Baalbaki Chemical Industries (BCI), one of the Middle East’s leading polyurethane systems, polyester polyol, and adhesives manufacturers, has opened a new manufacturing plant in the United Arab Emirates' Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah. The move expands BCI’s footprint in the GCC region while also making it easier to serve the Indian and South-East Asian markets more effectively. Read More »

Egypt’s Port Said will soon be able to allow vessels 24-hour access to its container terminal thanks to the recent approval of a new access channel that will allow vessels to bypass traffic waiting to pass through the Suez Canal. Vice Admiral Mohab Mamish, head of the Suez Canal Authority, approved plans to construct a new 5-mile channel into Port Said East. Read More »

Telecommunications provider Vodaphone Qater named Ian Gray to be the new CEO of the Doha company on Tuesday. Gray comes to the Qatar location from Vodaphone Egypt, where he served as chairman of the board for more than 14 years. "I and the entire board of Vodafone Qatar are delighted to welcome Ian to Qatar," Vodaphone Qatar Chairman Sheikh Khalid Bin Thani Al-Thani said. Read More »

The Al Barza Health Innovation Discussion in Dubai brought together some of the United Arab Emirate's most innovative minds, high-level officials and members of the public to discuss creative ways to make life better for UAE citizens. The discussion took place over a week at the Health Innovation Village. The Dubai Health Authority organized the events to celebrate UAE Innovation Week. Read More »

Saudi and Bahraini business leaders are looking into ways to increase investments on Saudi Arabia’s east coast. A group of business leaders from the Saudi-Bahraini Business Council (SBBC) were recently in Dammam to look into new business opportunities across a number of the region’s sectors. Dammam is the closest major Saudi city to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Read More »

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is among the participants in Mostra Convegno Expocomfort Saudi 2015, an exhibition focused on residential and industrial installations of air conditioning and renewable energy systems that is running through Wednesday. Samsung is an educational sponsor for the event being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Air conditioning is big business in Saudi Arabia. Read More »

Bahrain-based Zain Group launched its fifth annual Zain Technology Conference (ZTC), "Transforming Our World," on Tuesday. More than 700 people attended the opening ceremonies for the three-day conference, which features exhibits from more than 65 technology providers and 95 breakout sessions that focused on different areas of the technology sector. Read More »

An off-plan studio apartment is available for $178,816 at Soho Square residences. Listed by Master House Properties, the 459-square-foot studio apartment includes a single bathroom, built-in wardrobes and a walk-in closet. Residents will enjoy the central air conditioning, views of the water and nearby landmarks from the apartment’s balcony, and the convenience of covered parking. Read More »

The Central Bank of Kuwait has released new commemorative coins celebrating Kuwaiti leader and Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s recognition by the United Nations as Humanitarian Leader of 2014. In celebration of the anniversary, three coins will be released with the Kuwaiti leader’s likeness and an inscription memorializing the U.N. recognition in both Arabic and English. Read More »

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s international office in Baku, Azerbaijan, recently hosted its annual networking event which attracted more than 180 business leaders from the UAE and Azerbaijan. Azeri businesses were presented with the numerous benefits offered by investing in Dubai’s industrial sectors. Azeri and UAE businesses representatives also discussed joint investment ideas. Read More »

Two Rixos hotels are the first in the United Arab Emirates to launch virtual hotel tours on Google’s Street View platform. The Dubai-based hotel chain partnered with Google to create online walkthroughs of Rixos The Palm Dubai and Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah. Potential guests can search the hotels and use Google Street View to get an in-depth look at the entire resort. Read More »

Kuwait has suffered in the wake of falling oil prices, but is capable of recovering from a period of slow growth, the executive board of the International Monetary Fund said. The executive board said a Nov. 25 Article IV discussion with Kuwait and IMF staff showed that recovery is possible with significant financial buffers as well as a good amount of open borrowing power. Read More »

For the eighth year running, Euromoney magazine has honored Saudi British Bank (SABB) as its Best Cash Management Provider in Saudi Arabia for 2015. The award was partly based on feedback from SABB customers. "SABB remains committed to delivering top quality services and is focused on creating innovative and tailored solutions," SABB General Manager of Commercial Banking Majed Al-Gwaiz said. Read More »

Big Bus Tours, the world’s largest open-top sightseeing bus tour company, kicked off a new tour in the ‘Oasis City’ of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The tour began operations Wednesday, UAE's National Day. The Big Bus Tours’ package includes a full day tour that covers eight major Al Ain stops including Al Qattara, Qasr Al Muwaiji, the National Museum and Al Ain Palace. Read More »

Bahrain and Oman are working to develop stronger business ties with a delegation of Omani economic officials recently visiting the Bahrain Investors Center. Oman’s delegation was led by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, and Industry Ahmed Hassan and e-government CEO Salim Alzoreiky. The visit was intended to highlight areas where the two nations can find common investments. Read More »

The Bahrain Consumer Protection Society (BCPS) and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) are considering joining together to form a joint committee. BCCI Chariman Khalid Almoayed met recently with BCPS President Majed Nasser Sharaf at the BCPS offices in Bait Al Tijjar to discuss the possible collaboration to raise awareness and ensure the rights of all market players. Read More »

Qatar’s financial industry stakeholders and regulators are celebrating the launch of KAFA’A, an initiative aimed at increasing competencies across the nation’s financial sectors. Preparation for the initiative has been going on for more than a year, with the Qatar Finance and Business Academy leading the way in developing a training and competency-development framework for the nation. Read More »

A five-bedroom, 8,611-square-foot townhouse in Azaiba is listed by Hilal Oman Properties for $1.03 million.The spacious home is perfect for a growing family. It features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a storeroom, laundry room and assigned parking space. Large windows in the kitchen, and light-colored tile on the floors and walls make the room seem even larger. Read More »

Oman Air staff members in charge of business continuity duties were recently honored at an awards ceremony. The 65 employees were recognized for their exemplary work performance and achievements related to a recently completed business continuity project that began in August and involved extensive testing and training as well as the development of sweeping business continuity plans. Read More »

Cocolis and Garden Worx, two commercial projects by fledgling entrepreneurs in Dubai with support from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recently began operations. The projects were launched through the chamber's Tejar Dubai program, which provides development guidance, classroom courses, on-site training and mentoring and network opportunities to startup businesses. Read More »