Muscat / Emirates Business As many as eight international companies have been pre-qualified to bid for developing independent water projects (IWPs) at Salalah, Shaqiyah and Duqm. The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) , which oversees the procurement of all new electricity generation and water desalination capacity in the country, said that these firms comprise a consortium of International ...

Muscat / EMIRATES BUSINESS Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS) unveiled its second mega-project this year announcing its plans to build a four-star hotel and an Urban Park, managed and operated by Hilton Worldwide under the brand Hilton Garden Inn. The project, a result of an agreement with Muscat Municipality will come up in a 16,000sq m plot in ...

Bloomberg Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., owner of brands such as Westin, Sheraton and W, said it plans to accept a $13.2 billion takeover bid by China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co. and gave suitor Marriott International Inc. a deadline to make a counteroffer. Anbang and its partners will pay $78 a share in cash for Starwood, according to a ...

AFP As Twitter marks its 10th birthday on Monday, it is somewhat of an awkward child — having become a powerful communication tool but still struggling to win users and reach profitability. Since making a star-quality entrance a decade ago, Twitter has become a must-have tool for journalists, activists and celebrities but has struggled to show it can expand beyond ...

Emirates Business Microsoft Gulf highlighted the opportunities open to the region’s small and medium enterprises in adopting enabling technologies, as it remarked on the success of the SME World Summit 2016, held in Dubai earlier this month. Speaking after company’s participation as exclusive technology partner at the summit, Haider Salloum, SMB Director, Microsoft Gulf, said, “Microsoft is committed to becoming ...

AFP A new iPhone, new iPad, Apple Watch features, and iOS update are expected to form the bulk of Apple’s livestreamed presentation from Cupertino at 1pm EST (8pm UTC) on March 21, 2016. The iPhone SE is the highest probability candidate for Apple’s March 2016 Special Event, if the reports by tech sites like 9to5mac and Apple Insider prove correct.Rather ...

AFP A middle-aged white man sees himself as a young black woman being taunted by a racist. A grandmother glimpses herself as a teen. A star athlete experiences what life would be like in a wheelchair. These are not plots of dystopian movies. They are experiences that take place in virtual reality, which technologists believe will be the next major ...

Emirates Business Etihad Rail — the developer and operator of the UAE’s $11 billion national rail network — has announced that it has been awarded the Estidama 2 Pearl Construction Rating by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) for seven sustainable buildings at its depot in Mirfa, Al Gharbia. It is a significant achievement to receive 2 Pearls for ...

Sunaina Rana / EMIRATES BUSINESS The demand for automobile parts and accessories is on the rise in UAE, according to Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, as the region’s leading exhibition organizer is gearing up for the 14th edition of Automechanika Dubai 2016. The event, which will be held from May 8-10 at the Dubai International Convention and ...

EMIRATES BUSINESS Champions were crowned on the final day of the Dubai Autodrome Motorsport Club (DAMC) organised by NGK Racing Series at Yas Marina Circuit. At the end of races, Costas Papantonis was crowned champion in Class 1, Al-Qassim Hamidaddin won his first UAE championship in Class 2 and Alex Annivas clinched the Clio Cup title in the double points ...