Middle East back issues from May 2007:
CPC to set up an industrial complex in Riyadh.(Construction Products Holding Company)(Brief article)
May 01, 2007 ... The Construction Products Holding Company (CPC), a Saudi-based closed-joint-stock-company, today announced its plan to establish an industrial complex in Riyadh to tap into ever-growing construction market in the country. The announcement was made in a press conference held in Riyadh. ...
Mashreqbank reports 30% net profit growth in first quarter.(Financial report)
May 01, 2007 ... The Mashreqbank Group reported healthy first quarter results of 2007 as core revenues from regular banking business showed considerable increase over last year. Total Net Profit of Dh445 million represents a 30 per cent increase over the Net Profit of Dh342 million posted for the same ...
Emaar Properties expands to Southeast Asia with AED 2.2 billion project in Indonesia's pristine Lombok Island.
May 01, 2007 ... Emaar Properties, the UAE-based global property developer, has expanded its geographic presence in to Southeast Asia with a mixed-use project in Central Lombok Island in Indonesia. The development value of the project, spread over 1,200 hectares, is AED 2.2 billion (US$600 million; IDR ...
Work on FINE's new manufacturing facility in Iran begins.
May 01, 2007 ... FINE, the market leaders in the Middle East's hygienic paper industry, has announced commencement of work on its full-fledged manufacturing facility being built in the Qazuin Area, 130 kilometres from Teheran, Iran. The topography work for the unit that will be built on an area of 30,000 ...
Lloyds TSB restructures its Middle East banking operations.
May 01, 2007 ... Leading Dubai based international bank, Lloyds TSB, has announced the restructuring of its Middle East banking operations to better align its offer with the needs of its personal, business and corporate customers. With immediate affect, both the local personal banking business ...
The seminar on negotiation by renowned Harvard professor had more than 100 participants from Southeastern Europe and the M. East.(Athens Information Technology)
May 01, 2007 ... The Art and Science of Negotiation, organized by Athens Information Technology for the third consecutive year at its state-of-the-art facility in Peania from 17-21 April, was completed for the third consecutive year with great success. The program, taught by Dr. Brian Mandell, Director of ...
Spider-Man(tm) 3 Swings into Action at Burger King[R] Restaurants this Summer.
May 01, 2007 ... Spider-Man will swing into BURGER KING[R] restaurants across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this summer with an exciting Kids Meal promotion to celebrate the release of Spider-Man(tm) 3. Beginning May 2, 2007, with the purchase of a Kids Meal at BURGER KING[R] restaurants, children will be ...
Emaar rebuilds earthquake-ravaged Indonesian village.(Emaar Properties)
May 01, 2007 ... As part of its corporate social responsibility programme, Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based property developer, is reconstructing an earthquake-ravaged village in Indonesia. The rebuilding work, undertaken with the participation of the local population and the provincial municipality, was ...
International investment bank acquires us$98 million german commercial property portfolio.
May 01, 2007 ... International Investment Bank (IIB), a globally focused investment bank based in Bahrain, announced its acquisition of a high quality portfolio of commercial real estate properties in Munich, Germany, valued at US$98 million. IIB is taking a 95% stake in the portfolio, which is ...
Etihad signs usd400 million islamic lease deal.(Etihad Airways )
May 01, 2007 ... Etihad Airways has signed the terms of a USD 400 million agreement for an Islamic lease financing facility that will be used to finance the airline's acquisition of four Airbus A340-500 aircraft delivered in 2006. In terms of this agreement, Citi, and ADCB acting as mandated ...
Roche-Bobois Paris, world renowned contemporary furniture showroom opens, in the Kingdom of Bahrain.(Brief article)
May 01, 2007 ... Discriminating clientele can now enjoy the latest Paris collections in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the opening on May 3rd, of internationally renowned contemporary showroom Roche Bobois Paris. Located in the prestigious Al Seef district, at just over 700 sqmt, the showroom is the 'pearl' ...
Taameer Jordan becomes a holding Co and broadens its scope.(Brief article)
May 01, 2007 ... In its second general assembly meeting, Taameer Jordan announced becoming a holding company and announced its 2007 plans.Taameer's profits for 2006 reached to JD30 million and the investment size $ 2.2 billion, according to Earnest and Young who were re-elected as the external auditors for ...
Worldhotels middle east's members rank among the best.
