Middle East back issues from January 2007:
Dubai's property giants promise big handovers in new year.(Brief article)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Dubai's booming property market and simultaneous demand for housing will be significantly affected by a number of major project completions in the new year. Nakheel's Palm Jumeirah completion, originally set for completion in 2006 and currently slated for August 2007 is one ...
Juniper Networks Launches New Unified Access Control Solution With Expanded Interoperability And Functionality.
Jan 01, 2007 ... Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) today launched the new Unified Access Control (UAC) 2.0 solution, helping enterprises more effectively manage user access to critical business assets from a wide range of network endpoints. With UAC 2.0, Juniper Networks has completed integration of ...
Daman Prepares for Phase II of the Mandatory Health Law.
Jan 01, 2007 ... In line with its strategy to facilitate enrollment in the Health Insurance Scheme, Daman- The National Health Insurance Company has announced the commencement of registration and issuance of individual and small group policies to applicants. The enrollment process for Phase II will ...
Ibn Battuta Mall offers unforgettable experience for ten lucky winners.(Dubai Shopping Festival)
Jan 01, 2007 ... Mr. Bharat Mathur, aged 34, experienced an unforgettable trip to the mall as he became one of Ibn Battuta Mall's first Magic Memory Game winners on Saturday evening. Mr. Mathur from Jebel Ali walked away with a staggering 10 prizes as part of Ibn Battuta Mall's DSF celebrations. ...
Dubai Flower Centre's (Dfc) Unique Features Showcased At Horti Fair In Amsterdam.
Jan 01, 2007 ... The salient features and unique advanced facilities at the Dubai Flower Centre (DFC) were showcased to an international audience at the International Horti Fair that was held from Oct. 31 - Nov. 03, 2006 at the RAI International Exhibition and Congress Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ....
Dunkin' Donuts Joins Hands With Sharjah City For Humanitarian Services.(Dunkin' Donuts Inc.)
Jan 01, 2007 ... The Holy Month of Ramadan is strongly associated with generosity towards the less fortunate members of society and residents throughout the UAE proved to be no exception to the giving spirit this year. Customers visiting any one of the number of Dunkin' Donut outlets across the emirates to ...
Erratum
Jan 01, 2007; ... Erratum: Gull International Corporation mentioned In 22nd place in our top 100 ...
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Jan 01, 2007; ... Watch Lebanon closely over the next few weeks, because what results there, following the December days of anti-government demonstrations, will very likely have a profound effect on both that country and the Middle East region in the months and years to come. It is too soon to say exactly what ...
New Year, Old Enmities
Jan 01, 2007; ... WITH THE DAWN of a new year the 'special' relationship between Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush is looking decidedly shaky. The 'vision' once shared by the two political leaders has, over recent years, changed the face of the Middle East for ever. As a result of ...
Stones at glass houses
Jan 01, 2007; ... The effect of the report of the Iraq Study Group, formed to find a way out of the quagmire of Iraq, was tantamount to throwing a bucket of cold water at President George W Bush. By Adel Darwish THF CONGRESS-MANDATRD ISG unveiled 79 recommendations ranging from emphasis on training Iraqi ...
Between a rock and a hard place
Jan 01, 2007; ... US Jews are beginning to speak out against their own and the Israeli government's hardline attitude towards Palestinians and to work for a solution to the conflict that will suit both communities, says Pamela Ann Smith. WHILE ISRAELIS THEMSELVES have been arguing fiercely about the way ...
THE TOP100 ARAB COMPANIES
Jan 01, 2007; ... SPECIAL REPORT At first sight, the most obvious development in our survey of the Top 100 Arab Companies is the massive drop in the market capitalisation of the companies at the top end of the table. A large readjustment during the first quarter of 2006 saw stock market indices tumble and ...
Thinking the unthinkable
Jan 01, 2007; ... Lebanon steels itself for sectarian violence and a possible coup following the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, with Syria seen as the prime suspect. Ed Blanche reports from Beirut IN ANY POLITICAL assassination in Lebanon, there is invariably an abundance of suspects. Sectarian hatreds, ...
