MEED Middle East Economic Digest articles from October 2006

MEED Middle East Economic Digest archives from October 2006

The X factor.(COMMENT)(Editorial)
October 6, 2006... Ask any Gulf politician why his country is a good place to do business and the answers will trip off the tongue. It is a time of record growth. Budget surpluses are expected to reach X next year. Oil prices are expected to stay above X dollars...

Rice arrives amid rising bloodshed in the territories; Hamas, Fatah clash over unpaid salaries; Olmert and Abbas moot talks.(REGIONAL)(Condoleezza Rice -US Secretary of State )(Ehud Olmert-Israeli Prime Minister )
October 6, 2006... US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a week-long tour of the Middle East on 1 October, as fighting between rival Palestinian groups rose to levels unseen since the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 1994. Rice's visit to...

On the record.(SEVEN DAYS)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... "If everyone is honest and keeps to their commitments, it will be positive for the Iraqi people and put an end to sectarianism. If not, it will be the end of Iraq Adnan Dulaimi, leader of the Sunni National Accord Front, on President...

Looking back ...(SEVEN DAYS)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... 7 October 1966 Unofficial talks are going on between Shaikh Zayed, the new ruler of Abu Dhabi and the rulers of Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain and Ajman with a view to economic unity or federation 4 October 1991 ...

UAE approves electoral college for first elections.(UAE)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The UAE's national election committee (NEC) on 1 October approved 6,689 electoral college members including 1,189 women as part of the preparations for the country's first elections to the Federal National Council (FNC), which will take place...

Referral looms as West turns down new plan.(IRAN)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Iran faces a probable UN Security Council showdown over its nuclear programme after the West ruled out a last-ditch plan to find a compromise. The US and the UK are likely to push for immediate UN sanctions against Iran, but it is still unclear...

Palestinian government offices closed: 2 October.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... All Palestinian government offices cease work following the ransacking of its headquarters in Ramallah by protestors. A spokesman for the Hamas-led administration says the suspension followed "attempts to kidnap officials".

Baghdad gunmen abduct 14: 2 October.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Camouflaged gunmen in Baghdad abduct at least 14 shoppers from a computer store before driving off in what appear to be licence plate-less government security vehicles. The incident fuels local fears that the security forces have been...

Sinai police break up weapons ring: 2 October.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Egyptian police announced on 30 September that they had broken up a weapons-dealing ring in Sinai that had been illegally selling guns and ammunition. "Nine members of the network were caught red-handed while selling weapons and explosives on...

Yemen to produce nuclear power: 2 October.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... President Saleh announces that Yemen will co-operate with the US and Canada to generate electricity using nuclear power. "In the first stage, we will generate 20,000 MW, this is no longer election propaganda, it is serious," he says. Saleh also...

GCC citizens to receive equal treatment in Bahrain: 3 October.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Gulf Cooperation Council)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Bahrain's cabinet approves a draft law which will give GCC citizens working in the civil service the same rights as their local counterparts. "In line with the decision of the 2000 GCC summit to treat GCC citizens like nationals in each of the...

Qatari UN vote angers Amman: 3 October.(united nations)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Jordan has recalled its ambassador from Doha for consultation after Qatar's decision to vote for the South Korean foreign affairs minister Bah Ki-Moon rather than back the Jordanian candidate for the position of UN Secretary-General. Qatar cast...

Baghdad announces new security plan: 3 October.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Ramadan Agreement to curb violence)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announces a four-point plan designed to curb sectarian violence across the country. The so-called "Ramadan Agreement" will set up local security committees comprised of members of all factions regardless of...

Saddam verdict postponed: 4 October.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Saddam Hussain)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Officials say the verdict in the first trial of Saddam Hussain will be delayed. A judgement was due on 16 October when the court reconvenes, but it is now likely that the session will be used to review evidence. Saddam is also on trial for...

System overload: the Gulf power sector has been stretched to breaking point this summer. But with sky-high demand and contractor shortages, there is little respite on the horizon.(GCC POWER)(Cover story)(Statistical data)
October 6, 2006... It has been a long hot summer for Gulf utilities. Record demand has stretched the electricity sector to breaking point, with power stations and distribution networks struggling to cope with the unprecedented load. Power cuts have been...

Taking a private interest: despite the huge amount of cash sluicing around the Middle East, the region's private equity industry is still in its infancy.(BRIEFING: PRIVATE EQUITY)
October 6, 2006... The Carlyle Group is coming. With more than $44,300 million of private equity under management, the vast Washington-based firm has drawn its fair share of investment from the Middle East over the years. For the first time, however, the group is...