May 01, 2007 ... Four independent hotels in the Middle East belonging to WORLDHOTELS have achieved high rankings in the group's Performing Excellence Programme (PEP), for their public areas, restaurant outlets and guest rooms. One of them, the Marina Hotel Kuwait, was ranked third best hotel world-wide, ...
Shell announced winners of "Shell Better Environment Award 2007" today.
May 01, 2007 ... Shell in the UAE, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, has announced that it will hold today (Tuesday, May 1, 2007) the awarding ceremony of the Shell Better Environment Award (BEA) 2007, the UAE's foremost initiative aimed at addressing and raising awareness of environmental ...
arabian travel market could double in size within five years, sheikh ahmed bin saeed al maktoum.
May 01, 2007 ... Arabian Travel Market, the Middle East's premier travel and tourism exhibition which marks its 14th showing at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), could well double in size within the next five years, according to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al ...
World's Leading Gemstone Professionals to Attend 2007 ICA Congress in Dubai.(International Colored Gemstone Association)
May 01, 2007 ... The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) has announced that over 250 leading members of the world-wide gemstone community will attend the 12th Biennial ICA Congress, taking place in Dubai from the 7-9th May. Under the sponsorship of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and ...
IFA Hotels & Resorts launches Fractional Ownership Product.
May 01, 2007 ... IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) announced today at the Arabian Travel Market the launch of the region's first Private Residence Club community, Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba, on the Crescent of The Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai. Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Chairman and ...
AGI Launches Infinite Solutions Campaign Tailoring to Client's Needs.(Arab German Insurance Company)
May 01, 2007 ... Arab German Insurance Company (AGI) launched "Infinite Solutions," their newest marketing campaign tailoring insurance packages to client's requirements. Through this campaign, AGI is approaching each client, whether individual or corporate, personally. AGI is raising the bar of ...
CSR can Protect Corporate Reputation, Hill & Knowlton expert tells Kuwait Conference.
May 01, 2007 ... Hill & Knowlton, one of the world's leading Public Relations and Communications consultancies, participated in Kuwait's 2nd Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility this week. Ammara Khan, Hill & Knowlton's Director for CSR and Corporate Governance put forward a strong business case ...
Estarta Solutions and the Supreme Council for Petroleum and Mineral Affairs Announce Successful Deployment of Morasalat.
May 01, 2007 ... Estarta Solutions, a leading regional IT innovator, and SCPMA, The Saudi Supreme Council for Petroleum and Mineral Affairs, today announced the success of Estarta to provide Supreme Council for Petroleum and Mineral Affairs with a customized administrative communication solution designed ...
DAMAC Showcases World Class Projects at 'Property Link 2007'.(DAMAC Properties)
May 01, 2007 ... Luxury lifestyle provider, DAMAC Properties, showcased its state-of-the-art projects at the PropertyLink 2007 exposition between May 2nd and May 4th 2007 at the Zara Expo in Amman. The exhibition is being held in cooperation with Jordan Investment Board, Greater Amman Municipality and the ...
Lebanon war report: Israeli minister resigns as pressure growing on Olmert to quit.(Eitan Cabel, Ehud Olmert)(Brief article)
May 01, 2007 ... Eitan Cabel, an Israeli Cabinet minister on Tuesday resigned over the Lebanon war inquiry. Cabel, a minister without portfolio from the Labor Party, announced that he was quitting in protest to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's leadership. He told reporters, "I cannot sit in a government that ...
Iran flexes its muscles
May 01, 2007; ... Iran has a grand plan to become one of the most influential countries in the region. Was the arrest of 15 British forces personnel in disputed waters during March part of this scheme? ADEL DARWISH investigates. THE CAPTURE OF 15 British Royal Navy and Royal Marines by Iran's Pasdaran ...
Better the devil you know
May 01, 2007; ... Israel's military chiefs are concerned about a Syrian arms build-up, but the UN Disengagement Observer Force on the Golan Heights reported no significant changes in Syrian deployments and crticised the "alarmist Israeli media" for its reportage. By ED BLANCHE FOR SOME TIME now there have ...
Divide & rule?
May 01, 2007; ... Israel has long sought to divide Palestinian society to prevent the emergence of a viable Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, writes ED BLANCHE IN THE LONG and drawn-out conflict between the two factions in Israel, most Palestinians have been campaigning for a ...
