Syria has started to allow private firms to import fuel and plans to eliminate all tariffs on many basic commodities as it seeks to cope with shortages, soaring prices and public discontent in the midst of a civil war.
The number of real estate sales in Lebanon plunged in 2012 but the total value of transactions grew by 3.8 percent, statistics published by the Directorate of Land Registry showed.
Hundreds of Palestinian government workers protested outside their prime minister's office on Tuesday saying they had not received a full salary in almost three months amid a deepening financial crisis.
The central bank of Egypt says the government has accepted the resignation of its deputy governor, less than a week after her boss said that he was quitting.
Oman's government has asked its departments to review policies on hiring of foreign workers, in a sign that the sultanate, like some other Gulf states, may try to shift more jobs from expatriates to its own citizens.
French President Francois Hollande discussed the possibility of the UAE buying Rafale fighter jets during his visit to the Gulf country and said a deal hinged on price.
Companies
Shares in Dubai's Emaar Properties may rise on a report the developer is planning to spin off its malls unit and Turkish business, but the company said it does not have immediate plans for this.
Dubai-based property lender Amlak Finance is in talks with creditors to restructure debts of around AED7bn (US$1.9bn), in the latest attempt to resurrect a victim of Dubai's property crash.
Saudi Arabia's telecoms regulator has a set a May 4 deadline for companies to submit applications for three mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licences in the kingdom.