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Giordanos new collection glows

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – Giordanos new range of Lion Polo T-shirts proves to be a real hit with the regions fashion conscious consumers. Made of 95 percent cotton and 5 percent lycra to give a richer look and feel, the polos emblazoned with a bold rampant lion logo have been grabbing attention since they hit the stores [...] Related posts:

Giordanos expansion in Saudi Arabia in full swing JEDDAH – Giordano sustains expansion drive in the Kingdom of...
Preview of Splash new Collection 09 launched JEDDAH – High-street fashion retailer Splash opened its doors to...

UAE cargo volumes up

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – Cargo volumes will continue to rise in the United Arab Emirates over the next five years, although growth rates will be placed in jeopardy by the threat of a global slowdown is H210 and into 2011, according to Business Monitor International. The assessment was published last month in the research companys UAE Freight [...] Related posts:

MA volumes in GCC to reach 25b in 2010 JEDDAH – GCCs leading investment banks predict a solid bounce-back...
PRECIOUS CARGO A fully-loaded sewage tanker traveling at high speed to the...
Mideast bourses rebound but volumes thin JEDDAH/DUBAI: Middle East markets rebounded on Monday, with Egypt recouping...

Zain Kuwait Redknee unveil mobile broadband services

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – Redknee, a Mississauga, Ontario-based provider of business-critical billing and charging software and solutions for communications service providers, announced last week that it is enabling Zain Kuwaits launch of mobile broadband services as the nations largest mobile operator seeks to capture the growing broadband market in Kuwait. Leveraging Redknees data rating, charging and policy [...] Related posts:

Mobily secures 1m mobile broadband subscribers JEDDAH – Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) on Saturday announced it had...
Mobily mobile broadband coverage expansion done RIYADH – Mobily successfully completed its mobile broadband coverage expansion,...
Microsoft set to unveil new mobile platform BARCELONA – Microsoft, seeking to regain its footing in the...

Taiwans foreign investor fund net outflow climbs

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

TAIPEI – Taiwan saw a net outflow of around US$2.63 billion in fund remittances by foreign institutional investors for August, the highest level in nearly two years, the Cabinet-level Financial Supervisory Commission said last Thursday. In October 2008, overseas investors sent US$7.52 billion out of Taiwan, prompting fears of a market meltdown that did not [...] Related posts:

Taiwans industrial output up TAIPEI – Taiwans industrial and manufacturing output both hit record...
Taiwans GDP up 125 in Q2 TAIPEI – Taiwans economy grew 12.53 percent in the second...
Taiwans agriculture exports grow 19 TAIPEI – Taiwans agricultural exports in the first half of...

STC launches PoPs in various countries

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

RIYADH – Saudi Telecom has announced the launch of new Points of Presence (PoPs) in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, India, UK and Singapore. This initial phase was achieved through synergies with Saudi Telecom and affiliates in Bahrain (VIVA) and India (Aircel), and partnerships with tier-1 operators and tele-houses in the other [...] Related posts:

Dow Jones launches GCC Titans 50 index DUBAI – Dow Jones Indexes, a leading global index provider,...
Gulf countries set to form unified power grid by 2011 KUWAIT CITY – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will set...
GCC countries demand for hardwood lumber to surge JEDDAH – Demand for hardwood lumber in the Middle East...

As smartphone rivalry stirs HTC puts forward a Legend

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – With a new mobile phone introduced in the market almost fortnightly, one cant help but be baffled, not just dazzled, as to which one is the best. One good thing is that there are reliable market trackers that one can bank on for helpful tips. And whether the choice is for the best [...] Related posts:

Samsung smartphone hits Saudi market JEDDAH – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone...
Volunteers come forward to help flood-hit people JEDDAH: Thousands of Saudi youths volunteered on Sunday morning to...
Recession hits smartphone makers NEW YORK – The seemingly recession-proof smartphone is suffering from...

RM unveils customized security solutions for Saudi finance sector

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – Reichle & De-Massari (R&M, www.rdm.com), the Swiss structured cabling specialist raised its reputation as an innovation leader with the introduction of its three-layer security system and Cat. 6 shielded solutions for the Saudi finance sector, the company said in a statement on Monday. The introduction meets the heightened security and zero downtime network [...] Related posts:

RM unveils breakthrough solutions in Saudi Arabia RIYADH – Reichle & De-Massari (R&M, www.rdm.com), the Swiss structured...
Samba unveils smart solutions JEDDAH – Samba Financial Group formally launched its mobile banking...
Egypt Islamic finance sector struggles DUBAI/CAIRO – Egypt is likely to remain an Islamic finance...

Brazils orange exports to Arab countries climb

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – Brazil expanded its exports of oranges to the Arab countries from January to July this year, data from Brazils Foreign Trade Secretariat of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, showed. It said Brazil shipped 1,900 tons of fruit to the Arab market in the period, against 1,800 in the same months [...] Related posts:

Foreign investment in Arab countries falls 15 in 2009 KUWAIT CITY – The flow of foreign direct investment into...
7 Arab countries take part in Baha honey festival JEDDAH: Bee farmers from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait,...
Brazil exports to Arab world up 14 BRAZILIA – Agribusiness exports from Brazil to the Arab world...

