Featured Articles

August 28, 2011

In Ramada last year, occupancy stood at 66 percent while nowadays it is 64 percent, expecting to close higher than last year, perhaps 70 percent
Occupancy rate in UAE hotels rises as Eid holidays approach
07:25 GMT
The top nationalities during the first half of the month are Saudi Arabia, the UK, UAE, France and Japan and despite the instability in the Arab region and the world economic challenges, the hotel industry was not affected by all these threats and the future looks promising.

August 27, 2011

Oversupply can be a challenging factor, which is why most sellers must carefully consider preparing their property for sale to make it stand out from all the others
Sellers short on ideas in Dubai property market
12:20 GMT
The main issue is how to package your property to make it the one that people want to buy, and price is obviously part of that.
Growth in Syria is expected to slow 1.1 percent from 3.2 in 2010, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit
Syria spends $2 billion to back pound amid unrest
04:46 GMT
The Syrian currency has lost 3 percent against the dollar during this period.

August 25, 2011

This fighting of corrupt will in turn enhance transparency, competitiveness, economic development and improve the performance of state agencies
Fight the corrupt in Al-Bahrain!
16:55 GMT
A system to combat economic crime as well as its current judiciary role is vital.
Abu Dhabi is not in a bubble, and it must take into account the global conditions
Abu Dhabi cuts path through global crisis
13:38 GMT
The Emirate's response to a looming global downturn is for a balanced approach between opposing calls for financial intervention or fiscal prudence, oil's price will be a key factor.
Strong capital flows and the dollar carry trade resulted in asset price inflation and currency appreciation in many emerging markets, forcing many of them to introduce capital controls
Emerging markets may end up short
13:00 GMT
Within emerging markets, all the recent releases show that central banks are geared to support growth and are more cautious on rate hikes.
By looking at the key factors that affect operational costs, inefficiencies can be identified and tangible improvements made through the application of the correct processes during both the Capex and Opex phases
Optimizing maintenance on oil and gas assets across the globe
08:01 GMT
The total capital expenditure value of oil and gas projects is estimated to be in excess of $2.5 trillion and when all of these assets come into use they will require a massive annual expenditure to operate and maintain them.

August 24, 2011

Iraq's plans and estimated costs are ready but the issue all ministries face is that of financing
Iraq dreams big with much-needed infrastructure projects
16:55 GMT
Iraq, which has the world’s third-biggest crude reserves, hopes to rebuild the country using its oil revenues, which account for more than 95 percent of state income.
Rather than going in for a saturation campaign in a bid to win over SME clients, local banks can do it in more savy way that would help them in the long run. One thing they certainly don’t lack is the time to get their acts together
UAE local banks trying to woo SMEs with VIP treatment
16:55 GMT
“Many of these banks have set rather high targets in extending loans to SMEs this year; with the Central Bank weighing in with tight controls on retail lending, small businesses are the next best option for banks,” said an owner of an engineering firm.
Lebanese banks hold about 70 percent of the nation’s debt and are “highly” liquid with an average loan-to-deposit ratio of 35 percent, Credit Libanais SAL said in July
Lebanon safer than Dubai on loaded lenders
11:36 GMT
Lebanon is the Arab world’s most indebted nation with about $52.6 billion in public liabilities, equal to 137 percent of the gross domestic product.
Gold is on track to reach a historic high, then €˜the sky is the limit
Analyst comments on gold reaching $2,000/oz mark
10:24 GMT
Gold prices may touch $2000 an ounce, anytime. Today, the prices reached an all-time high of $1,916 an ounce. Gold prices have gone up by $400 an ounce in just in one and a half months. Every week the commodity is making a new high.
Investment from the fund could help broaden the Libyan economy away from oil and help attract other sovereign wealth funds and longer term foreign investors
Investors eye promise, risk in post-Gadhafi Libya
10:00 GMT
Though less advanced than the rest of North Africa even prior to the civil war, the Libyan economy has ample resources it could marshall for national reconstruction.

August 23, 2011

If Libyan production returns; it would ease gasoline prices and increase disposable income, potentially boosting economies worldwide
Brent crude oil falls while gold rallied to another record following Libya's events
15:55 GMT
Brent crude oil fell Monday as Libya’s civil war appeared to be over, while gold rallied to another record high as economic worries kept investors flocking to the commodity.
Dubai attained a score of 52.05, highest among 25 Middle East cities
Foreign investment survey rates Dubai Mideast’s City of the Future
14:03 GMT
The ranking is a strong testament to the economic fundamentals of the city, and the growth potential that Dubai offers to investors from around the world.
According to the prime minister’s office, inflation during the first seven months was 1.31 percent, compared to 0.18 percent in the first seven months of 2010, indicating an acceleration of price increases so far this year
Lebanon’s annual inflation rate down to 2.26 percent in July
10:16 GMT
Analysts believe that the only solution to inflation which results in the decline of people’s purchasing power is an increase in the minimum wage so that the citizen could “at least make ends meet."