Daily BusinessCast

BusinessCast April 3, 2008
India and Pakistan ban on rice exports expected to bring price hikes... UAE reps meet with Chinese in forum to further develop business ties... Qatar economy projected to hit 100 billion dollar mark by 2013... Microsoft hosts Share Point conference in Middle East on April 7 & 8... du in talks with Etisalat and TRA over fixed line services... Investment bank research shows UAE listed companies are improving financial reporting, Abu Dhabi leads Dubai... UAE may allow foreigners to own as much as 75% of companies.
Thursday, April 03 - 2008 at 17:58 | Duration: 3:47

BusinessCast April 2, 2008
ADSM has strong gain, up 1.73%... DFM up 0.24... Fire guts more than 100 shops in Dubai... Saudi Arabia cuts tariffs on some products from 20 to 5%... National Bank of Kuwait announces merger... Oman to issue second fixed telephone license... Live music battle could bring top international acts to UAE... IMF director says inflation in the Gulf could hit 8% this year... Emaar signs MoU in first high level Sino-UAE partnership... Abu Dhabi and Dubai join in bid for International Congress and Convention Association 2011.
Wednesday, April 02 - 2008 at 18:13 | Duration: 4:26

BusinessCast April 1, 2008
DFM rises 1.53%, ADSM up 1.27%... Total investment in Gulf sector projects passes 2 trillion dollars according to MEED project report... Hotel market bubble could burst by 2010 according to hotel marketing group... Kuwait expat's now 69% of total population... Abu Dhabi inflation jumped to 10.7% in 2007, rent led the increases with a 58% gain... Bahrain mutual funds pass 15 billion... Textile and clothing manufacturers convene in Dubai through Wednesday... M&C Saatchi sets up Middle East shop in Bahrain.
Tuesday, April 01 - 2008 at 18:12 | Duration: 4:01

BusinessCast March 31, 2008
DFM recovers from Sunday's slump, gaining 1.96% - ADSM loses 1 percent... Kuwait summer electricity cut is possible... Earth Hour participation in Dubai, among the highest consumers of electricity and water... Property prices continue rise, SAHARA study shows developer fears rise... Traditional media has opportunity in online growth... 2007 advertising spend report shows increase, top advertisers include real estate, telecom, jewellry and food... Hard Rock Café in Dubai may be demolished for high rise.
Monday, March 31 - 2008 at 17:44 | Duration: 3:59

BusinessCast March 30, 2008
Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets decline... OPEC crude oil supply rises... MEED projects index shows 40% rise in value over 12 months... Real estate firms shift to more online advertising... Abu Dhabi property prices expected to surge 25%... A third Crown Plaza is planned for Business Bay... Interiors UAE opens in Abu Dhabi... Global Investment House AGM approves 50% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend for 2007... International Monetary Fund backs plans to redistribute voting power, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are likely to lose shares.
Sunday, March 30 - 2008 at 17:49 | Duration: 4:53

BusinessCast March 29, 2008
Dubai joins Earth Hour power-down at 8 tonight... Tasi down 0.7% for the week, wait-and-see approach taken by investors... Oil rises above 107 with explosion of Iraqi pipeline... Etisalat/Mobily partners with Aeromobile... Fortune Group's 'Corporate Mall' is 75% sold out... Egypt bans cement exports through October 1... Saudi Aramco report says lifting the ban on women drivers would help the economy... Emaar, The Economic City, launches sale of Bay Le Sun Village... DAE Flight Academy begins first officer training.
Saturday, March 29 - 2008 at 17:25 | Duration: 3:49

BusinessCast March 28, 2008
Emirates is the first airline in the world to commercially launch in-flight mobile phone service... UAE Central Bank says there is no committee to review the dirham's peg to the U.S. dollar... OPEC President says oil will remain between 80 and 110 this year... Shortage of commercial pilots nears crisis level... Saudi inflation hit 8.7% in February... UAE sets up Nuclear Energy Authority... IMF warns of GCC inflation rate... Dubai to dim during Earth Hour, 8pm Saturday... UAE stocks end week down, DFM loses 1.02%, ADSM drops 0.24%.
Friday, March 28 - 2008 at 17:59 | Duration: 4:14

BusinessCast March 27, 2008
DFM loses 1.02%, ADSM down 0.24%... Fireworks warehouse fire estimated to have caused more than 600 million dirhams in damage losses, final totals won't be known until loss adjusters investigate... Jordan's GDP growth higher than expected... Qatar's nominal GDP up 12%... Gulf states trade surplus predicted to be 3 trillion dollars by 2020... Telecom deregulation in Bahrain creating competition and jobs... Strategy execution discussed at Balanced Scorecard Forum... Pfizer sets up Middle East HQ in Dubai... Saudi Arabia looks to triple tourism revenues.
Thursday, March 27 - 2008 at 18:04 | Duration: 4:17