The Shi'ite Zarqawi
Jan 01, 2007; ... Notorious death squad leader Abu Deraa embodies Iraq's relentless slide into sectarian civil war as militias seize control of the streets. By Ed Blanche IN THE POWER struggle taking place between Shi'ite militias in Iraq as the country slides closer to all-out sectarian civil war, a new ...
New best friends
Jan 01, 2007; ... While the US continues to cold shoulder Syria, other countries are rushing in to make the most of its dwindling oil supplies, writes Thomas Land. SYRIA IS MAKING the most of the global competition for oil as well as political influence in the developing world in order to offset the ...
The money changers
Jan 01, 2007; ... International police are investigating a complex drug-money laundering operation based on the ancient hawala money transfer system, which has links in Dubai, Turkey, Afghanistan and Italy. Rhys Jones reports As EUROPEAN AND US authorities continue their investigations into the apparent ...
Unreal estate
Jan 01, 2007; ... EGYPT Prime parcels of Egyptian real estate are being sold to high-bidding Gulf investors for upscale development. While the government bills these projects as a job-creating exercise in town building, not everyone is convinced. Does Egypt need more five-star resorts? Maria Golia asks ...
Billion dollar Palm Jumeirah deal
Jan 01, 2007; ... A billion dollar resort has been announced on The Palm Jumeirah development. It will cover 141,500 sq m and consist of residences, a hotel, a private club, a vacation club and a retail plaza - all strongly influenced by classic Arab architecture. The resort is due for completion in 2010 and is ...
Jafza plans S Korean business park
Jan 01, 2007; ... Jafza International is in talks with South Korea's lncheon city on developing and managing the business and logistics park within a $15bn free trade zone. The Dubai firm, which is the overseas arm of the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority already manages free zones in Port Klang ...
Cellphone with TV for Doha Games
Jan 01, 2007; ... Samsung Electronics has unveiled what is believed to be the first mobile phone with TV capabilities in the region. The SGH-P910 also offers a 1.3 mega pixel camera and an MP3 player. The phone has been released to coincide with the Doha Asian Games. To receive TV signals, users flip the ...
Gulf renewables: like chalk and cheese
Jan 01, 2007; ... The Gulf has no incentive to develop alternative energy sources to oil and gas. Or has it? What is the motivation for the Abu Dhabi governments establishment of a renewable energies project? Neil Ford investigates MENTION THE GULF states and renewable energy in the same breath and most ...
Reclaiming the sea
Jan 01, 2007; ... Joseph Mayton reports on some of the environmental consequences of this summers Israeli attack on Lebanon and the delays that have compounded the problem. DAWN ON THE coastline of Lebanon has never been more beautiful. It sparkles with a glossy tint as the sun's rays begin to hit the ...
Down but not out
Jan 01, 2007; ... Does the drop in crude prices from nearly $80 per barrel at the height of the Israeli onslaught on Lebanon during August to around $60 - the steepest decline in over 15 years - represent a long-term 'tipping point' or merely a short-term 'blip' that will soon reverse again during the winter ...
An American dream
Jan 01, 2007; ... An Arab taxi driver overcomes massive hurdles to realise his dream of converting a church into a mosque. And US playwright Mark Sickman faced huge barriers to stage his comedy on the subject, as Pat McDonnell Twair reports from the United States. NASRUDEEN is A Muslim cab driver in a ...
A sanctuary in Kurdistan
Jan 01, 2007; ... SINCE THE FALL of Saddam Hussein, in April 2003, more than 5,000 Christian families living in the big Iraqi Arab cities - Bagdad, Basra, Mosul - have taken refuge in Kurdistan. Paradoxically they have returned to the cities and villages they fled 30 years ago. All tell the same story: ...
THE UNTOLD STORY OF AMERICA'S INTELLIGENCE CONSPIRACY
Jan 01, 2007; ... IRAQ CONFIDENTIAL THE UNTOLD STORY OF AMERICA'S INTELLIGENCE CONSPIRACY By Scott Ritter published by IB TAURIS ISBN 1 84511 088 9 price £17.99 hardback Scott Ritter is the straight-talking former marine officer whom the CIA wants to silence. Alter the 1991 Gulf War Hitter helped lead the ...
AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP
Jan 01, 2007; ... US-KUWAITI RELATIONS, 1961-1992 AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP By Chookiat Panaspornprasit published by Routledge ISBN 0 714 656283 price £65.00 hardback Throughout its three-decade-old history as an independent city-state after being granted full independence in 1961, Kuwait continued its ...
TRANSITION AND GLOBALIZATION IN A MUSLIM STATE
Jan 01, 2007; ... TURKEY, ISLAMISTS AND DEMOCRACY TRANSITION AND GLOBALIZATION IN A MUSLIM STATE By Yildiz Atasoy published IB TAURIS ISBN 1 85043 7580 price £45.00 hardback Turkey, Islamists and Democracy is the story of Islam's engagement with the reorganisation of the global economy. Yildiz Atasoy ...
THROUGH WRITERS' EYES
Jan 01, 2007; ... MARRAKESH THROUGH WRITERS' EYES Edited by Barnaby Rogerson and Stephen Lavington Published by Eland ISBN 0 9078 7199 2 price £12.99 paperback There has never been a more instantly exotic destination than Marrakesh. It is a dream landscape, with the steel-blue backdrop of the High Atlas ...
POWER, POLITICS AND THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF ARABIAN OIL
Jan 01, 2007; ... POWER, POLITICS AND THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF ARABIAN OIL By Aileen Keating published by Saqi ISBN 0 86356 525 5 price £35.00 hardback At the end of World War I, where this book begins, it was generally accepted by the experts that there was no oil in Arabia. In 1918, New Zealand mining ...
WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR POLITICS TODAY
Jan 01, 2007; ... ANTI-ARAB RACISM IN THE USA WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR POLITICS TODAY By Steven Salaita published by Pluto Press ISBN 0745325165 price £13.99 paperback Today is a difficult time to be both Arab and American. Since 9/11 there has been a lot of criticism of America's ...
THE LAST WORD
Jan 01, 2007; ... A nasty new weapon is under development in the United States. Dime is the acronym tor 'dense inert metal explosive', which causes a powerful blast and is confined to a small area. It inflicts horrendous injuries on its victims but so-called 'collateral damage' is limited. Now evidence is linking ...
Hyperion Creates True Information Democracy with "Always-On" Hyperion System 9 Smart Space.(Hyperion Solutions Corp.)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Hyperion (Nasdaq Global Select: HYSL), the global leader in Business Performance Management (BPM) software, today announced plans to release Hyperion System 9 Smart Space, the industry's first composite application environment that will deliver "always-on" business intelligence (BI) to ...
Al Mal Capital PSC announces the first quarterly rebalance of the Al Mal UAE FALCON Index.(Brief article)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Al Mal Capital PSC, the UAE investment company, on Tuesday announced the quarterly rebalance Al Mal UAE FALCON Index (Following All Liquid COmpany Names) for the first quarter of 2007. In line with the Index rules, Al Mal Capital will rebalance the index on the close of the ...
Samsung launches the world's first 'Optical Joystick' Phone.(Samsung Electronics Company Ltd.)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Samsung Electronics, a leading provider and innovator of mobile phones, launches the world's first mobile phone featuring an optical joystick for a whole new mobile experience.Samsung's latest 'Optical Joystick' Phone (Model: SCH-V960) is suited with the latest technology that may ...
Al Mal Capital PSC announces the first quarterly rebalance of the Al Mal UAE FALCON Index.
Jan 02, 2007 ... Al Mal Capital PSC, the UAE investment company, today announced the quarterly rebalance Al Mal UAE FALCON Index (Following All Liquid COmpany Names) for the first quarter of 2007. In line with the Index rules, Al Mal Capital will rebalance the index on the close of the business ...
New Study Reveals Need for Better Education about Antibiotics in Middle East.(Pfizer Inc)
Jan 02, 2007 ... A new study reveals that patient behavior - particularly the failure to complete full courses of medication - is reducing the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment of infections. Behaviors identified in the study include a tendency to stop taking medication once symptoms were ...
Huawei completes European mobile broadband trial.(Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei"), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, has announced that it has completed video phone and HSDPA 3.6 Mbps services trials on a network in Europe using UMTS 900 MHz. ...