Halliburton's great escape
May 01, 2007; ... In the wake of US energy giant Halliburton's controversial move to Dubai, MILAN VESELY examines the implications for other companies. IN A SURPRISE 11 March announcement, oil services giant Halliburton announced it was relocating its corporate headquarters from Houston, Texas to Dubai ....
Syria's election returns no surprises
May 01, 2007; ... PETER HALL reports from Damascus. WHEN SYRIANS WENT to the ballot box for the parliamentary elections on 22 April they faced a stark choice. Although campaigning was in full swing across the country, with candidates' portraits and slogans lining the streets, few people were expecting ...
The US failure in Iraq
May 01, 2007; ... Never before have contractors represented such a large portion of a US presence in a war zone or accounted for so many security and military-like jobs. EAMONN GEARON reports. FOLLOWING PRESIDENT BUSH'S "mission accomplished" declaration on 1 May, 2003, signalling the end to "major combat ...
THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY
May 01, 2007; ... Omar Ben Yedder travelled to Doha to speak with delegates of the World Economic Forum who gathered there to examine the findings of The Arab World Competitiveness Report and discuss the high level upcoming WEF meeting in Jordan. THIS MONTH'S HIGH profile meeting in Jordan promises once ...
Education, education, education
May 01, 2007; ... The latest Arab World Competitiveness Report, published every two years, was unveiled last month in Qatar. Spanning 13 countries in the Arab World, the report attempts to assess each country's level of competitiveness enabling them to benchmark their performance against each other, and hopefully ...
Interview
May 01, 2007; ... Omar Ben Yecider talked to Sherif el Diwani (right), head of the Middle East programme of the World Economic Forum in Doha. TME: I see that you've broken the Jordan Summit into three different categories, and one of them is called "Industries of the future". There will be focus sessions ...
Third conference of Nobel Laureates, Petra, Jordan
May 01, 2007; ... "ONCE AGAIN WE are proud to provide lbe context in which Nobel Laureates, the greatest intellects of our time, meet to think, talk and contribute to the advancement of various global issues," King Abdullah declared. "This year, they will also meet with the best young minds of our region. From ...
Interview
May 01, 2007; ... Omar Ben Yedder talked to Margarets Drzeniek Hanouz, the author of The Arab World Competitiveness Report 2007, Sustaining the Growth Momentum. Hanouz (right) is Senior Economist with the Global Competitiveness network at the WEF. OMAR BEN YEDDER: Is there a direct correlation between ...
Jordan's window on the world
May 01, 2007; ... Virtually landlocked, Jordan's one small stretch of coast round Aqaba is vital to its communications with the rest of the world. NEIL FORD outlines the country's plans for port development. WITHOUT THE NATURAL resources of many other Middle East states, Jordan's main hope of economic ...
SAGIA opens doors
May 01, 2007; ... The kingdom is hoping its six economic cities will stimulate growth and encourage social change. But much work remains to be done, writes JOHN IRISH IN AUGUST, KING Abdullah marks the beginning of his third year as ruler of Saudi Arabia. In that time, his people's expectations have risen ...
The Arabian dream becomes reality
May 01, 2007; ... As Dubai gears up to welcome delegates to the 13th Arab Travel Market, one of the major events in the travel and tourism industry calendar, RHONAWELLS looks at some of the latest regional developments - the futuristic projects, the multibillion dollar investments and the prospects for the ...
A game of cat and mouse
May 01, 2007; ... Iran is playing dodgeball with its LNG customers - in particular India and Pakistan. The current high prices for oil and gas appear to have given Tehran the ability to negotiate on a range of issues from a position of strength, says NEIL FORD DESPITE HOLDING THE world's second biggest ...
GCC single currency faces a bumpy road
May 01, 2007; ... Economist MOIN SIDDIQI examines the prospects for a single Gulf currency and questions whether it will make its 2010 implementation deadline. THE CREATION OF a unified currency bloc is 3 long-term aim of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries - comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, ...
Abu Dhabi's $million eggs
May 01, 2007; ... JOHN IRISH reports from the Gulf on a new sturgeon breeding initiative in the UAE. ABU DHABI is fast becoming synonymous with high society. The glitz and glamour of Formula 1 motor racing is on its way. The Louvre and Guggenheim museums have agreed to showcase their finest works of art ...
The Olive Route
May 01, 2007; ... The olive, much beloved of the people of the Mediterranean and the Arab world for millenia, became a passion for Irish author and actor, Carol Drinkwater. This passion and the quest for further knowledge of the history and origins of the fruit have resulted in a fascinating book, The Olive ...