Kurds bite back on oil rights; Barzani threatens secession over northern fields.(IRAQ)(Nechirvan Barzani - Kurdish Prime Minister )
October 6, 2006... Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has claimed that Baghdad is trying to sabotage oil investment in the Kurdish region. He warned that the territory could secede if Baghdad refuses to recognise Irbil's exclusive right to negotiate and...

Sanctions threat to Azadegan project.(IRAN)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The $2,000 million project to develop the Azadegan field has once again been thrown into doubt as Tokyo has warned it would withdraw funding in the event of UN sanctions being imposed on Tehran. Iranian lawmakers have meanwhile called for the...

Tehran accelerates rig work.(IRAN)(contracts of Iran Offshore Engineering Company with Pars Oil & Gas Company and National Iranian Drilling Company)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Tehran has placed contracts worth up to $600 million for four offshore rigs for use in the South Pars gas fields. Iran Offshore Engineering Company (IOEC) secured one build and lease contract for two rigs through negotiation with the client,...

Two in line for Pars LNG.(IRAN)(JGC Corp. and Technip S.A. gets contracts of LNG plant construction with Pars Oil and Gas Co.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... A team of Japan's JGC Corporation and Paris-based Technip, and an Italian duo of Snamprogetti with Saipem have been prequalified for the contract to build a gas liquefaction plant on the Pars LNG project. Estimated to be worth $2,500...

Sumed upgrades storage.(EGYPT)(Arab Petroleum Pipelines Co.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company (Sumed) is to expand crude storage capacity at its Sidi Krier terminal and develop facilities at Ain el-Sokhna. The project involves the construction of three 117,000-cubic-metre tanks in Sidi Krier, which are...

Arabian Oil renews deal.(Arabian Oil Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Arabian Oil Company (AOC), a subsidiary of Japan's AOC Holdings, has signed an agreement with the Oil Ministry to continue providing technical assistance on the Tuba field development plan. AOC originally signed a memorandum of understanding...

Kurds review Kormor.(contracts of State Company for Oil Projects)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Kurdistan regional government (KRG) is reviewing the tendering process for the engineering and procurement (EP) contract to build gas gathering and processing facilities at the Kormor field in the north. The scheme, which had been under the...

Exploration bids invited.(LIBYA)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... National Oil Corporation (NOC) has invited 47 international oil companies to bid for licences to explore for oil and gas in the country. The prequalifiers have until 20 December to submit bids for the 14 licences being offered in the country's...

Aramco studies Nuayyim gas separation.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Saudi Arabian Oil Co.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Four companies submitted technical and commercial bids to Saudi Aramco on 30 September for the second and largest lump-sum turnkey (LSTK) contract on the Nuayyim oil field development project. Bids are already under evaluation for package...

Prequals in for Satah project.(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Zakum Development Company (Zadco) received pre-qualifications on 30 September for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract covering the Satah full-field development project in offshore Abu Dhabi. Estimated to be worth...

Price slide continues, as US crude stocks build.(OIL ROUND-UP)
October 6, 2006... Oil prices maintained their downward trend in the first week of October. US inventories of both crude and key products showed healthy increases, while traders' worries about the Iranian nuclear issue ebbed. Spot Brent was trading at $56.06 a...

Shell signs up for two blocks.(SYRIA)(Royal Dutch/Shell Group)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Royal Dutch/Shell Group signed on 5 October licence agreements to explore for oil and gas in two blocks in the southeast. The Anglo-Dutch company has been awarded blocks 13 and 15, which were included in the country's fifth oil and gas...

Transmed boost takes off.(Transmed gas pipeline between Algeria and Italy)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... A project to increase capacity on the Tunisian section of the Transmed gas pipeline between Algeria and Italy is set to go ahead following the signing in late September of off take agreements with four Italian companies. The agreements cover...

Dana unveils LPG plant.(Dana Gas)(liquefied petroleum gas )(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Sharjah-based Dana Gas has announced plans to build a $100 million liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant in the Gulf of Suez. The Gulf of Suez gas liquids plant will be built, owned and operated by a 50:50 joint venture of Egyptian Natural Gas...

Eight in line for tight gas contract.(OMAN)
October 6, 2006... The Oil & Gas Ministry has shortlisted about eight international oil companies (IOCs) for the award of a long-term contract to develop "tight" gas in the central Khazzan and Makarem fields. The shortlist was drawn up after 13 IOCs submitted...

