UAE May Soon Approve New Companies Law, Minister Says

The new law contains articles seeking to make limited liability and joint stock companies simpler to manage and more attractive to investors.

Saudi Arabia Approves New Fund To Invest In Manufacturing

The new Saudi Arabian Company for Industrial Investment will have capital of SAR2 billion.

Dubai’s Ithmar Eyes Dhs1bn Of Gulf PE Deals

The company is looking at deals in healthcare and education.

Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Barley Reserves At Four Million Tonnes

The country imported 10.65 million tonnes of barley in 2013.

Millennium To Open 11 Hotels Across The Gulf In 18 Months

The hotel chain is focussing on Saudi Arabia and the UAE with four hotels apiece.

Dubai Lender Amlak’s Bourse Suspension To Be Lifted

Trading in shares of Amlak was suspended in November 2008 as credit markets dried up.

Dubai-Based Souq.com Raises $75m Funding From Naspers

The e-commerce site will invest the amount in boosting technology and improving its mobile offering.

First Gulf Bank Names ANZ, HSBC, Nomura For Debut 5-Yr Kangaroo

The five-year deal will be only the fourth Kangaroo transaction from a Middle Eastern bank.

Kuwait’s Agility 2013 Profit Rises 37%

Net profit in 2013 was 46.2 million dinars ($164.1 million) compared to 33.7 million dinars a year earlier.

Bahrain’s Khaleeji Commercial, Bank Al Khair Drop Merger Plans

The non-agreement on the structure and the valuation of the deal were the primary reasons to call off the merger, a statement said.

Saudi Market Recovers, Hits Five-Year High

The Saudi index, which includes several large petrochemical companies, eased throughout last week as oil prices retreated.

Qatar Airways Launching Djibouti Flights

Doha carrier looks to capitalise on Djibouti’s rising commercial profile

Christie’s Watch Auction In Dubai Nets Over $3m

A Patek Philippe men’s wristwatch, set with 42 emeralds, fetched the highest price at $341,000.

Qatar Toughens Penalties For Hiring Runaway Workers

Companies hiring illegal workers will be subject to a recruitment ban lasting two years and will be blacklisted as per new rules.

New Affordable Nokia X With Android Apps Launches In The UAE

Priced at Dhs439, the device is part of the new Nokia X family of affordable smartphones.

Emirates To Drop Clark International In The Philippines

Dubai carrier makes unusual move and decides to drop new route

Dubai Investments To Lift Foreign Ownership Cap To 35%

Foreign investors now hold 13.7 per cent of Dubai Investments’ shares out of the total 20 per cent allowed, bourse data showed.

Dubai’s Emirates Reit Sets IPO Price Range At $1.36-1.56

The company will issue as many as 110.3 million new shares with an over-allotment option of 16.5 million additional shares.

Dubai Introduces Real Estate Contracts To Regulate Transactions

The new agreements will help avoid problems that arise from misinterpretation of the documents, a statement said.

Bomb Blast In Bahrain’s Sitra Village Injures Policeman

It was not immediately clear who planted the bomb or the extent of the damage.

UK Private Equity Firm CD&R Frontrunner For Dubai-Owned Mauser -Report

If it goes ahead, the sale of Mauser would be one of the largest asset disposals by the emirate since its debt crisis in 2009.

Air Berlin To Be Delisted; Etihad To Lift Stake – Report

Air Berlin needs to remain German so as not to lose its traffic rights outside the European Union, a German weekly reported.

The Long Term View On Dubai’s Property Market

Dubai real estate prices could triple by 2020, writes Peter Cooper.

Defying Allies, Qatar Unlikely To Abandon Favoured Syria Rebels

Qatar’s Syria policy matters not only because Doha remains a generous backer of the opposition but also because its dispute with other funders.

Dubai Considers Rule Change To Lure More Domiciled Funds

Only nine funds have been domiciled in the DIFC since its current funds regime was introduced in 2010.

Saudi Arabia To Add 1.7m Tourism Jobs By 2020

The Kingdom’s tourism sector provided around 751,000 new jobs in 2013, including around 27 per cent of them for Saudis.

Oman Plans To Privatise One More Company In 2014

Oman’s government has said it would revive its privatisation programme to raise revenue and stimulate the private sector.

Dubai-Based Digital Media Firm Bags $5m Investment

Paris-based Webedia has bought a majority stake in digital media firm Diwanee.

Saudi Investment Bank Picks Riyad To Arrange Sukuk – Sources

The sukuk will enhance the bank’s Tier 2 – or supplementary – capital.

Saudi Developer ACWA Picks Adviser For Home Bourse IPO – Sources

The offering is likely to take place before the end of the year or in the early part of 2015, sources say.