NOVEMBER 2009

$100 billion madness

War in the shadows
Israel vs Hezbollah in covert intelligence conflict

Assessing the damage
IMF-World Bank meeting judges MENA crisis response

Yemen approaches failed state
Sanaa on a precipitous slide into disaster

Another oily affair in Iraq
Kurdish oil deals bypassing Baghdad Kurdish oil deals bypassing Baghdad

The battle for UNESCO
Egypt’s losing candidate cites Jewish conspiracy

The demographic time bomb
Ominous signs arise from the swelling ranks of youth

For your information

Lebanon’s real estate sector attracts FDI
Lebanon ranks well, but requires increased alure for foreign direct investment

Bank Audi’s rising revenues
Bank Audi pursues aggressive expansionary policies

Ghassan Moukheiber (Q&A)
Whatever happened to that ‘right to information’ bill?

Lira overload
An enviable burden...

Upping the stake
GCC countries on the fence about increased World Bank role

Money matters BLOMINVEST Bank

An economy vexed
Growth requires liberalization, but hurdles abound

A no-fly zone
US sanctions ground aviation sector

Naturally high
Qatar airways flight fueled by gassy mix

Labor laments
Forum highlights MENA unemployment, offers no solution

Co-ed science
King Abdullah inaugurates new “House of Wisdom”

Running dry
Water shortage causes food scarcity and rural flight

Hummus slinging
The fight to repatriate a nation’s cuisine

The Middle East Arms race
Iranian ‘threat’ prompts weapons shopping spree

For your information

Georges Chehwane (Q&A)
An expert eye on the real estate market

Solidere’s souks
Reconstructed historic shopping area opens to the public

Exhibiting a slow recovery
Dubai’s biggest real estate show attracts fewer but more serious visitors

Waking to a country-branding dream
Despite reputation for instability, Lebanon is a country branding dream

Farid Chehab (Q&A)
For advertising agencies, it’s all about creating free, viral media

Man’s best friend
Executive test drives the new Panamera

Heeling the call
Luxury shoemaker sees good fit in Beirut

For your information

Managing a cash crunch
Strategies for managing a cash crunch during the global financial crisis

Rogue to riches
Former “state-sponsor of terrorism” flexes economic clout

Spring to life
Saudi market cause for regional envy

Regional equity markets
A look at Arab world indices for October

Joseph Ghossoub (Q&A)
An Executive chat about advertising during the global downturn

Playing to the middle
Sayfco Holding developer targets new income bracket

Balancing act
Arab businesswomen challenge old boys’ club conventions

Louis Hakim (Q&A)
VP Royal Philips Electronics & CEO Philips Electronics ME

Company bulletin

Weaning off oil
US talk of energy independence unnerves Saudis