Airline and Dnata, the air services provider, today unveiled its plans to undertake an enterprise-wide transformation initiative aimed at placing data More...

Qatar’s Initiative to Establish Global Dryland Alliance Gets International Tribute
Ahmed bin Amer Al Humaidi , Minister of Environment HE the Minister of Environment Ahmed bin Amer Al Humaidi said that desertification and drought waves around the globe since the seventies of the last century, More...

Internet of Things comes to life at GITEX
After successfully testing the Middle East’s first Internet of Things (IoT) network, du showcases its real life applications that will make UAE cities Smart. The demonstrations at GITEX Technology Week 2015 More...

RTA inks MoU with Cisco to boost cooperation
The Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cisco to enhance joint cooperation. The MoU was signed by Abdullah Ali Al Madani, CEO of Corporate Technical Support Services More...

Gulfood trade show highlight halal opportunities in region
A leading trade show for the food and manufacturing, processing and packaging industry is set to highlight opportunities and meet the need of manufacturers looking to grow their business in the halal market. At More...

Forbes Middle East unveils two new rankings
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, announced earlier this year that 2015 was to be the Year of Innovation. Inspired by this, Forbes Middle East has for the first More...

Sharjah Asset Management launches Al Saja’a Industrial Oasis
Al Saja’a Industrial Oasis Sharjah Asset Management, the investment arm of the Government of Sharjah, has announced the launch of Al Saja’a Industrial Oasis project, one of the largest industrial projects in More...

Energy Minister to participate in Oil & Gas Year Abu Dhabi 2016 Meeting
Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, is participating in the sixth edition of the most comprehensive report on Abu Dhabi’s More...

Etisalat enhances its managed security services portfolio
Etisalat today announced the signing of an agreement with Palo Alto Networks, the next-generation security company, to bring next-generation security services to organisations across the Middle Eastern region. During More...

Gulf Drilling International Wins DuPont Operational Excellence Award
Mubarak Awaida Al Hajri , Chief Executive Officer of the Gulf Drilling International received the award Gulf Drilling International Limited (GDI) has been selected the global winner of the DuPont Operational Excellence More...

Dubai SME joins world-leading expert panel on SMEs
The crucial role of SMEs in capturing growth in the global economy will be the spotlight of a roundtable debate which will bring together world-leading experts on the topic. The roundtable will be held as part of More...

Qatar Airways to Roll Out New Distribution Capability /NDC/ Initiative
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, today brought a lively debate to the IATA World Passenger Symposium in Hamburg, when interviewed live on stage by BBC correspondent Mr. Rajan Datar. Speaking More...

Economy, Commerce Minister Meets NASDAQ Vice Chairman
Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani with Sandy Frucher, NASDAQ Vice Chairman HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed More...

International Trade Center Chief Lauds Qatar as Model for Free Economy
Arancha Gonzalez, (ITC) Executive Director International Trade Center (ITC) Executive Director Arancha Gonzalez has hailed Qatar as a model for free economy that is linked to innovation and international partnerships. Speaking More...

Limited edition Dirham coin celebrates Global Village
To mark its 20th season celebrations, Global Village, in cooperation with the UAE Central Bank has announced the release of a limited edition commemorative One Dirham Coin. The face of the coin depicts the Global More...

Abu Dhabi continues to implement ADERP system
The Department of Finance – Abu Dhabi, DoF, announced during GITEX Technology Week 2015 that 40 local government entities are now connected to the Abu Dhabi ERP system, ADERP, as of September 2015. The department More...

Build Consumer Trust to Propel E-Commerce
ID:56191391 Building consumer trust by assuring them security of critical personal financial data will propel e-commerce in Qatar, industry experts told a one-day forum held under the aegis of ictQatar at the Ritz-Carlton More...

Apple named UAE’s “most intimate” brand
Apple has been named as the UAE’s “most intimate” brand in a global report, which ranks the emotional bonds between consumers in the Emirates and brands. It is part of a wider global research initiative analysing More...