I IS FOR INFIDEL: FROM HOLY WAR TO HOLY TERROR: 18 YEARS INSIDE AFGHANISTAN
May 01, 2007; ... I IS FOR INFIDEL FROM HOLY WAR TO HOLY TERROR: 18 YEARS INSIDE AFGHANISTAN By Kathy Gannon published by Public Affairs. ISBN 158648 312 9 price £15.99 hardback In 1986 Kathy Gannon arrived in Afghanistan to pursue her dream of becoming a foreign correspondent. She witnessed the final ...
Remembrance of things forgotten
May 01, 2007; ... Egypt's valuable Coptic architecture has until recently been overlooked but interest is reviving. MARIAGOLIA writes from Cairo. EGYPT'S COPTS ARE proud of their place in the early history of Christianity. St Mark, author of the oidest canonical gospel brought the religion here in the ...
BETWEEN REVOLUTION AND STATE: THE PATH TO FATIMID STATEHOOD
May 01, 2007; ... BETWEEN REVOLUTION AND STATE THE PATH TO FATIMID STATEHOOD By Sumaiya Hamdani published by IB TAURIS ISBN 978 185043 882 3 price £25.00 hardback This book examines the Islamic theologian and jurist who was one of the most original thinkers of his period. It argues that Qadi Al Nu'man's ...
HAMAS: UNWRITTEN CHAPTERS
May 01, 2007; ... HAMAS UNWRITTEN CHAPTERS By Azzam Tamimi Published by C HurstS Co ISBN 185065 834 x price £14.95 paperback Hamas Unwritten Chapters is indeed very timely. It comes almost 10 months after Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement in Palestine, made a sweeping victory in an election that was ...
THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF ISLAMIC CAIRO
May 01, 2007; ... THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF ISLAMIC CAIRO By Richard Yeomans published by Garnet ISBN 1-85964-154-7 price £29.95 hardback Since Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798, the western traveller has been obsessed with the Pharaohs and Egypt's ancient past. Her Islamic culture has been largely ...
THE SCHOOL OF WAR
May 01, 2007; ... THE SCHOOL OF WAR By Alexandre Najjar published by Telegram ISBN 184659 009 price £7.99 paperback "All wars are alike. What I experienced in Lebanon, others experienced in France, in Spain, in Yugoslavia, or elsewhere. Yes, all wars are alike, because while weapons change, the men who ...
SHADOWS IN THE DESERT: ANCIENT PERSIA AT WAR
May 01, 2007; ... SHADOWS IN THE DESERT ANCIENT PERSIA AT WAR By Kaveh Farrokh published by Osprey ISBN 978 184603 108 3 price £20.00 hardback Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and the ensuing Cultural Revolution, the pre-Islamic Persian empires became a taboo subject. Consequently the empires of ...
THE LAST WORD
May 01, 2007; ... Britain's Baroness Margaret Thatcher once dismissed referenda as 'tools of dictatorships' conveniently used to obscure detail. Such a tool was used by the Egyptians on 26 March, to push some half-baked constitutional 'reforms' through parliament. Few accept the National ...
Delta's overnight flights from Dubai to anywhere in N. America the following day.(Delta Air Lines Inc.)
May 02, 2007 ... Delta Air Lines - America's fastest growing international airline - will enable travellers from Dubai to reach anywhere in North America by the following day when it begins its non-stop overnight flights to Atlanta from 1 June 2007. Delta flight DL7 will depart from five times ...
ETA Star India launches first residential project in Chennai, India.
May 02, 2007 ... ETA Star, the first freehold property developer in the region to receive an ISO 9001: 2000 certification, has recently launched its first residential project in Chennai, India, representing the start of the company's AED 11 billion investment foray into the Tamil Nadu region. ...
Al Tamimi appointed General Manager of Saraya Islands in Ras Al Khaimah.(Mahdhar Abdullah Al Tamimi )
May 02, 2007 ... Saraya announced today the appointment of Mahdhar Abdullah Al Tamimi as General Manager of Saraya Islands for the United Arab Emirates as of first of May 2007, due to his extensive experience and vast knowledge in the field of developing and administrating touristic projects, specializing ...
