Economics
After months of political wrangling, passage of Iraq's $118 billion budget still hangs on the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region's insistence that the government allocate $3.5 billion to pay oil companies working the Kurdish oil patch.
Egypt’s government has outlined an economic plan to win International Monetary Fund loans, with steps to narrow the budget deficit toned down to avoid inciting further unrest.
An open-ended strike by Lebanese civil servants and teachers is picking up steam as it enters its second week, with the country’s Catholic schools deciding to close Tuesday in solidarity with the protest.
Companies
Solidere, Lebanon’s largest property developer expects to spend as much as $200 million on real estate projects in the country this year even as civil war in neighboring Syria threatens to slow construction work.
Dubai’s flagship investment vehicle is in talks with banks to launch its first Islamic bond, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, tapping improved sentiment towards the emirate in a bid to diversify its funding sources.
Cement deliveries in Lebanon have fallen, an indication that the economy is weakening.
Consumer spending on food in the GCC is expected to reach $106 billion in the next five years, according to a new report by management consultancy AT Kearney.
Shares in Emaar Properties are likely to open lower after the developer announced 2012 dividends that came in below expectations.
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) will change its brand name to Ooredoo, the company said in a statement, bringing in the change across it operations in the Middle East, Africa and Asia over the next two years.
Workers across MENA are so unhappy in their jobs that they wish to leave immediately, according to a new poll by online job site, Bayt.com.
