MEMBRES CONNEXION 
Nouvelles
Nouvelles de la région MENA
Muscat tops MidEast tourism performers in 2013
STR Global says occupancy rates, RevPAR and ADR all show strong growth so far this year
Marriott says Middle East revenues up 11% in Q1
US hotel giant says occupancy also up 4.1%; plans to double footprint in region by 2017
Bahrain economic growth seen at 5% this year
Bahrain Economic Development Board’s chief economist delivers upbeat message on kingdom
Abu Dhabi to see 15% growth in summer flights
International airport operator says total of 1,065 flights per week will land in UAE capital
Shareholders at India’s Jet approve Etihad stake deal
Etihad’s investment is first by overseas operator in an Indian airline since ownership rules were relaxed
UAE’s Senaat said to be mulling listing, stake sale
Abu Dhabi gov’t-owned firm may sell its own shares or offload stake in one of its businesses
Iran keen to speed up nuclear programme
UN report shows Tehran is trying to accelerate its uranium enrichment efforts
Tunis in talks with Qatar over central bank deposit
Tunisia’s PM says discussions ongoing over deposit by Gulf state; reportedly worth $1bn
Saudi to hand Pakistan $15bn energy bailout – report
Gulf kingdom would provide oil for three years, comes following change in government
Dubai reveals new aviation vision to 2045
Long-term strategy announced by Dubai Airports CEO amid rapid expansion in emirate
Dubai’s Emirates NBD launches $1bn bond
Arranging banks say Dubai’s largest lender is expected to see strong demand for bond
Nakheel awards Dragon Mart extension contract
Dubai developer picks ADC Energy Systems for construction of cooling plant at project site
UAE’s Etisalat waiting to hear on Maroc Telecom bid
CEO says he has yet to hear back from Vivendi on bid for its 53% stake in telco
Kerry hails tentative $2.1bn arms sale to Oman
US Secretary of State offers personal thanks to Omani officials over plan to buy air defence system
UAE seizes 260 illegal elephant tusks
Shipment of illegal ivory believed to be biggest Gulf state has seen
Kuwaiti oil workers on strike over pay
More than 1,000 staff at Oil Sector Services gather at union building instead of turning up for work
Doha Bank may sell bonds to raise capital – CEO
Qatar’s fifth-largest lender by market value had previously planned to hike its paid-up capital by 50 percent,
Turkish Airlines says sorry for flights mix-up
Carrier flies American couple to Dhaka, Bangladesh when they intended to travel to Dakar, Senegal
UAE private sector holiday confirmed for June 6
Workers in private sector will get paid holiday to observe Isra Wal Miraj, says Labour Minister
MidEast e-commerce growth fastest in world, says Visa
Latest data from payment solutions provider shows region saw 45% growth to $15bn
Qatar Airways sued after drinks trolley injury
Australian passenger said to be suing airline after being hit by a drinks trolley during flight
Dubai’s Damac begins work on first Iraq project
Property developer starts construction on $100m 26-storey luxury residential complex
Msheireb awards $690m contract for Doha project
Obayashi Corporation and HBK Contracting wins phase two deal for Qatar mega project
Asia’s Ascott inks deal for first Saudi property
Singapore-based serviced residence owner-operator says Ascott Olaya Riyadh to open in 2015
DEWA opens $29m Dubai Marina substation
New facility has a capacity of 150 megavolt amperes, part of expansion strategy in emirate
Barclays announces key appointment in Abu Dhabi
UK banking major hires new head of wealth and investment management in UAE capital
Saudi oil exports drop to 7.42m bpd in March
Official figures show Saudi power sector use rose and output edged lower
Dubai’s Jumeirah announces tie-up with Aston Martin
Luxury hotelier will be sponsor of car maker at upcoming Nurburgring 24-hour race
Aldar, Sorouh shares see double-digit rises
Abu Dhabi developers surge in heavy trading ahead of completion of merger plan
Iran said to execute two men for spying
Authorities reportedly sentence men to death for working for Israeli, US spy agencies
Ex-DIFC chief launches Dubai crowdfunding firm
Dr Nasser Saidi heading platform designed to source investment for SMEs
Qatar could be chosen for new Ferrari launch
Only six of the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari Sergio car will be produced in the world
US chain eyes 60 MidEast restaurants by 2018
Irish-themed Beef ‘O’ Brady’s restaurant franchise will open its first outlet in Saudi this month
Acquitted doctor flies home after UAE arrest ordeal
South African doctor Cyril Karabus says he is relieved to be home after arriving in Cape Town
Saudi gov’t websites attacked by hackers
Several websites sabotaged in series of cyber attacks from abroad, says gov’t source
More than 1.5m people flee Syria, says UN
United Nations refugee agency says conditions in war-torn country is deteriorating rapidly
Qatar Air keen to be new Boeing 777 launch customer
CEO Akbar Al Baker also says the airline is planning to launch three new routes in US by end-2014
UK’s biggest Islamic bank eyes closer ties to Gulf
Bank of London and The Middle East announces plan for Dubai office, eyes 15% assets growth
Emirates set to launch A380 on Brisbane route
Dubai airline says it will operate superjumbo to third Australian city from October 1
Kuwait to start medical care segregation on June 1
Expats will be barred from attending public hospitals in the mornings – local media
Global adviser needed for Islamic finance, says IDB
Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank calls for global sharia board to offer greater uniformity
Emirati parents increasingly shunning gov’t schools
Education authority report shows more Emirati parents enrolling children in private system
Iran says ready for nuclear talks with world powers
Chief negotiator says discussions likely before or after June presidential election
Kuwait gov’t approves deal for 25 Airbus planes
Kuwait Airways will also have option for 10 other aircraft, says carrier’s chairman
Qatar Air signs codeshare deal to boost Thai flights
Gulf carrier inks agreement with Bangkok Airways to give it access to Thailand destinations
Syria suffers new internet blackout
Internet connections between war-torn nation and rest of the world collapse, says tracking firm
India’s Jet set to launch new Kuwait service
Airline part-owned by Etihad to start daily flights from Kochi to Kuwait via Abu Dhabi
Dubai inflation muted in April despite rise in rents
Analysts say there is little evidence of inflationary pressures despite pick-up in real estate
Dubai’s Depa sees big revenue rise in Q1
Burj Khalifa interior contractor’s CEO sees pick-up in market, especially in Gulf region