Abu Dhabi Ports Expect Year-End Spike In Traffic As Projects Boom

Cargo traffic at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa and Zayed ports combined is expected to top 12 million tonnes this year, up from 9.3 million tonnes in 2013.

Jobseekers On The Rise In The UAE As Hiring Increases

The number of job vacancies saw a two per cent year-on-year growth in March while jobseekers rose seven per cent, says a new survey.

Saudi Arabia May Close Shops Early To Boost Employment

From early July, shops may be required to close at 9pm instead of midnight.

Dubai Ranks Among World’s Top 25 Places To Visit On TripAdvisor List

The Dubai Fountain and the Creek were some of the attractions highlighted in the emirate.

New Six Flags Theme Park To Open In Dubai In 2017

The project, being developed in partnership with Meraas, will be located in the Dubai developer’s multi-themed park project in Jebel Ali.

Dubai’s Shuaa Capital Q1 Net Profit Dhs8.2m Vs Net Loss

The firm attributed higher revenues to a strong recovery in the capital markets and a pick-up in the local market for IPOs.

Dubai Real Estate Deal Values Up 38% In Q1 2014

The emirate recorded sales activities worth Dhs31.5 billion and mortgage transactions worth Dhs28 billion in Q1 2014, the land department says.

Saudi’s Al Rajhi Bank Q1 Net Profit Slips 16.9%

The bank made SAR1.71 billion ($456 million) in the three months ended March 31.

National Bank Of Kuwait Q1 Net Profit Up 3.2%

Net profit was KD83.9 million in the three months to the end of March.

Customer Service “Biggest” Challenge For UAE Banks – Senior Official

Lenders hurting themselves by cold-calling customers, says head of Retail Banking at Emirates NBD.

Italian Court Bars Emirates From Flying Between Milan, New York

Emirates, which may appeal the decision, started to fly the Malpensa-New York route in October last year.

UAE Energy Minister Hopes Western Partners Keep Oilfields Role

ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Total and BP have each held 9.5 per cent equity stakes in the ADCO concession since the 1970s.

One Foreign Health Worker Dies, Five Infected With MERS In UAE

The six were all first aid service personnel from the Philippines working with the UAE Interior Ministry in Al-Ain.

Kuwait Orders Blackout In Court Case Over “Plot” Tape

A statement said all forms of communication were banned from discussing the case, including news outlets and social media.

Saudi’s Khodari Says Labour Reform Impact To Start Fading In H2

Labour reforms impact on the company will “drag on for a few more years”, but it is steadily decreasing, a top executive said.

TPG/Abraaj In Exclusive Talks For Saudi Fast-Food Chain Kudu

Riyadh-based Kudu operates more than 200 restaurants in the Kingdom.

Gunmen Kill Two Saudi Guards Near Yemen’s Border

The gunmen opened fire on a border patrol in Asir, SPA reported, but did not say who was behind the attack.

SABIC Plans To Lift Steel Capacity To 10m Tonnes By 2025

The company’s total steel production currently stands at six million tonnes per year.

Nakheel Signs Deal With Accor For Dragon Mart Hotel

The 250-room hotel at Dragon Mart will be managed by Accor under the ibis Styles brand.

Oman’s $600m Saraya Bandar Jissah Tourism Project To Create 800 Jobs

The Saraya Bandar Jissah development includes two hotels to be operated by Jumeirah Group.

Mubadala Hires Six Banks For Eurobond Issue

Mubadala was last in the market in April 2011 through a $1.5 billion five-and 10-year trade.

Oasis Centre May Include Cinemas In The Future – Director

The Landmark group hopes to have at least 10 Oasis Centre malls operational across the GCC by the end of 2015.

Damac Launches New Tower – Vantage, In Jumeirah Village

The project will include 388 serviced living units, with prices starting at Dhs625,100.

Dubai’s Residential Rent Pricing Unsustainable – Expert

Apartment and villa rents in the emirate grew by five and three per cent respectively in Q1 2014, a new report says.

Saudi’s Sipchem Q1 Net Profit Rises 6.5%

Sipchem made a profit of 68.7 million Saudi riyals ($18.3 million) in the three months to March 31.

Kuwait Hopes For Remedy To Gulf Row Over Qatar Soon

Kuwait, which offered to mediate in the dispute, is planning to present a solution to the two sides soon, a Gulf Arab diplomat said.

Dubai’s Marka Eyes Fashion, Retail Growth Across Gulf

Dubai-based Marka said it will introduce global franchises and brands to the Gulf, allowing it to build a customer base quickly.

Saudi Arabia’s NCB Names Advisers For Share Sale

NCB chairman Mansour al-Maiman said earlier this week that the bank was preparing to list its shares on the Saudi stock exchange this year.

Oman Plans LPG Plant Aimed At Local Market

The complex, expected to cost about $500 million, could produce up to 800 tons a day of LPG.

Mohamed Alabbar to acquire stake in YNAP from Richemont

Alabbar-Chaired Firm Launches $1.2bn Project In Langkawi, Malaysia

Perdana Quay, launched by Tradewinds Corporation, is an integrated leisure, retail, residential and commercial development.