Saudi Central Bank Predicts Stable Inflation In Q1

The annual Saudi inflation rate was 2.4 per cent in December, the lowest level since at least September 2012.

Dubai Mall Sees 80m Visitors in 2014

Around 60 per cent of mall visitors last year were UAE residents and other GCC tourists while the remaining 40 per cent were tourists from across the world.

Rosneft’s Sechin Slams OPEC, Warns On Possible Oil Shortage

OPEC ministers and delegates have blamed non-OPEC producers such as Russia, Mexico and Kazakhstan, as well as U.S. shale oil production, for the oversupply in the market.

Dubai’s Jumeirah Group Says To Almost Double Hotel Portfolio By 2018

The group plans to open 20 hotels by 2018, its chief executive said.

UAE Says Its Jets Resume Airstrikes Against ISIL

The UAE had suspended participation in coalition air strikes against IS for several weeks over pilot safety concerns.

Dubai To Become Centre Of The World By 2100

A population boom in Asia and Africa will make Dubai an important global hub by 2100, an expert predicted.

Dubai Holding Has No Plans To Float Firm Or Its Units -CEO

Dubai Holding also has no plans to raise cash at the parent level as it seeks to reduce its debts, its chief executive said.

More Oil Price Pressure May Be Ahead – IEA

The IEA said that supplies remained abundant and that it would take time for investment cuts to make more than a relatively small dent on production, keeping prices low.

UN’s Ban Ki-Moon Urges Arab Leaders To Tackle Radicalisation

The UN secretary general said that Arab countries could tackle radicalisation by promoting interfaith dialogue and being attentive to people’s aspirations.

Dubai To Rank Among World’s Top Happiest Cities In 10 Years

The emirate’s smart city agenda will help it rise on the happiness index, said Ahmed Bin Byat, CEO of conglomerate Dubai Holding.

Dubai Airports Cargo Volume Jumps 18% In 2014

Combined cargo volumes at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International rose to 3.13 million tonnes last year from 2.65 million tonnes in 2013.

UAE’s ADNOC Inks $500m Technical Agreement With Oxy

ADNOC holds a 70 per cent share in the fields development venture, while Occidental holds 30 per cent, a statement said.

Abu Dhabi Gas Firms Award $1.6bn Expansion Contracts

The contracts were awarded to a consortium involving Italy’s Maire Tecnimont and Greece’s Archirodon, Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas, and the UAE’ National Petroleum Construction Co.

Jumeirah To Open Abu Dhabi Resort In 2017

Luxury operator’s resort, its second property in the UAE capital, set to open on Saadiyat Island

Julphar Buys Majority Stake In Bangladesh-Based RAK Pharmaceuticals

The deal, worth $9.5 million, marks Julphar’s entry into Bangladesh and is part of its expansion in Asia.

Orders Over A$175m For 7-Year Emirates NBD Kangaroo Bond

The Dubai-based bank is marketing the Australian dollar- denominated seven-year notes to yield about 225 basis points above the swap rate, a document from leads showed.

Diamond Prices Firm As Dubai Banks Fill Funding Gap – Gem Diamonds

Diamond prices weakened late last year, partly due to the closure of Antwerp Diamond Bank in October squeezing liquidity for manufacturers.

S&P Cuts Ratings On Middle Eastern Oil Producing Countries

Standard & Poor’s lowered its sovereign credit ratings on Bahrain and Oman, while lowering its outlook on Saudi Arabia.

US Welcomes UAE Decision To Base Fighter Jets In Jordan

The UAE had earlier suspended flights as part of the U.S.-led coalition conducting air strikes against ISIL.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Plans Subordinated Sukuk In Malaysia

Credit agency RAM Ratings assigned preliminary ratings of AAA and AA1 to the proposed senior and subordinated sukuk.

Oil To Account For Only 5% Of UAE’s GDP By 2021- Deputy PM

Oil revenues currently contribute 30 per cent to the UAE’s overall GDP.

Aluminium Bahrain Posts 153% Q4 Profit Leap But Cuts Dividend

The company made a net profit of BHD34.6 million in the three months to December 31, up from BHD13.7 million in the prior-year period, it said in an emailed statement.

Bahrain Confirms Suspension Of Al-Waleed’s Alarab News Channel

Bahrain’s statement was the first official comment since the new Alarab channel was shut down.

GCC Countries Are Not Food Insecure – Expert

High fiscal reserves in the GCC act as a strong buffer from global food price fluctuations, an expert said.

Two Parties Quit Resumed Yemen Crisis Talks Citing Houthi Threats

Islah and the smaller Nasserist Organisation, quit Monday’s talks saying they had been threatened by a Houthi representative.

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OPEC Says Oil Price Drop Hits Other Producers Much Quicker Than Thought

In a monthly report, OPEC forecast demand for the group’s oil will average 29.21 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2015, up 430,000 bpd from its previous figure.

Qatar National Bank Mandates Banks To Arrange $3bn Loan

Barclays Bank and HSBC will act as coordinators for the loan.

UAE Diversified, Can Handle Low Oil Prices – Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

The country has diversified into sectors such as clean energy and industry, said Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed.

ADNOC Set To Decide On Revised Concession Bids From BP, Shell -Sources

BP and Shell were asked to raise their signing bonus, a source told Reuters, in line with France’s Total, which has already renewed its concession.

Dubai’s GEMS Education Eyes Southeast Asian Markets In 2015

The expansion plans come after a group led by Dubai’s Fajr Capital took a “significant minority stake” in the firm late last year.