Serbia Seeks To Borrow Up To $3 Billion From UAE – Official

The money will be used to repay “the most difficult debts” and regurgitate the economy, said Serbia’s deputy prime minister.

Occidental Seeks Buyers For Stake In Middle East Unit

Sources say the company could sell 30 per cent to 40 per cent of its Middle East business unit.

US, Russia Agree On Syria Weapons, Obama Says Force Still Option

The accord demands that Syrian President President Bashar al-Assad account for his secret stockpile within a week.

Syria’s Chemical Weapons; Decades To Build, Years To Destroy

Syria’s stockpile is believed to be spread over dozens of sites and include research and development centres, some of them underground.

Ex-Barclays Team Plans London-Based Islamic Asset Firm

Arabesque is due to open to investors in the first quarter of 2014 and will focus on value-based investment strategies.

Kuwait To Transfer $2bn Aid To Egypt

Kuwait’s state news agency said the package would comprise a $2 billion central bank deposit, a $1 billion grant and $1 billion in oil products.

StanChart Appoints MENA CEO As Head Of Islamic Arm

Christos Papadopoulos will lead the bank’s expansion in sharia-compliant banking.

ME Insurance M&A Activity At All Time Low

Transactions in the Middle East between July 2012 and June 2013 dropped to nine deals as compared to 13 in the previous year.

Gulf Arab States Still Want Deterrent Action Against Syria

Bahrain’s Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa was speaking at the start of a meeting of foreign ministers from the six GCC countries.

Apple Launches iPhone 5S And $99 iPhone 5C

The new phones will be available in the US from September 20.

UAE Salaries To Increase 5% In 2014

Salaries in Saudi Arabia are expected to increase on average by six per cent, while Oman and Kuwait’s pay rises will grow by 5.6 per cent.

Top 10 Most Expensive Construction Markets

Qatar tops the list as the most expensive construction market in Middle East.

UAE’s Abraaj Invests In Morocco’s Steripharma

Investment will help pharmaceutical manufacturer Steripharma to step up its exports to the private sector of North and sub-Saharan Africa.

iMENA Invests $8m In Hellofood For ME Expansion

iMENA Holdings and Rocket Internet have partnered to invest in the regional operations of Hellofood, a global food ordering service.

Cebu Pacific Air Gears Up For Dubai Launch

Low-cost airline has taken delivery of its second A330 which will be deployed on the the carrier’s first long-haul flight to Dubai from October

Obama Sees Possible Breakthrough In Syria Weapons Proposal

Russia has proposed that Syria hand over its chemical weapons for destruction, which could avert planned U.S. military strikes.

Saudi Diplomat Kidnapped In Yemen Asks Family To Stage Protests

Militants seized Saudi vice consul Abdullah al-Khalidi in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden in March 2012.

Qatar To Convert $2bn Egypt Central Bank Deposit Into Bonds

Qatar sent Egypt $3 billion in May of which it converted $1 billion into three-year bonds.

Dubai’s Al Futtaim Offers $86m For Kenyan Car Retailer

Gulf Arab companies are boosting their investments in Africa lured by the continent’s untapped resources.

UAE Ranked Happiest Arab Country, 14th Overall

A study finds the United Arab Emirates is a happier country than the United States and the United Kingdom.

GCC Real Estate Industry Heats Up Amidst Strong Competition

Local firms have to raise standards as they face increasing competition from international property developers, says new report.

Apple iPhone 5S – Leaks And Rumours

Leaked pictures have fuelled speculation that the phone will have a built-in biometric fingerprint scanner.

UAE Builds $2m Mosque In Dundee, Scotland

The mosque, funded by the Al Maktoum foundation, is the first of its kind in Dundee.

Dubai’s DAE Ends Merger Talks With BBA

The companies were holding talks to merge certain parts of their businesses.

GPHG To Make Middle East Debut In Dubai

The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève will showcase 70 of the finest watches in DIFC this October.

In France, A Tax-Free Property Empire Owned By Qatar

Around 40 properties in France are owned by Qataris, with total investment amounting to around $7.8 billion over the past decade, found Reuters.

Kuwait Emir To Visit White House On Sept. 13 To Discuss Middle East

The visit comes as the United States weighs military strikes in Syria.

Obama Appeals For Backing To Hit Syria, Europeans Urge Delay

The US President is emphasising that he only plans limited strikes on Syria to deter future chemical weapons attacks.

As Obama Blinks On Syria, Israel, Saudis Make Common Cause

Saudi Arabia, like Israel heavily dependent on the United States for arms supplies, is engaged in a historic confrontation with Iran for regional influence – a contest shaped by their leading roles in the rival Sunni and Shi’ite branches of Islam.

Surprise Or Not, U.S. Strikes Can Still Hurt Assad

With weeks to prepare for an attack, Assad might benefit in some ways from the delay in any strike by the United States.