Extend Abu Dhabi: Dr. Hani Shammah CEO of Bloom Properties

Abu Dhabi's freehold areas 'must be extended'
AME Info - United Arab Emirates
Abuu Dhabi should think about extending the freehold areas in which expatriates can purchase properties in the city beyond the upcoming waterfront and island-living luxury developments, according to Dr Hani Shammah, CEO of developer Bloom Properties. ...

Dubai Government to Distribute $10 Billion to Help Local Companies During Financial Meltdown

Dubai negotiating with companies on $10 billion support package
Khaleej Times
DUBAI - The Dubai government is making final arrangements to distribute $10 billion to help local companies with cash-flow problems during the current financial meltdown.

The government is in the last phase of negotiations with these companies before allocating the funds, which are part of its widely publicized $20 billion stimulus package, said Nasser Bin Hassan Al-Shaikh, the Director General of the Dubai Department of Finance. ...

PETRO AVEC to be Financed by Emirates Capital of Dubai

Axial Vector Announces Emirates Capital of Dubai to Finance PETRO AVEC Joint Venture
Centre Daily Times
Axial Vector Energy Corporation ("AVEC") (Pink Sheets: AXVC ) (Frankfurt: BAE1 ) is pleased to announce that Emirates International Capital Advisory (EICA) has agreed to finance the recently announced Joint Venture between Petrosonics LLC and AVEC called PETRO AVEC. ...

Gulf Countries' Resource Can Turn Global Financial Crisis into Opportunity

'Gulf countries can turn crisis into opportunity'
Khaleej Times
DUBAI -The Gulf countries have the resource base to turn the current global financial crisis into an opportunity and the realisation of this potential will depend on the adoption of appropriate policies and strategies, according to several speakers attending the Wharton Global Alumni Forum (WGAF) here. ...

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA): Pedal to the Metal for Projects

Full speed ahead for Abu Dhabi tourism development
Hotelier Middle East - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has confirmed that all its previously announced tourism projects would be delivered according to plan this year. The announcement was made at ITB Berlin by ADTA Tourism Standards Division director Nasser Al Reyami, who asserted that the planned hotels, new event partnerships, increased flights and additional Eithad Airways routes would give the emirate a "competitive edge when many other destinations are feeling the impact of the current economic downturn". ...

Study: Evolution of Investments in Iraq between April 2003 and January 2009.

Foreign investment in Iraq, study by Dunia
AME Info - United Arab Emirates
During a two-month study of private foreign investment in Iraq, Dunia analyzed the evolution of investment by privately owned, foreign domiciled companies in Iraq between April 2003 and end-January 2009.

Dunia collected data from a combination of publically-available regional and industry-specific media and private sources on 98 projects totaling $63bn in announced capital commitments. ...

Dubai Real Estate Market to Emerge Stronger after Economic Crisis

Property market 'to emerge stronger' after crisis - experts
Arabian Business
Dubai's property market has taken a beating but could emerge from the economic crisis stronger and more transparent, leading legal and financial experts have predicted. They were taking part in the Cityscape Connect business breakfast ahead of Cityscape Dubai. ...

Horizon Terminals Ltd Invest $300 Millions in South Korea and Morocco

UAE's Horizon pumps $300m in South Korea, Morocco - Transportation
Arabian Business
Storage operator Horizon Terminals Ltd is investing nearly $300 million to expand its terminal in South Korea next month and to build a new facility in Morocco by early 2009, its chairman said on Wednesday.

The Horizon Terminals group, wholly owned by Emirates National Oil Co (ENOC), has already pumped $350 million into its Singapore facility - which will open its third phase on Thursday - and invested $400 million into its 1.2 million cubic metre terminal in Fujairah. ...

Abu Dhabi Hosts 2nd Asian Ice Hockey Championship 15-20 March 2009

UAE to host renowned event
GulfNews - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi will play host to the second Asian Ice Hockey Championship on March 15 to 20, at Zayed Sports City's ice rink under the patronage of Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC.) ...

Marriott to Expand Into Asia and UAE Despite Economic Downturn

Marriott looks to Asia, UAE for further growth
Reuters - USA

BERLIN, March 11 (Reuters) - Hotel operator Marriott International Inc (MAR.N) sees strong growth opportunities in Asia and the United Arab Emirates as it strives to expand further outside North America despite the economic downturn.

Marriott, which typically manages hotels instead of owning them, plans to open 130 hotels with overall 32,000 rooms in the next four years outside of North America, where it now manages 350 hotels. ...

Deyaar Development to Unveil Refund Plans on Projects.

Deyaar takes steps to reduce defaults
The National - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
DUBAI // Deyaar Development will unveil measures to help reduce the risk of property defaults, including full refunds on two of its projects.
The measures are part of a strategy to help the firm, Dubai's second largest property developer, survive the economic slowdown. ...

Midland Architects Exploring Middle East Opportunities

Midlands architects urged to explore opportunities in Middle East
The Birmingham Post - Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
As development projects in Midlands reduce, one architect tells Head of Business Alun Thorne that the sector should look at exporting their skills to make the most of opportunities in the Middle East.

Although the Middle East has felt some of the effects of the economic downturn, the momentum in United Arab Emirates (UAE) countries has been dented rather than derailed. ...