Troon golf course boosts Ajman tourism
General manager of The Ajman Palace Hotel Ferghal Purcell calls the 700,000 square metre Al Zorah Golf Course a “must-see”. The GM made his way to the Al Zorah site today as the first phase of the development More...

MOEI Organizes 6th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable
Under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Ministry of Energy and Industry (MOEI) in collaboration with the International Energy Forum will organize the 6th Asian Ministerial Energy More...

MDPS Holds World Statistics Day Forum
Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics Under the auspices of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics More...

DSE secures AED224m project award in Dubai
Drake and Scull Engineering (DSE) has been awarded an AED224m project to deliver MEP works for a hotel complex and the expansion of a prominent retail mall in Dubai. The development of the mall extension will include More...

Dubai Tourism showcases its approach to hi-tech tourism at GITEX
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Tourism, will harness the power of technology to drive progress towards the Tourism Vision for 2020 at GITEX, the largest ICT event in the Middle East, Africa More...

Ooredoo, QBIC Launch New Incubator for Qatari Entrepreneurs
Ooredoo and Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) today announced a partnership that will launch ‘Digital and Beyond’ incubator within QBIC’s premises to encourage the creation of a new range of More...

Qatar Development Fund, Carter Center Sign Partnership Agreement
Stephen Blount , Director of Special Health Projects, Carter Center sing the agreement with Ali Abdullah Al Dabbagh, Executive Director, QDF The Qatar Development Fund (QDF) and the Carter Center have signed a framework More...

KSA infrastructure sector to be worth SAR1.31tr
The Saudi Arabian construction industry is expected to grow as massive projects underway amounts to an estimated SAR3.75 trillion. The current real estate market in Saudi Arabia is valued at SAR2.25 trillion, out More...

Business leaders call for international refrigerant regulations
In 2011, several refrigerated, reefer containers exploded in Vietnam, China and Brazil, killing three port workers. In 2015, in Tianjin, China, more than 100 people were killed as a result of undeclared hazardous More...

New smart customs initiatives to be unveiled at GITEX 2015
The Director of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, has met with DC’s GITEX work team to follow up on the latest preparations for the 5-day mega fair, which will kick on Sunday, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Musabih More...

Ooredoo Group, Brightstar Corp. Sign Strategic Agreement
Ooredoo today announced a new agreement with Brightstar Corp., the world’s largest specialised wireless distributor and a leading provider of diversified services, which will see the two companies work together More...

Nakheel invests AED27.5 million in road improvements
Master developer Nakheel has awarded a contract for nearly AED27.5 million for traffic signals and road improvements at Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC). Nakheel has appointed Dubai-based KTC International More...

DP World to support Yemen maritime and trade efforts
DP World is in talks with Yemen to help rebuild their maritime and trade sector which has been battered by conflict, the Dubai-based port operator said Wednesday. “We are exploring areas where we can help More...

GCC States Made Big Strides in Transport and Communications
HE the Minister of Transport Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti said GCC states have made big strides in the field of transport and communication foremost of which being work for the establishment of Gulf railways to play More...

Qatar Exchange Index Gains 17.34 Points This Week
Qatar Exchange index gained 17.34 points (+0.15%) this week when the bourse closed at 11,772.08 points. Trading value during this week decreased by 0.61% to reach QR 1,399,778,233.47 compared to QR 1,408,349,712.02. Trading More...

Mubadala and Trafigura complete creation of joint venture
Mubadala Development Company, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company, and Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd., a market leader in the global commodities industry, today completed the creation of a 50/50 joint-venture More...

Qatar Stocks Close Higher
Qatar Stock Exchange index gained 13.12 points or +0.11% Thursday when it closed at 11,772.08 points. The daily turnover increased to QR 262.53 Million with a volume of 8,467,495 shares from 3,928 deals compared More...