Acropolis Now! Spirit of Dubai reaches Greece.
Jan 02, 2007 ... The Spirit of Dubai airship has reached its last major European destination on its landmark journey from London to Dubai by flying over some of Athens's greatest landmarks.The airship, whose journey is marking the first residents moving into The Palm Jumeirah, circled over some of ...
Mustafa Amar Returns.(Mustafa Amar)
Jan 02, 2007 ... After an absence that lasted for over two years, Egyptian singer Mustafa Amar has returned to the music scene with a new album. The album is scheduled to be in stores in the upcoming few days and is produced by Alam El Phan Production Company. According to the London based ...
Ahmadinejad warns West, hails Saddam end.(Saddam Hussein)(Mahmoud Ahmadinejad)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday said that Tehran is determined to restore its nuclear right and that Iranians will not withdraw from their legal right slightly. Speaking to the people of Dasht-e Azadegan, he said that "thanks God Almighty and due to efforts of ...
L&T sets eyes on major GCC projects after receiving Nakheel, Trident contracts.(Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Trident International, gulf cooperation council)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... India's leading engineering, technology and construction company, Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), reportedly has its sights set on several major GCC construction projects, after already having won deals with Nakheel and Trident International. Nakheel has granted L&T a contract ...
$120m residential township project launched in Oman.(Larsen & Toubro Ltd. gets construction contract from Saud Bahwan Group)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... A $120 million residential township project in Sohar, Oman was recently awarded to Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), India's leading engineering, technology and construction company. The project includes the construction of nine buildings with a total of 288 two and ...
Dubai tenants can challenge new rent cap ruling.(tenants' rights)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... A senior official at the Dubai Rent Committee revealed that though the maximum rent increase in the emirate stands at 15 percent, tenants have the right to challenge it. "Fifteen per cent has been the maximum rent increase limit on any property since the rent cap order came into ...
DOZ increases square footage to 33m sq ft.(Dubai Outsource Zone to begin operations)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... During the past year, Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ) has increased in area from 3 million square feet to 33 million square feet. DOZ, part of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, has registered about 72 companies and is likely to be fully operational by January 2007 according to ...
Analysts conflicted over Dubai real estate market in 2007.(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Industry analysts seem to be conflicted over the future trend of Dubai's booming property market, with a great number simply predicting that the future remains uncertain. A study by branding company Future Brands estimates that Dubai's housing supply will more than double by ...
Dubai's property giants promise big handovers in new year.(Nakheel, Dubai Properties)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Dubai's booming property market and simultaneous demand for housing will be significantly affected by a number of major project completions in the new year. Nakheel's Palm Jumeirah completion, originally set for completion in 2006 and currently slated for August 2007 is one ...
New cap pegs maximum rent in Dubai at 7pc.(property rent regulation)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... As of January 1 a new annual rent cap of a maximum of seven percent went into effect for all properties in Dubai. The Dubai government, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai specifically, issued ...
Dubai realtors, residents pleased with new property legislation.(regulation to settle landlord tenant disputes)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Both residents and realtors in Dubai were pleased with new legislation passed by Dubai authorities which tasked the special judiciary committee in charge of settling disputes between landlords and tenants (Dubai Rent Committee) and places an annual 7 percent cap on rents. The ...
Dubai property market to settle.(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Industry experts have expressed confidence that Dubai can look forward to lower inflation and a softening of the property market thanks to a new decree on rents. Nassar Saidi, the chief economist for Dubai International Financial Exchange, said that one of the most important ...
Wfp Humanitarian Operations In Somalia Start To Return To Normal.
Jan 03, 2007 ... * WFP operations in Somalia started to return to normal today after the disruption of the last two weeks. * The United Nations is trying to estimate the levels of displacement of civilians in Somalia caused by fighting amid a gradual increase since last week of new Somali ...
Huawei completes European mobile broadband trial.(Huawei Technologies Company Ltd.)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei"), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, has announced that it has completed video phone and HSDPA 3.6 Mbps services trials on a network in Europe using UMTS 900 MHz. ...
Middle East cosmetic related sales grows 12% in 2006.
