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Australia’s Victoria Eyes MENA Trade Spike

Increased trade opportunities and direct air links are driving business between the regions.

REVEALED: Insights From The GCC’s Top Private Bankers

Experts from Emirates NBD, Falcon Private Bank, Lombard Odier, Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group and Julius Baer reveal their regional wealth management strategies to Gulf Business.

Private Banking Special: Julius Baer

Middle East investors are still seeking high-yielding investments, says Daniel Savary, head of Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East markets at Julius Baer

Private Banking Special: Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group

Rohit Walia, executive vice chairman & CEO at Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group, Middle East and India, says that the group will focus on tapping the Islamic finance industry in Saudi Arabia.

Private Banking Special: Lombard Odier

Swiss bank Lombard Odier is aggressively increasing its footprint in the Middle East, says its head of new markets, Arnaud Leclercq.

MEA Hotel Occupancy Up 12% In August

Middle Eastern cities such as Cairo and Amman lead the increase in occupancy rates.

Drake & Scull Wins Iraqi Pipeline Contract

The UAE-based contracting services company shares deal to construct pipelines in southeast Iraq with Italy’s SICIM.

MAF Eyes $800m Mall of Egypt Launch By 2015

The UAE-based shopping mall operator hopes to start construction on the project by the end of 2012.

10 Biggest GCC Sukuks In 2012

As more regional and international companies turn to Islamic bonds to raise capital, Gulf Business lists the biggest Sukuks issued so far this year.

EFG Hermes Shareholders Approve QInvest Deal

Egypt’s biggest investment bank, EFG Hermes and Qatar’s QInvest had reached an agreement in May 2012.

Deutsche To Trim ME Investment Banking Staff

The German lender is laying off several senior staff in Dubai, according to sources.

Apple iPhone 5 In UAE Late September

Apple’s latest product will be on US shelves from September 21st, and should be available in the UAE just after that.

US Ambassador To Libya Killed In Rocket Attack

Ambassador Christopher Stevens is believed to be one of four US officials killed during an attack at the US consulate in Benghazi.

Trafigura Gets $400m Loan From ME Banks

One of the world’s largest commodity traders has turned to Gulf-based banks to widen its lending pool.

British Retailers Eye Middle East For Expansion

The MENA region ranks fifth most popular destination for international expansion, with UAE most popular country.

ME Investors Stack Up European Property

Regional investors accounted for 12 per cent of Europe’s real estate market in Q2 2012.

The Rise Of Dim Sum Bonds

Gulf firms are increasingly chasing Asian liquidity.

Egypt’s PM Focuses On Growth

Hisham Kandil says he expects the country’s economy to grow by up to four per cent this financial year.

Egypt Sees IMF Deal In 2 Months, Eyes World Bank Aid

Egypt’s government is hoping to receive a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Over 50% Of ME Firms To Hire In Q4 2012

Majority of vacancies are for junior level executives while 45 per cent of firms will advertise less than five positions, says new survey.

REVEALED: The GCC’s Top Event Bids

Gulf Business takes a look at the biggest events that the GCC nations have hosted, are hoping to host, and the ones that got away.

Egypt’s OCI Income Falls 28%

Orascom Construction Industries, Egypt’s biggest listed company, feels weight of new plants in Algeria and the US.

Barclays Sees Middle East Driving Investment Bank

The lender leads M&A advisory rankings in MENA with $4.7 billion of deals this year, according to Dealogic.

MENA Consumers Are World’s Most Loyal

Ernst & Young survey shows shoppers in the region are more loyal to their preferred brands than shoppers in the UK or US.

GCC Ministers: More Talks Needed On Integration

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia urges Gulf Cooperation Council to become a single entity.

Manchester City And Malaga Start Season Well

The Gulf-funded football clubs continue to spend big money for new players as both teams get off to winning ways.

Syria’s Rural Economy Adapts As Conflict Spreads

Although much of the country’s industrial production has been hit, the rural economy has been less affected by the turmoil.

Top Start-up Funds In The Middle East

With entrepreneurship in the region witnessing an unprecedented boom, funding options are also on the rise.

China’s ICBC Posts Strong H1 Growth In ME

ICBC ME posted a pre-tax profit of $36 million in the first half of the year, up 157 per cent from H1 2011.

Yemen Says Saudi To Donate $1bn To Support Currency

The money will be placed in the Yemeni central bank and will support the country’s economic recovery, a Yemeni minister said.