Sohar gets refined.(OMAN)(Sohar Refinery Co.)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The local Sohar Refinery Company (SRC) expects to complete performance testing of all its refinery units by the end of October on its 116,000-barrel-a-day greenfield refinery at Sohar industrial port. Performance and reliability testing will be...

Bids due for Khurais.(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Bids are due to be submitted by 17 October to a team of Italy's Snamprogetti and SNC Lavalin of Canada for the subcontract covering the installation Of a major water injection pumping station (WIPS) at Ain Dar. Estimated to be worth $40...

Adyard dons jacket.(UAE)(Adyard Abu Dhabi )(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Adyard Abu Dhabi announced in late September the award of a $5.5 million lump-sum turnkey (LSTK) contract to fabricate and load out a jacket and topsides for a production platform to be installed in offshore Umm al-Qaiwain. The order was placed...

Refinery bids under study.(UAE)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The UK office of US-based Foster Wheeler is evaluating bids for the mechanical and piping subcontract on the expansion of the condensate refinery at Jebel Ali, Bidders for the estimated $50 million package include a Local/Australian team of...

CCC wins Olefins II work.(KUWAIT)(Consolidated Contractors International Company)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) has started work on the mechanical II package at the Olefins II petrochemicals complex in the Shuaiba industrial area. The scope of works on the $24 million contract, awarded in...

Honeywell takes Tasnee.(SAUDI ARABIA)(contracts )(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The US' Honeywell has won a $7 million subcontract to supply process and safety control systems for the Jubail ethylene cracker planned by the local Tasnee Petrochemicals. Under the terms of the contract, placed by the cracker's engineering,...

Sabic settles with Exxon.(SAUDI ARABIA)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) announced on 28 September that it had reached a full and final settlement with the US' ExxonMobil Corporation of its disputes over polyethylene (PE) production technology and patents. Following the...

Borouge tenders utilities: commercial bid deadline for cracker package extended by a month.(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge) has invited international contractors to submit bids by the end of November for the estimated $1,000 million offsites and utilities (O&U) contract on its planned Ruwais petrochemicals complex expansion. ...

Supply news boosts Sitra.(BAHRAIN)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Kuwait Finance House-Bahrain (KFH-Bahrain) plan to build an estimated $2,000 million petrochemicals, power and water project at Sitra has received a boost, with the client seeing improving prospects for a gas supply agreement between Doha...

Bids in for Ibn Zahr OCU.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... At least three international engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors submitted bids in late September for the $100 million-150 million contract to build the new olefins conversion unit (OCU) at the Saudi European...

Bids in for Saadiyat bridge: major packages move forward on $27bn tourism development.(UAE)(Tourism Development & Investment Company)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The local Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), has received bids for two major contracts on its AED 100,000 million ($27,200 million) Saadiyat island development. The...

Three on grid for Motorcity.(UAE)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Local developer Union Properties has awarded one major contract on its AED 3,500 million ($950 million) Motorcity development and is close to making awards on two other packages. The 700,000-square-metre site is an extension of the already...

Al-Muhairy wins Dubai roads.(UAE)(Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the local Al-Muhairy General Contracting Company an estimated AED 171 million ($47 million) contract for road works in the Muhaisnah and Mizhar areas. Al-Muhairy was low bidder for the...

Limitless plans scheme.(JORDAN)(Limitless)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Limitless, part of Dubai World, is considering plans for a major mixed-use development in Jordan. Limitless plans to develop the project in Amman and will sell plots to third party investors. In June, the company launched projects worth $30,000...

Shanfari on the road.(OMAN)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The local Shanfari Trading & Contracting has been selected for the contract to expand the Salalah-Thumrait highway. The contractor was low bidder at RO 47.7 million ($124 million) for the project when bids were submitted in the summer, beating...

Call for special ops work.(QATAR)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The US Corps of Engineers' transatlantic programmes centre has issued a presolicitation notice inviting US and local contractors to bid for a special forces aircraft operations project at Al-Udeid airbase. Request for proposals (RFPs) will be...

Hospital bids invited.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Dallah Hospital, a subsidiary of the local Dallah Albaraka Group, has invited contractors to submit bids by 11 November for the contract to build a tower next to the existing hospital in Riyadh. The project calls for the construction of a...

Al-Redwan takes hotel.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Al-Redwan Trading and Contracting)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The local Al-Redwan Trading & Contracting has been awarded the estimated SR 100 million ($27 million) contract to build a new five-star hotel in Makkah. It calls for the construction of a 266-bed property. The local Mohammed Harasni Architects...

Riyadh library highlights contractor dearth.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The submission of bids from only two contractors on 10 October for the contract to build a new public library has once again raised questions over the lack of contractor capacity within the kingdom. Local tendering regulations stipulate that at...

