JULY 2008

The winds of change

Chary of the summer shop
Hamleys opens in Amman amidst economic concerns

Flying beyond reach
Flying might become a luxury again

Red carpet arrival
A new class of luxury travel is reserved for the privileged few

Gender (in)equalities
Women’ struggle to balance family and ambition

Nahr el-Bared: One Year On
Nahr el-Bared situation following the incidents of 2007

Economic diversification and the road to sustainable development
Economic diversification and the road to sustainable development in the MENA region

Wealth begets more wealth for luxury brands and stocks
Wealth begets more wealth for luxury brands and stocks

What is so Islamic about Islamic Banking?
The fundamentals of Islamic Banking

A stitch for Turkey’s fraying ends
A stitch for Turkey’s fraying ends

Virtual commerce
Internet market access streaming across Middle East

Emirates of added taxation
Proposed VAT would bring an end to “tax haven” title

A pearl in progress
Doha’s glamourous island project in the spotlight

Economy – Celebration after Doha
Fiscal indicators and optimism soar as political agreement reached

Energy – A pipe dream nightmare
Pan-Arab plan for natural gas may leave Lebanon a political pawn

Building Amman’s future
Abdali Urban Regeneration project to transform heart of capital city

Jamal Itani – Q&A
Abdali Investment & Development PSC’s role in the new Amman

An elusive European end
Time winding down for successful finish to EU accession talks

Betting on better borders
Morocco’s east building for day doors reopen with Algeria

Rekindling a cultural Mecca
Art, music and spirituality revive tourism in ancient Islamic capital

Nomadic telecoms
West African nation getting wired up to latest in global communications

Trade sails to Europe
FTA with EU elicits both hope and concern for economy’s future

Mining Pharaoh’s fortune
Cairo cutting red tape to unearth it’s vast treasure of gold

Bottling cash
Bubbling business flows from non-existent local access to clean water

Grandeur’s expression
To live and embrace sophistication, indulgence and exclusivity

Time is money
Platinum, gold and diamond decorated wrist watches; the hedonist’s method of measuring minutes

Mher Atamian – Q&A
Trends and fashions in the opulent world of watches

Gianfranco D’Attis – Q&A
IWC Brand Manager for the Middle East

Shireen El Khatib – Q&A
CEO of Al Tayer Group

James Bond and the wiles of watchmakers
James Bond and the wiles of watchmakers

Arrive in style
How the wealthy of the world get from one place to another

Deesch Papke – Q&A
Managing director of Porche’s Middle East and North Africa office

Designer retail and vogue in the Gulf
Chic brands setting up shop in region with both a refined fashion sense and money to spend

Ziad Matta – Q&A
CEO of Sifico, owner and operator of Boutiue 1

Premium land and palatial property
Ravenous demand drives lofty prices for spaces to live, work and be leisurely

Prodigal pocket utilities
Glitzy gizmos of the well-to-do

Nirvanic vacations
Travelers from the upper echelons demand the perfection which tourism operators strive to provide

IPO Watch – Selling from home
UAE rule change to prompt

Money Matters by BLOMINVEST Bank

Company bulletin

Regional equity markets
A look at Arab World indices for June

Global economic data
Immigrant education, prices, patents and productivity

Lebanon – Wealth or war
Country must choose between economy or conflict