"AMAZING ABU DHABI" says HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed.(Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum President, Department of Civil Aviation)
May 02, 2007 ... His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group, has praised Abu Dhabi's unique multi-experience tourism destination - Desert Islands, dubbing it "an amazing project". Visiting the ...
Gulf Air to Slash Free Ticket and Reduced Fare Concessions.
May 02, 2007 ... After a thorough review of Gulf Air's current and previously over generous free of charge ticket and discount travel facilities, the airline has decided to end or drastically reduce these previous concessions to certain parties. In future, this rebated ticket facility will only ...
Gynaec laparoscopic surgeon performs rare operation in the UAE.(Dr. Hafeez Rehman)
May 02, 2007 ... A renowned surgeon in the field of laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Hafeez Rehman, recently performed an unusual operation at Medcare hospital to remove a fibroid estimated to be the size of a 30-week foetus. Laparoscopic hysterectomy surgery, a relatively new surgical procedure in the ...
Hyatt continues rapid global and regional expansion.
May 02, 2007 ... Hyatt, one of the world's leading hospitality companies, announced today that its global expansion plans are continuing rapidly in line to support international tourism growth figures. Key markets for the international hotel group include: China, Russia, and Western Europe. The ...
JAL hotels schedules three mid-east hotel developments by 2009.
May 02, 2007 ... The Japan Cooperation Centre for the Middle East (JCCME) today unveiled plans for increased Japanese investment in the region at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2007, the region's premier travel and tourism event. The Hotel JAL Fujeirah Resort and Spa, the first Japanese-owned hotel to ...
Qatar Airways promotes world's first premium terminal on CNN International.
May 02, 2007 ... Qatar Airways is to promote its premium First and Business Class terminal in Doha with a bespoke advertisement to air on CNN International. This is the first promotional campaign for the terminal - the first of its kind in the world - which opened in November 2006. The ...
Tamani Hotels & Resorts reveals first five-star project.
May 02, 2007 ... Tamani Hotels & Resorts unveiled its first hotel property to the travel trade at today's Arabian Travel Market (ATM), held at Dubai World Trade Centre. Tamani Hotels & Resorts is the hotels brand of KM Holding, one of Dubai's largest and most prominent business conglomerates. ...
Dubai Investments AGM approves proposal for distribution of 25 per cent dividend.(Brief article)
May 02, 2007 ... Dubai Investments PJSC successfully held its 11th Annual General Meeting wherein the shareholders approved the annual financial statements of 2006 as well as the board of director's proposal for distribution of a total dividend of 25 per cent, comprising cash dividend 15 per cent and stock ...
Al Islami Foods enters Egypt.
May 03, 2007 ... Consolidating its presence in the Middle East, Al Islami Foods, a leading provider of quality halal products, today announced a strategic expansion into Egypt's huge processed food market by launching "The Cart", a unique franchise model for the young entrepreneurs of the region, at the ...
ADNH signs Management Agreement for the first JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Abu Dhabi.(Abu Dhabi National Hotels Co.)
May 03, 2007 ... Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), the UAE-based leading diversified hotel, tourism, transport and catering group, today signed an agreement with Marriott International for a JW Marriott resort, one of the world's leading hospitality brands, to operate the first JW Marriott Abu Dhabi Resort ...
Air Arabia's first quarter net profit soars to AED 43.4 million.(Financial report)
May 03, 2007 ... Air Arabia, the first low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, today released its financial results for the first quarter of 2007. The announcement was made by Adel Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market, an industry trade ...
HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Department and Chairman of the Emirates Airlines Group Opens the Saudi Wing a.
May 03, 2007 ... HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Department and Chairman of the Emirates Airlines Group Opens the Saudi Wing at the forum of the 2007 Arabian Travel Market in the present of HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman, Secretary General of the Supreme Commission for ...
New Worm Turns Up.(Trend Micro Inc.)
May 03, 2007 ... The appearance of a new computer worm is evidence of an increasingly sophisticated threat to IT security, said experts today. The worm, known as "WORM_NUWAR.AOP", can wreak havoc with all kinds of networked and data storage systems if undetected. This worm spreads by ...
Fujitsu Siemens Computers takes on the portability segment with LIFEBOOK P7230.
May 03, 2007 ... The debate of whether handheld devices will replace notebooks has been raging for months in the Middle East and elsewhere. Despite the recent increase in devices aimed at providing smaller and simplified mobile communications, a recent survey* found, that when given the option of only one ...