Real estate project deluge continues.(BAHRAIN)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Two major real estate developments have been launched in the kingdom. The news follows the announcement in late September that Ithmaar Bank planned three schemes worth a total of $2,000 million (MEED 29:9:06). Al-Enma'a House for Real...

101 Marina tower award.(UAE)(contracts)(Middle East Foundations)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The local Middle East Foundations has won the foundations package on the 101 Marina tower Project in Dubai Marina, The 101-storey structure will be 412 metres high with a total built-up area of 144,000 square metres. The local National...

Sulphur terminal bids in.(UAE)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer)has received technical bids for the dredging works On the phase 3 expansion of the Ruwais sulphur handling terminal (RSHT). The bidders include Geneva-registered Archirodon Construction Overseas,...

Mizin Dubailand plans.(UAE)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Mizin, the real estate development division of Tatweer, part of Dubai Holding, plans to build a mixed-use development in Dubailand; Known as Liwan, the project will cover an area of 1.3 square kilometres and will include 100 residential...

Palm, Marina awards.(Al-Fattan MRCB Construction Company)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Al-Fattan MRCB Construction Company, a joint venture of local real estate developer Al-Fattan Properties and Malaysia's Malaysian Resources Corporation (MRCB), has won two contracts totalling AED 390 million ($106 million). The contracts for...

Jet Group to tackle housing shortage.(MOROCCO)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Private investors are set to begin an investment programme that will see the construction of 32,000 new housing units. The new housing will help to alleviate an acute shortage in the kingdom. House Invest, a 50:50 consortium of the local...

Six wins Ras Laffan work.(port construction contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... A joint venture (JV) of Belgium's Six Construct and Interbeton of the Netherlands has been awarded an estimated $125 million subcontract on the Ras Laffan port expansion. Placed by the Belgian/Dutch JV of Jan de Nul and Royal Boskalis...

Snasco leads grouping.(UAE)(Snasco)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Saudi-based real estate company Snasco will lead a Saudi/local consortium that plans to build a 2.9-square-kilometre mixed-use development in Sharjah, Sharjah investment Centre will be located close to Sharjah International Airport and Hamriyah...

Depa picked for Burj.(UAE)(Depa Hotel Interiors)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Dubai-based Depa Hotel Interiors has won the estimated AED 600 million ($164 million) subcontract to fit out 899 serviced and residential apartments on the Burj Dubai project, scheduled for completion by the end of 2008. The joint venture of...

New Wave managers.(PEOPLE)(The Wave resort)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Nick Smith and Abdullah Khamis al-Shidi have been appointed chief executive officer and chief financial officer respectively of Oman's multibillion-dollar The Wave resort. Smith has more than 25 years of experience in the UK real estate...

Makkah-Medina rail prequals out; high-speed rail link gets under way.(SAUDI ARABIA)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) has invited applications for prequalification on its multibillion-dollar Makkah-Medina passenger rail link (MMRL). The project primarily aims to ease the inflow of pilgrims arriving in Jeddah and travelling...

New line for Dubai metro.(UAE)(Roads and Transport Authority)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has invited consultants to bid by 27 November for a new line on the Dubai metro scheme. The proposed 49-kilometre purple line will run between Dubai World Central (Jebel Ali Airport) and Dubai...

Aqaba marine services awarded.(JORDAN)(Jordan National Shipping Lines)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... A consortium of Sharjah-based Lamnalco Group and Jordan National Shipping Lines has been awarded the 15-year contract to rehabilitate, equip, finance, operate and transfer the marine service assets at the port of Aqaba. The consortium will...

Bids in for Abu Dhabi transport study.(UAE)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Abu Dhabi's Municipalities & Agriculture Department has received bids for an integrated public transport masterplan. The 15-20-month study covers the design of a public transport network for Abu Dhabi island and surrounding areas and the...

New chief at Gulf Air.(REGIONAL)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Ahmed al-Hammadi has taken over from outgoing president and chief executive officer James Hogan at Gulf Air. Al-Hammadi who was previously vice-president of finance, will hold the position until a permanent replacement is found.

Barka 2 developer chosen: developer selection on Mesaieed expected soon.(REGIONAL)(Suez Tractebel )(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... A group headed by Belgium's Suez Tractebel has been named preferred bidder on the Barka 2/Rusayl independent water and power project (IWPP) in Oman. Foreign developer selection is also close on the Mesaieed independent power project (IPP) in...