Middle East top housing builders to be honored

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – The Affordable Housing Development Middle East Awards will be held on the first day of the Sept.27-28 summit in Manama to honor those companies and individuals who have set standards for excellence in the industry. The awards will be the centerpiece of the gathering of the Middle Easts housing plans. Judges include officers [...] Related posts:

Middle East gas sector needs more investment JEDDAH – The Middle East region is still in the...
Middle East set to become global petrochem hub JEDDAH – The Middle East will be the foremost global...
Business opportunities in Middle East growing JEDDAH – Entrepreneurs and investors alike are now looking to...

Mobily partners with Carrefour on Neqaty

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – Dr Hashim A. Yamani, president of the newly established King Abdullah City for Atomic & Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), and the former minister of Commerce & Industry, together with Dr Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, president of the Arab Water Council, joined the growing list of distinguished experts who will address the annual Saudi Water & Power [...] Related posts:

Industry luminaries to address SWPF 10 JEDDAH – Dr Hashim A. Yamani, president of the newly...
SWPF 2010 focuses on innovation cooperation to sustain prosperity JEDDAH – This years three-day Saudi Water and Power Forum...
Mobily adds Entrecote to Neqaty partner network RIYADH – Mobily increased the number of Neqaty partners, adding...

Gulf banks defy strain on liquidity

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – Gulf banks rates appear to be showing signs of improvement, after spending more than $20 billion on loan loss provisions and investment impairments since 2008, Standard & Poors Ratings Services said on Wednesday. Thanks to high oil prices and government policies, the economies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – comprising Saudi Arabia, [...] Related posts:

Bad loans in Gulf banks may still rise says IMF DUBAI – Gulf banks may still face an increase in...
UAE banks in 11 billion liquidity shortfall DUBAI – Banks in the United Arab Emirates are facing...
Gulf states to keep spending high in 2010 as oil prices climb JEDDAH – Gulf states are likely to keep their large...

Industry luminaries to address SWPF 10

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

Mobily partners with Carrefour on Neqaty JEDDAH – Dr Hashim A. Yamani, president of the newly...
SWPF 2010 focuses on innovation cooperation to sustain prosperity JEDDAH – This years three-day Saudi Water and Power Forum...
SWPF 2009 focuses on strategies as demand rises JEDDAH – The four-day Saudi Water & Power Forum 2009...

Private pension industry in MENA vital to diversify personal savings

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – The development of a private pension industry is indispensable in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region in order to diversify investment horizon for individual savings – allowing people to think more on sustainable returns as opposed to maximizing return in the short-term, said Lakhdar Moussi, senior vice president at Kuwait Projects Company [...] Related posts:

MENA private equity set to rebound in 2010 JEDDAH – Private equity in the Middle East declined in...
Saudi Arabia UAE to bolster MENA construction markets JEDDAH – Infrastructure-related stocks in the Middle East and North...
Airline industry to return to profit by 2011 – Boeing DUBAI – An outline contract agreed on Monday for the...

Computerized system for distribution of Zakat

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – The Jeddah Charitable Warehouse announced Sunday that it will distribute Zakat this year through a special computerized system. “We have set up the computer system to provide enough for each family, according to their need and social status,” said Sheikh Faisal Al-Humaid, Director General of the warehouse. He added that the database [...] Related posts:

Computerized system to monitor prices JEDDAH – The Consumer Protection Society is to establish a...
Crackdown on non-payment of Zakat JEDDAH – The government intends to crack down on those...
Seminar discusses tax and zakat compliance RIYADH – Ernst & Young recently hosted a seminar on...

India Day to be organized in E Province on Oct 22

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

DAMMAM – Indian community organizations in the Eastern Province are preparing to mark India Day 2010 on Friday, Oct. 22 with a whole day of cultural and traditional shows at King Fahd Amusement Park in Dammam. The Indian Association of Dammam, composed of community leaders from different states of India, is now making preparations to [...] Related posts:

HDFC Rezayat present Homes from India JEDDAH – HDFC Ltd, Indias premier housing finance company, in...
300 firms taking part in India catalog show JEDDAH – India’s trade with Saudi Arabia is gradually increasing...
Free Haj tours organized for new Muslims RIYADH – The Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance here...

Skeleton govt staff to work during Eid

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

DAMMAM – Essential government offices and local chambers of commerce will begin their work on Sept. 11, to provide assistance to emergency cases, according to a bulletin released by the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce in Eastern Province. The offices that will be opened will be manned and managed by skeleton staff for three days, from [...] Related posts:

Government departments on skeleton staff during Eid break JEDDAH: Government agencies in the Kingdom including the Passport Department...
30 percent govt staff absent on 1st Ramadan  <br/> JEDDAH – On the first day of Ramadan, the...
20 govt staff absent on last day before Eid holidays JEDDAH/RIYADH – The Control and Investigation Board has found that...

