News Feature

Bahrain now under strong competitive pressure
Saudi Arabia has opened up its financial services sector to foreign entrants, Bahrain nightclubs are being closed and alcohol restricted to five-star hotels, and strong rival financial centres have emerged in Dubai and Doha. Plus Gulf Air has been abandoned by Qatar, Abu Dhabi and now Oman. Difficult days for Bahrain!
Bahrain: Monday, May 14 - 2007 at 15:50 |

A fresh approach to Emiratisation in the UAE
The new UAE government strategy announced in late April by Prime Minister General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has sparked a lively internal debate with his whole-hearted rejection of forcing Emirati staff onto employers, and should also set the region thinking.
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, May 06 - 2007 at 08:48 |

Can the Middle East tourism industry's good fortune last?
Leading hoteliers gathered this week in Dubai at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference to discuss the outlook. But after four years of growing profits, an exceptional run in this highly cyclical industry, behind the scenes many of the record 950 delegates wondered how much longer the good times could last.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, May 01 - 2007 at 10:01 |

So just where is the gold price heading next?
If global investors decide to 'Sell in May and go away!' then the gold price will plummet next month. Otherwise the outlook for the yellow metal looks more assured than almost any other major asset class at present, with high global monetary inflation levels underpinning a further move to the upside.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, April 23 - 2007 at 09:43 |

Sheikh Mohammed's radical reform of the UAE federal government
This week the Prime Minister of the UAE, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum outlined a radical three-year strategy with major reforms in education, health, justice and government services. His speech to a huge gathering of federal government representatives was in the presence of the UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, April 18 - 2007 at 08:39 |

Why GCC investors should fear a US crash and buy gold!
An implosion of hedge funds and private equity could be about to devastate global stock markets, while the US housing crash is the probably the start of a worldwide bear market for property. As both a safe haven and hedge against inflation gold and silver will rocket in a major financial crisis.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, April 16 - 2007 at 08:40 |

The fundamental and cyclical position of the GCC business cycle
Gauging the business cycle is critical to good business planning. The idea that market timing does not matter is for those who are not in the market or should stay outside it. So let us try to estimate where the business cycle has now reached from both a fundamental and cyclical perspective, although the two are inextricably linked.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, April 10 - 2007 at 08:50 |

Standard Chartered ups the Dubai mortgage competition
This week saw the opening of the new Standard Chartered branch at the Emaar Business Park next door to Amlak Finance, signaling a fresh injection of competition into Dubai's booming mortgage market. For Dubai mortgage clients the range of choice has multiplied since the pioneering monopoly days of Amlak Finance.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, April 02 - 2007 at 15:02 |