Low interest in new plants.(ALGERIA)(contracts)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... State-owned electricity company Sonelgaz has received only one bid for each of four contracts to build new power generation plants. The US' General Electric (GE) was the only company to submit technical bids for the four open-cycle,...

Prequals in for hybrid power.(EGYPT)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) prequalified three contractors in late September for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the solar phase of the 150-MW Kureimat combined-cycle/solar plant. They are...

Failaka BOT cancelled.(KUWAIT)(build operate transfer)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Mega Projects Agency, part of the Ministry of Public Works. officially confirmed on 1 October the cancellation of the Failaka island build operate transfer (BOT) utilities concession. The 180-MW, 1.25 million-gallon-a-day project will now...

New desal techniques.(SAUDI ARABIA)(contracts of Saline Water Conversion Corp. and Water Reuse Promotion)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) and Japan's Water Reuse Promotion. Centre (WRPC) signed in mid-September a research agreement to develop new desalination techniques. Under the terms of the agreement. SWCC and WRPC will develop...

Waste-to-energy plant on the cards.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Scoping studies are nearing completion on the kingdom's first waste-to-energy plant, The US' International Power Group (IPWG) is carrying out due diligence on Jizan in the far south to determine the plant's viability. If it proves feasible, the...

Tabreed cools RAK.(UAE)(contracts of RAK Properties and National Central Cooling Company )(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Local real estate developer RAK Properties has signed an agreement with the local National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) to provide district cooling for the Julfar towers development in Ras al-Khaimah. The contract calls for the supply of...

ADNEC chills out with Tabreed.(UAE)(contracts of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company and National Central Cooling Company)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) has signed an agreement with the local National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) to provide district cooling services to its new developments. The contract calls for the supply of 16,716 tonnes of...

Nexans wins cable deal.(UAE)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... France's Nexans has announced the award of a contract, worth Eur 100 million ($128 million), to supply and install land and subsea cables linking Delma island with the national grid. The scope of works on the project involves the laying of a...

Sewage plants tendered.(UAE)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) has issued the request for proposals (RFP) for the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) contract for two greenfield sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Al-Wathba in Abu Dhabi and Al-Saad in Al-Ain. The...

Keppel cleans up.(QATAR)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Singapore's Keppel Integrated Engineering (KIE) has received a letter of award for the contract to design, build, operate and maintain a new domestic solid waste management centre over a period of 20 years. The scope of works includes the...

Doha revs up Abu Fontas.(QATAR)(Qatar Electricity & Water Co. plans at Ras Abu Fontas)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) is planning a major expansion of desalination capacity at Ras Abu Fontas (RAF). Known as RAFA1, the project will entail the addition of 40 million gallons a day (g/d) of desalination capacity at the...

Red-Dead study attracts interest.(JORDAN)(study of Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyor project)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... International consultants are lining up for the $15.5 million World Bank-funded study into the feasibility of the $800 million Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyor project to save the Dead Sea. International consultants including DHV Consultants of the...

US military deals near completion; Congress studies contracts worth $13bn.(IRAQ)
October 6, 2006... Washington is set to complete in the next month defence contracts in the Middle East worth up to $2,000 million. The US' Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which oversees all foreign arms sales, has notified Congress of the possible...

Fixed licence nears; mobile licence delayed.(SAUDI ARABIA)(The Communications & Information Technology Commission delays licences of cellular mobile sevices)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Communications & Information Technology Commission (CITC), the independent telecoms regulator, announced on 30 September that requests for applications (RFAs) for the kingdom's first private fixed-line licences would be issued soon....

TE eyes Vodafone.(EGYPT)(Telecom Egypt invests in Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Telecom Egypt (TE) agreed on 2 October to increase its stake in Vodafone Egypt (VE) by 23.5 per cent. TE's offer, valued at 5.630 million [pounds sterling] ($981.5 million), to buy almost all the shares in VE not already held by the UK's...

Baghdad extends licences.(IRAQ)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... The Communications & Media Commission (CMC) has extended until 31 December the licences of the existing three foreign operators, consortiums led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom and MTC and Wataniya Telecom, both of Kuwait, which expired on 31...

E-trading company formed.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Brief article)
October 6, 2006... Fixed-line and mobile operator Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has announced plans to form a new company targeted at the growing electronic trading sector. The limited joint stock company will provide electronic solutions to the private and public...

New Batelco chairman.(PEOPLE)(Bahrain Telecommunications Co.)
October 6, 2006... Shaikh Harnad bin Abdulla bin Mohammed al-Khalifa was elected in late September as the new chairman of Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco), replacing the outgoing Hassan Juma. Shaikh Hamad is a former commander of the Bahraini airforce...