Mazaya Qatar Considering Possibility of Increasing its Capital
Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Development Company Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Development Company disclosed its financial statements for the period ended on 30.09.2015, showing that the net profit is QR 92.5 Million compared More...

UAE to participate in China Import and Export Canton Fair 2015
The UAE is to participate in the 118th session of the China Import and Export Canton Fair, Canton 2015, which kicks off tomorrow and runs until October 19th in Guangzhou City, southern China. The UAE delegation More...

Qatar Boosts Events Business at Las Vegas Tradeshow
Hamad Al Abdan, QTA Exhibitions Director A tourism panel is showcasing Qatar’s high end conferences and business events facilities at a trade exhibition in Las Vegas, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said Wednesday. QTA More...

QPMC Signs More Agreements with Private Sector Suppliers
Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) has strategically launched gabbro sales to local construction companies earlier on August 20th after is has secured supply agreements procuring nearly 22 million additional More...

Qatar Proves Ability and Efficiency in Facing Various Economic Challenges
Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit, Minister of Development Planning and Statistics The State of Qatar has proven ability and efficiency in the face of various economic challenges in dealing with them and has a large More...

Qatar Airways to Start Daily Flight to Adelaide Next Year
Akbar Al Baker, QA Group Chief Executive State carrier Qatar Airways (QA) Tuesday said it will start direct flight daily from Doha to Adelaide in Australia from May 2, 2016. QA is increasing destinations in Australia. More...

Estate Trades Exceeded QR 500 Million Last Week
The total trading value in real estate sales contracts registered with the Land Registry Department of the Ministry of Justice during the period from 4 to 8 October reached QR 507,920,147 million. According to the More...

Sharjah Jewellery Show shines bright with 17% rise in visitors
Reinforcing its status as the most popular jewellery show in the region, the 39th MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show has had a fantastic five-day run at Expo Centre Sharjah. The biannual show succeeded in attracting More...

Qatar to Host 7th Arab Women International Forum
The State of Qatar will host on October 28 the 7th session of the Arab International Women’s Forum which is aimed to shed light on the contribution of businesswomen in Qatar and the inspiration of the new More...

Economy Minister Opens Hospitality Qatar 2015
HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al -Thani opened this evening the “Hospitality Qatar 2015” show, being held at Doha Exhibition Centre, in the presence of HE Minister More...

Qatargas Triumphs Gas Fuel Trials on Q-Max Ship Rasheeda
Qatargas and collaborators Tuesday announced completing the second phase of main engine gas injection system trials on Nakilat-owned Q-Max Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ship Rasheeda successfully. The world’s More...

WYN achieves 200% growth in India
Wyndham Worldwide (WYN) has expanded its presence in India with 10 new hotel properties joining the Wyndham Hotel Group and three new vacation ownership resorts joining the RCI vacation exchange network. The group More...

Qatar Growth Accelerates Despite Lower Oil Prices
Growth in the Qatari economy accelerated in the second quarter of 2015. Real GDP grew by 4.7% year-on-year, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS), compared More...

Graduate employment rates up 4%
Employment rates among Emirati and expatriate graduates has increased from 61% last year to 65% in 2015. Statistically, the rates have particularly increased in Emirati graduates, where 92% have found jobs this More...

Standing out from the crowd
If your business will be exhibiting at one of the dozens of events taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre before the end of 2015, take a look at these top exhibitor tips as provided by the venue itself. In an More...

Ministry to Organize Workshop on Tender Competitiveness Protection
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce next Tuesday and Wednesday will organize a workshop on protection of Tender competitiveness with participation of a number of GCC government departments and the private sector More...

Al Tayer holds discussions with finance ministers
Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs Ahead of the annual meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs More...

OPEC daily basket price
The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at 48.10 dollars a barrel on Thursday, compared with $48.24 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. (View Archives) The new OPEC Reference Basket More...