SABIC Q2 Profit Rises 7%, Matching Analysts’ Estimates

The company earned SAR6.46 billion ($1.72 billion) in the quarter, compared to SAR6.04 billion in the year-earlier period.

Saudi’s Dar al-Arkan Q2 Net Profit Up 17%, Misses Forecasts

Net profit in the three months to June 30 was SAR121.3 million ($32.3 million) compared to 103.7 million in the same period a year earlier.

Nakheel Launches New Mega Villa Project In Dubai

The project, which has an estimated construction value of Dhs2.5 billion, is expected to be completed by 2016.

Qatar To Host Gaza Ceasefire Talks With Abbas And U.N. Chief

The meeting, which will take place in Doha, will be headed by the Gulf state’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Saudi Arabia Investigates Imams Who Did Not Condemn Al Qaeda Attack

A senior official was quoted as saying in the local media that the imams were under investigation “for allegedly failing to highlight the incident in their sermons”.

Shell Pulls Out Of Qatar’s Block-D License After Dry Well

Shell said that it had wrapped up activity at the well after the negative result, while adding that it remained committed to future plans in Qatar.

Emirates Suspends Kiev-Bound Flights

The airline said the flight ban to Kiev would remain in effective until further notice.

Mali Grants Four Exploration Permits To Qatar Mining

A document outlining Qatar Mining’s investments showed that the company planned to take a share in a mining site in Mali that is already operational.

Arms Makers Embrace Partnerships In Pursuit Of Foreign Sales

Foreign arms deals are giving way to genuine partnerships, and business deals and cooperation agreements with defense and technology companies in other countries.

UAE Private Equity Firms Ithmar Capital, Gulf Capital Planning IPOs

The economic rebound seen both locally and internationally has seen deal-making revived in the last two years, with many now divesting stakes and looking for new opportunities.

Saudi’s Al Tayyar Travel Posts 8.3% Q2 Net Profit Rise On Higher Sales

The firm made SAR364 million ($97.1 million) in the three months to June 30, according to a bourse filing.

Will Murky UAE Markets Face Stricter Regulation After Arabtec Debacle?

The Securities and Commodity Authority said a new “technical committee” would ensure the integrity of share trading and prevent any manipulation of stock prices.

Upgrade Or No Upgrade, UAE and Qatar Keep Frontier Investor Fanbase

UAE and Qatar stock markets rallied sharply over the past year in anticipation of the upgrade to emerging market status by index compiler MSCI.

New UAE Law Allowing Sell Downs To Boost Listings, Private Equity

Under the law, founders of a company can list shares through a sell down of a certain percentage of their existing stock.

Microsoft Plans To Cut Up To 18,000 Jobs

The company is reducing the size of its recent Nokia acquisition and trimming down other operations.

Dubai’s Godolphin Sets Up Permanent Stable In Australia

The racing stable has appointed John O’Shea as the head trainer for its unit in Australia.

Dubai Financial Market Q2 Net Profit More Than Triples

The firm, which runs securities trading in Dubai, made a net profit of Dhs252.5 million.

Airbus Eyes Middle East Order For Revamped A330 Jet

The planemaker closed the Farnborough Airshow with total orders and commitments for 496 aircraft, including 121 for the A330neo.

Etihad Launches Daily Flights To Perth, Rome

New routes will better connect Etihad with Europe and Western Australia, the airline said in a statement.

UAE Regulators Signal More Active Stance On Arabtec

On Thursday, the Dubai bourse said it was suspending trade in Arabtec pending clarification on media reports about strategic partners’ stake in the firm.

Dubai International Airport “On Track” To Reopen Runway On July 21

Airlines temporarily operating into Al Maktoum Airport at DWC will return to Dubai’s main airport once it’s back to full capacity.

Dubai’s Consumer Prices Rise Sharply In First Half Of 2014

Housing, water, electricity, gas and fuels recorded price increases of 4.6 per cent during the first six months of the year.

Stock News: Dubai Pulls Back As Arabtec Suspended

Dubai’s index slipped 0.7 per cent as property stocks retreated.

Emirates Airline Could Buy 60-80 More A380s If Engines Upgraded

Emirates, the largest customer for the Airbus A380, had ordered 140 of the aircraft as of November.

Dubai Bourse Suspends Arabtec Shares

Trading in Arabtec’s shares were suspended following media reports of Aabar increasing its stake in the company.

Aabar In Talks to Buy Stake From Former Arabtec CEO

The Abu Dhabi state fund is looking to raise its stake in Arabtec to almost 30 per cent to become the major stakeholder, a source said.

Oman’s Bank Muscat Posts 22% Jump In Q2 Net Profit

The bank made a quarterly profit of OMR46.6 million ($121 million) in the second quarter compared to OMR38.1 million in the corresponding period of 2013.

Etihad Chief Aims To Seal Alitalia Deal As Union Warns On Jobs

Etihad’s chief executive said that the company wants to “guarantee the success and long-term viability of Alitalia” through the deal.

Qatar’s Doha Bank Q2 Net Profit up 9.9%

The bank made QAR388 million ($107 million) in the second quarter, up from QAR353 million in the same period of 2013.

Telecoms Firm Zain Saudi Posts Narrowed Q2 Net Loss

The company made a net loss of SAR329 million ($87.7 million) in the three months to June 30, according to a bourse filing.