MENA To See Solar Projects Worth $2.7bn In 2015

Solar projects having capacity to produce up to 1,800 megawatts of power are to be awarded over the next 12 months in the region.

Anger, Calls For Calm In Middle East Over New Charlie Cartoons

Charlie Hebdo’s “survivor’s edition” swiftly sold out its multi-million copy print run in France.

Oil Price Drop Unexpected, OPEC Was Right Not To Cut – Kuwait

Oil prices have collapsed about 60 per cent in the last six months.

Revealed: Countries With The Most Number Of Public Holidays

India tops the list with 21 holidays; UAE ranks lower with 11 public breaks in a year.

Samsung Talks To BlackBerry About $7.5bn Buyout – Source

The Korean firm is looking to gain access to BlackBerry’s valuable patent portfolio.

Citigroup Loses Appeal Over Abu Dhabi Fund’s Arbitration

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is pursuing a second arbitration over its $7.5 billion investment in Citigroup in late 2007.

Dana Gas CEO Says Oil Price Collapse Could Delay Egypt Payments

Last September, Dana said it had signed a deal with Egypt that would help it recover most of the money it was owed.

Oil Prices Extend Slide In Commodities Sell-Off

Oil tumbled five per cent on Tuesday, with global benchmark Brent briefly trading at par to U.S. prices for the first time in three months.

Stock News: Mixed Earnings, Weak Oil May Dampen Gulf Markets

Oil slid in early Asian trade on Wednesday after touching its lowest in nearly six years in the previous session.

Saudi Oil Minister Holds Talks With US Energy Deputy

They discussed global oil markets and cooperation on energy and environmental issues, climate change and solar energy use.

Gulf States Plan Laws To Curb Fuel Smuggling

The minister did not specify how the new laws would work, but said details would be released soon.

Iran’s Rouhani Says Countries Behind Oil Price Drop Will Suffer

Iranian president said that oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will suffer more than Iran from the falling oil prices.

Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan To Join Beijing-Backed Development Bank

The entry brings the total number of founder nations intending to join the $50-billion bank to 26, officials said.

Middle East’s Integrated Diagnostics Plans UK Listing

Up to 45 per cent of IDH could be listed, the company said.

Dutch Engineer Imtech Investigates Marine Unit In UAE

The company was hit by an accounting scandal in Poland and Germany in 2013.

Convenience Store Circle K To Open 28 New UAE Outlets In 2015

The move is part of a wider Middle East expansion plan to open 55 new branches this year.

Oil Prices Plunge Again As UAE Defends Holding Production

UAE Oil Minister Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazroui said on Tuesday that OPEC’s decision in November not to cut output had been right.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Pull Back As Oil Continues Slide

rent crude oil dropped into the $46 area in Asian hours on Tuesday, near a six-year low.

Dubai’s Access and France’s EREN Partner For African Power Investment

Under the deal, both companies will implement a development plan to create a portfolio of power assets in Africa worth over $500 million.

Oil Prices Extend Fall Despite Record China Imports

Both Brent and U.S. crude are at their weakest since April 2009 and have fallen for seven straight weeks.

Canary Wharf Owner Tells Investors To Reject $4bn Qatar Takeover

Songbird Estates said the 350 pence per share cash offer did not reflect the value of its property of growth potential.

US Preclearance At Abu Dhabi Airport Now Extended To All US-Bound Flights

The facility will now be operational for Etihad’s early morning flights, EY103 to New York JFK and EY183 to San Francisco.

Oil Prices Extend Falls; Goldman Sachs Slashes Price Forecasts

Analysts at Goldman Sachs lowered their three-month price forecast for Brent to $42 a barrel from $80.

Stock News: Gulf Markets May Extend Gain On Strong Q4 Results

Several regional companies published positive fourth-quarter earnings.

Venezuela’s Maduro Seeks Support From Saudi Arabia On Oil Prices

Venezuela’s international reserves have deteriorated sharply due to the tumbling oil prices which hit new lows last week below $50 per barrel.

GCC Rail Projects To See Investments Worth $200bn

Rail projects across the GCC are expected to fuel intra-regional trade while helping reduce fuel consumption.

BMW Middle East Sales Up By 23% In 2014

The UAE accounted for 54 per cent of BMW’s sales in the Middle East, followed by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Stock News: Most Markets Edge Up, But Industries Qatar Drags Down Doha

Industries Qatar fell its daily 10 per cent limit and was the main drag on Qatar’s index, which dropped 2.3 per cent.

Saudi’s ACWA Power Wins 1.7bn Euro Morocco Solar Power Deal

The two plants are the second phase of the 500 MW Ouarzazate project, which is part of a government plan to produce two gigawatts of solar power by 2020.

Emirates Launches Second A380 On Manchester Route

The upgraded service will increase Emirates’ capacity from Manchester by 13 per cent, the airline said.