Jan 03, 2007 ... Sales of beauty, grooming and other personal care products are experiencing an unprecedented surge in the Middle East region. Overall, the category has grown by 12% annually and it is estimated that the total value of cosmetic related sales will reach US$2.1 billion this year. ...
Dubai Flower Centre's (Dfc) Unique Features Showcased At Horti Fair In Amsterdam.(international horticultural industry show)
Jan 03, 2007 ... The salient features and unique advanced facilities at the Dubai Flower Centre (DFC) were showcased to an international audience at the International Horti Fair that was held from Oct. 31 - Nov. 03, 2006 at the RAI International Exhibition and Congress Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ....
Dubai Municipality to build 353 housing facilitites.(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Dubai Municipality (DM) will soon launch a major housing project in which it will construct 353 housing facilitites for UAE nationals in various parts of the emirate. The project is put at AED216.6 million. According to WAM, the ...
Implementation of UAE's federal budget starts on time.(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Implementation of UAE's federal budget for the fiscal year 2007 started Monday with the beginning of the new year. According to WAM, the federal budget for 2007 amounted to Dh 28.4 billion and maintained a zero deficit for the third running year. Dr Mohammed Khalfan bin ...
Hakim postpones duet with Jennifer Lopez.(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... After his recent participation in the Noble Peace Prize special event ceremony in Norway on December 11, 2006, the Tunisian satellite channel Hannbal held Egyptian singer Hakim as special guest on the show "Al Laila Laila" (Tonight is the night). During the televised interview, Hakim ...
Region's leading hotel investment conference prepares powerful line-up.(Arabian Hotel Investment Conference)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), Madinat Jumeirah Convention Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 28-30, 2007. More than 800 leaders representing the 'who's who' of the global hotel investment industry are set to meet for the third year running at the industry's ...
Baume & Mercier Launches Riviera Chrono XXL watch in the Middle East.(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Certain myths are indestructible ... the Riviera myth is one of them. A descendant of the famous Baume & Mercier line, the Riviera Chronograph XXL reveals itself in new flamboyant attire as the company announced its launch in the Middle East. The association of red gold and black rubber ...
LG wins Industry Achievement Award second year in a row.(LG Electronics Inc.)
Jan 03, 2007 ... For the second consecutive year, global and regional digital leader LG Electronics has won acclaim at the 3G CDMA Industry Achievement Awards. LG won an award for its bestselling 'Chocolate' CDMA mobile phone - VX8500 in the Subscriber Technology Innovation category. The ...
ASPIRE Welcomes Ireland U15 Football Team.
Jan 03, 2007 ... Students at the prestigious ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence are to take part in soccer matches against some of the most talented young footballers from Ireland next week. The Ireland National Under-15s football team are travelling to Doha for the first time to play the ...
Karim Al Azhari gears up for Toyo 24-hour.(Karim Al Azhari)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Motor sports in the United Arab Emirates is burning up a feverish competitive spirit with the only Arab competitor Karim Al Azhari, all set to take part in the 2nd Toyo Tyres 24-hour Dubai race at the Dubai Autodrome circuit starting from the 11th to the 13th January 2007. Karim ...
GAC brings stunning circus performances to Dubai Shopping Festival.(GAC Logistics)
Jan 03, 2007 ... It took 104 TEUs (total equivalent unit of twenty-foot containers) and a fleet of side loader trucks executing a turnaround in only three nights for GAC Logistics to move the entire set of Cirque du Soleil's highly anticipated performance in Dubai. Promising a month-long visual ...
BurJuman 'Dresses Up' Dubai.
Jan 03, 2007 ... BurJuman, the region's most luxurious mall, has made an 'unofficial promise' to dress up Dubai with its much discounted designer garb being offered from now until 2 February 2007 as part of this year's Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and the mall's very own 'BurJumania' promotion. ...
Algeria: Contract to recover Skikda LNG plants.(Delair Navarra)(Brief article)
Jan 03, 2007 ... The contract for "the demolition and the recovery of the remains" of Skikda's petrochemical complex's three gas liquefaction plants will be signed on Wednesday between Sonatrach and French company Delair Navarra, the national oil company announced Tuesday in a release. The three plants ...