Saudi Arabia Eyes “Qualitative” Shift In Economic Development

Economy and Planning Minister targets annual economic growth of five percent in the country’s 2015-19 development plan.

GIH Faces Kuwait Shares Suspension If It Misses AGM Deadline – Watchdog

Ultimatum a sign of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) tightening its oversight on corporate disclosure norms in the Gulf State’s financial sector.

Saudi Econ Minister Targets 5% Annual Growth

Growth expected as a result of the country’s next five-year development plan.

King Abdullah Economic City Halts Financial District Plans

Concerns that the KAEC Financial District would not be competitive have halted development.

Qatar Airways To Receive Its First A380 By Early June

Delivery coincides with the Doha-based carrier shifting its operations to Hamad International Airport

Emirates Spent Dhs20bn On Marketing In Last 20 Years – Official

The airline has allocated up to three per cent of its revenue on marketing and promotion, says senior executive.

Saudi Arabia Mulls Lifting Visa Restrictions

Saudi tourism president says the Kingdom will consider changing its policies as systems, airports and the country’s security network improves.

Dubai’s Economy To Grow Around 5% In 2014, Same As 2013

Dubai accounts for a quarter of output of the UAE’s economy.

Qatar Airways CEO Says Company Fully Government Owned

Qatar’s sovereign fund bought a 50 per cent stake from Qatar’s former prime minister and other shareholders last year.

Qatar Airways To Launch Al Maha Airways In KSA In November

CEO Akbar Al Baker said it will operate eight A320s in the Kingdom.

Al Hassan Engineering Wins $5.2m Al Ghurair Deal

The Omani contractor will construct phase two of the Al Ghurair plant expansion in Abu Dhabi’s ICAD – I Mussafah.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths

Exclusive: Transit Airlines Won’t Make Dubai World Central Move Until 2025

Airlines are expected to follow Emirates to DWC when growth requirements are met.

Dubai Investments Q1 Net Profit Jumps 26%

The firm also confirmed that it planned to sell off some assets.

Exclusive: Dubai To Build New Tourism Training Academy

The new entity is expected to begin operations within a couple of years, Dubai’s tourism chief confirms.

Wyndham Brings Garden Hotel Brand To Doha

The four star property will be Wyndham’s second in Doha, following the opening of the Wyndham Grand Regency in 2011.

Etihad Says Is Buying Stakes In Europe To Compete, Not Control

Etihad currently has holdings in Air Berlin, Air Lingus and Air Serbia.

Butlers On Board Etihad A380s

Etihad appears intent on pushing its first class into the luxury private jet space, targeting high-net-worth individuals across the globe.

IFA, Tijaria’s $50m JV To Develop Vacation Club

The $50 million joint venture would fill a current market gap, a company executive said.

Oman’s Sohar Oil Refinery Shut For Cooling Pipe Repair -Operator

The refinery has capacity to process around 116,000 barrels per day of Omani crude.

Oman 2013 Nominal Economic Growth Slowest Since 2009

The slowdown would underline the government’s main challenge of creating enough jobs for the country’s growing population of nationals.

Bahraini Shi’ite Youth Risk Radicalisation As Political Talks Stall

There are fears that a deadlock in political efforts to solve a three-year-old standoff is deepening frustration among young Shi’ites.

Dr. Nasser Saidi: Dubai’s Expo 2020 Could Herald Regional Transformation

Revisiting why Dubai hosting Expo 2020 should ring in investor and consumer confidence, writes the founder and president of Nasser Saidi & Associates.

Dubai’s Arabtec Appoints New CFO -Statement

Iyad Abdalrahim was formerly CFO of Arabtec’s construction unit.

Saudi Arabia Reports 25 New Cases Of MERS, Deaths Stand At 109

The total number of cases in the kingdom is 396, of whom 109 have died.

Alitalia Looking To Create Bad Company To Woo Etihad

Under the plan to woo Etihad, the new firm would take on the majority of Alitalia’s debt and around 3,000 staff, a local paper reported.

Qatar Lifts Retail Diesel Prices By 50%

The move apparently aims to curb smuggling of fuel in the Gulf country, a local newspaper reported.

Bank Muscat’s Islamic Unit Plans $300m Dual-Currency Sukuk Issue

The issue would be part of a 500 million rial ($1.3 billion) sukuk programme which the bank’s shareholders approved in March,

Abu Dhabi’s Senaat Shelves IPO Plans – Sources

The IPO was expected to mark the merger of the Abu Dhabi, Dubai indices and help kick start new listings in the UAE.

Bespoke Tailor Kachins Chief On Expansion Plans

Kachins Group managing partner Ravi Ramchandani talks about why stand alone stores click in the mall rich Dubai.

Saudi Camel Tradition May Hinder Control Of New Disease

Experts fear that the cultural relevance of camels in the Kingdom could hinder preventative measures aimed at limiting the spread of the disease.