UAE Retailer Marka To Develop UEFA Champions League-Themed Stores

The first retail and dining concept store is set to open in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall in May, with plans also lined up for Dubai.

Japan Condemns Apparent ISIL Execution, Demands Hostage Release

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the apparent killing of Haruna Yukawa “outrageous and impermissible.”

Obama, World Leaders Head To Saudi Arabia To Offer Condolences

Russia’s PM Dmitry Medvedev, UK’s PM David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande are also visiting Saudi to offer condolences.

Ultra Electronics Says Oman Airport IT Contract Terminated

The contract was worth about 207 million pounds when won in 2011.

Gulf Banks Flourish In 2014 On Strong Economic Growth

Gulf banks have recorded much improved net profit numbers in 2014 driven by higher loan growth, increased non-interest income and reduced provision charges.

Oil’s Plunge To Siphon Gulf Petrodollars From Global Markets

Governments will probably liquidate some of their fund assets to cover budget deficits as their revenues fall; if Brent stays at its current level around $50.

Abdel-Malek Al-Houthi: Provincial Rebel Turned Yemen Powerbroker

Al-Houthi, in his early 30s, rarely appears in public or gives press interviews, but has positioned himself as a revolutionary national leader.

Oil Prices Rise Above $50 Ahead Of Expected ECB Move

The ECB’s Executive Board has proposed a programme that would allow it to buy $58 billion of bonds a month starting in March.

Different Arab money

Growth In Gulf Arab Oil States To Slow Moderately This Year

Analysts believe GCC governments will be able to use huge financial reserves to keep state spending high.

Lord Mayor Of London To Visit UAE To Boost Finance Ties

Alderman Alan Yarrow will visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai during his trip next week, part of wider 12-day GCC visit.

Stock News: Mobily Weighs On Saudi; Egypt Extends Gains

Saudi Arabia’s main index was nearly flat while Egypt’s bourse rose 1.2 per cent.

Yemen Leader Ready To Accept Demands Of Houthis After His Guards Defeated

Hadi said the group had a right to serve in posts in all state institutions, and a draft constitution that has been a source of disagreement was open to amendment.

Gulf Arab Ministers Condemn Houthi “Coup” In Yemen

Although the GCC described the Houthis’ actions as terrorism, they stopped short of promising any measure to counter the group in Sanaa.

Oil Export Losses To Reach $300bn In Middle East

Economies such as Qatar, Iraq, Libya and Saudi Arabia will be hit hardest by the more than 50 per cent decline in petroleum prices, the IMF said.

Oman Oil Minister Slams OPEC Policy On Prices, Market Share

The minister said that OPEC’s policy might temporarily force high-cost producers out of the market but they would eventually come back.

Yemen’s Houthi Gunmen Guard President’s Home But Say He Has Not Been Toppled

Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi warned President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi that he had to implement a power-sharing deal.

Middle East CEOs’ Confidence Has Dropped In 2015

Business confidence was notably down in oil producing countries across the world due to falling crude prices, the survey said.

Yemen’s Al Qaeda Renews Calls For Lone-Wolf Attacks In West

AQAP claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper in Paris this month that killed 17 people.

UK Minister Says Deplores Saudi Activist’s Flogging, Plans To Raise Matter

Saudi has come under pressure from Western countries over its punishment of activist and writer Raif Badawi.

Oil Steady At $49 After IMF Cuts Growth Forecast

Global growth is projected at 3.5 per cent for 2015, the IMF said, reducing its forecast by 0.3 percentage points.

Middle East M&A Deals Up 23% In 2014

The region’s deal values were mainly driven by outbound M&A activity, a report says.

Twitter Buys Indian Mobile Marketing Start-Up ZipDial

Bengaluru-based ZipDial gives clients phone numbers for use in marketing campaigns.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Rise As Oil Gains

Dubai’s index added 1.2 per cent, with Dubai Islamic Bank’s (DIB) 2.8 per cent gain the main support.

Iran Minister’s Saudi Visit Delayed Due To Oil Price Fall – Tehran

The two sides have been talking about the visit for about 18 months, and a date had been tentatively set for last October.

Gulf Markets Edge Up After Oil Prices Firm

Dubai’s bourse added 1.6 per cent as most stocks gained.

U.S. Troops For Syria Training Mission Seen Moving To Region Soon

The U.S. military has said it is planning to send more than 400 troops to train Syrian moderates outside the country.

No Oil Price Recovery Yet Despite US Shale Slowdown-IEA

For the whole of 2015, the IEA raised its estimate of the demand for OPEC crude by 300,000 bpd to 29.2 million bpd.

Aviation Pushing Through The Crisis

The global aviation sector’s growth trajectory remains intact despite headwinds.

OPEC+meeting

OPEC To See Market Share Drop Even As Oil Slump Slows Shale Boom

OPEC forecast demand for the group’s oil will drop to 28.78 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2015.

Lactalis Subsidiary Tops Rival Bid For Egypt’s Arab Dairy

The revised bid values Arab Dairy at 363 million Egyptian pounds ($50.5 million) against $49.68 million for the latest Pioneer offer.