Regional News

  Reuters International oil firms have warned Iraq that projects to increase its crude output will be delayed if the government insists on drastic spending cuts this year, a senior Iraqi oil official said. Oil companies helping Iraq develop its massive oil fields effectively perform a role similar to oil service firms in that they have to clear spending with ...

  Emirates Business Siemens has been awarded a landmark contract to upgrade the Kingdom of Bahrain’s energy infrastructure with a new high-voltage power transmission network, strengthening the country’s electricity supply. The contract, awarded to Siemens by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in Bahrain, was announced at an inauguration ceremony in Al Hidd in Bahrain. Siemens will introduce an upgraded ...

  Emirates Business According to EY’s latest Global Fraud Survey, Corporate misconduct — individual consequences, only 29% of executives in the Middle East recognize cybercrime risk, compared to 47% globally. The survey found that many respondents maintain the view that fraudulent activity is not their problem, despite recognizing the prevalence of the issue in their own countries. Michael Adlem, EY’s ...

  Reuters Corral Petroleum Holdings is committed to injecting $680 million into its Moroccan refiner Samir to try to reverse a decision placing it in liquidation, a lawyer for Corral said. Morocco’s sole refiner halted production in August due to financial difficulties then a court ruling in March placed it in liquidation and named an independent trustee to run it. ...

  Bloomberg Iranian miners are seeking $10 billion to develop a domestic aluminum industry that could serve to export 60 percent of production to meet growing demand for the metal used in cars to jets and beverage cans. The raw material bauxite needed to achieve that goal is proving hard to find. Iran’s aluminum production of 350,000 metric tons a ...

  Emirates Business Ramzi R. Solh, CEO of Commercial Development at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), is the latest addition to the line-up for the 2nd annual Vision Conference, Saudi Arabia. The conference is a key feature of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, from May 17 – 19, featuring a range of industry experts exploring the Kingdom’s booming ...

  Reuters Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco wants to expand globally and is looking at potential joint ventures in several countries, including Indonesia, India, the United States, Vietnam and China, chief executive Amin Nasser said. “We are looking at the current market status that, even though challenging, is an excellent opportunity for growth,” he told reporters during a rare ...

  Reuters Bahrain Telecommunications Co (Batelco) posted a 33 percent fall in first-quarter profit as its subscriber base and revenue both declined. Batelco made a net profit of 9.6 million Bahraini dinars ($25.46 million) in the three months to March 31, it said in a statement. This compares with a profit of 14.2 million dinars a year earlier. SICO Bahrain ...

  Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business Gulf Capital — one of the largest and most active alternative investment firms in the Middle East — has announced that it has acquired 100% of Multibrands Trading Co, one of largest food and beverage (F&B) distributors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with an annual turnover in excess of US$100 million. Founded in ...

DUBAI / Reuters Kuwaiti telecom firm Zain has agreed to buy Abu Dhabi-listed Etisalat’s 92.3 percent stake in Sudanese fixed line operator Canar for AED 349.6 million ($95.2 mn). The deal would strengthen Zain’s grip on Sudan’s telecom sector where it is already the top mobile operator by subscribers and has long sought to add a fixed-line licence. It is ...