Pak minister appreciates Saudi help for flood-hit

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

KARACHI – Pakistan’s Minister of Interior Rahman Malik on Monday expressed thanks to and appreciation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for the continuing humanitarian support it was extending to the people of Pakistan, including an airlift of urgent relief assistance and the Custodian of [...] Related posts:

Saudi Arabia tops in flood aid to Pakistan JEDDAH: Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif...
1000 trucks to distribute Saudi flood relief JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia will distribute 1,000 truckloads of relief supplies...
Egypts minister appreciates publications of Naif University RIYADH – Anas Faqi, Egyptian Minister of Information, Saturday lauded...

Labor Office gets several complaints of rules violations

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH – The Labor Office received a number of complaints last week including two cases of mass terminations, one of which involved female workers at a factory, Qussay Filali, Director of the Labor Office in Jeddah, said. In the termination cases, the parties will be summoned for questioning, an investigation will be conducted and measures [...] Related posts:

Labor Office probes cleaning staff complaints ARAR – The Labor Office in the Northern Border province...
Labor Office “integrity snub” sees return of Chamber car gift MADINA/JEDDAH – An official from the Madina Labor Office has...
Temporary KAU staff get relief from Labor Office JEDDAH – The Labor Office in Jeddah has rejected a...

70 electricity wastage found in a Riyadh mosque

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

MAKKAH – A grand mosque in Riyadh was wasting 70 percent of the electricity it used, a study conducted by the Ministry of Water and Electricity has found. Further tests will be conducted in the Kingdom’s 20,000 mosques to assess the use of power, Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussayyen, Minister of Water and Electricity, said [...] Related posts:

Electricity expo in Riyadh on May 24 RIYADH – The Saudi Electricity Exhibition 2010 will open on...
Mosque shooting in Riyadh injures three RIYADH: At least three people were reported injured when gunmen...
SR300bn needed for electricity by 2020 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said Saturday it would need to invest...

Demand for sweets chocolates increases

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

EID PREPARATIONSRIYADH – Demand for sweets and chocolates has increased in the capital as people are preparing to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr. Special stands in leading supermarkets, hypermarkets and other grocery stores could be seen doing brisk business while bakeries report increased number of orders for sweet delicacies such as kunafa, kak eid, syrupy rolls and [...] Related posts:

Demand for jewelry and wedding dresses increases JEDDAH – The onset of summer always sees an increase...
Sweets prices no longer sweet JEDDAH – During this coming Eid next week, children may...
Saudia increases flights to woo travelers JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Airlines will increase the number of domestic...

Traditional village awaits visitors at Aramco expo

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

DHAHRAN – A traditional village has been created at the Saudi Aramco Exhibit for visitors and tourists to visit during the Eid holiday. The traditional village features arts and crafts, with Saudi craftsmen and artisans actually weaving mat or carving doors – reminiscent of life in the Arabian region. Saudi Aramco described what awaits visitors [...] Related posts:

Ramadan traditional expo starts tomorrow JEDDAH – “Originality of the Past and Present of Ramadan”,...
China expo to attract 70m visitors SHANGHAI – Near the center of the World Expo grounds,...
6500 visitors expected at Saudi Oil and Gas expo RIYADH – Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy...

Saher system expanded to cover more expressways

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

DHULUM – Further implementation of the Saher system, which uses cameras and computers to monitor traffic, increase public safety and issue citations, recently began on expressways in the central and western regions, Brig. Gen. Khaled Bin Nashatt Al-Qahtani, Commander of the Special Forces for Road Security, said here Monday. The highways covered include parts [...] Related posts:

Saudi manpower will run expanded railway projects DAMMAM – Saudis will be the dominant workers in all...
Raising awareness about Saher to contain accidents RIYADH: In order to reduce the number of road accidents...
Rescue services not exempt from Saher motoring offenses AL-KHOBAR – Ali Al-Zahrani, the head of Road Safety at...

Eid gifts for flood-hit

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH: Braving the sweltering heat that Jeddah has recently been enduring , a group of high-spirited people recently visited lanes and by-lanes of a poor neighborhood in Kilo 14. The mission was simple: To distribute pieces of decoration among those rebuilding their houses which were devastated by the floods in November last year. The small [...] Related posts:

Online exchange of gifts and cards JEDDAH – With the celebration of Valentines Day banned in...
Give gifts without expecting a return So often we hear people saying, “He never gives me...
Crown Prince gifts 130 homes MADINA – Thirty families from Al-Arak in the province of...

Six arrested for heists

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH: Police have arrested six men in connection with two heists where jewels and precious metals worth SR70,000 were swiped from houses in south Jeddah. Jeddah police spokesman Col. Misfar Al-Joaed said the arrests were made after detectives closely monitored their suspects. The arrested men included Saudis, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis aged between 20 and 30. [...] Related posts:

African national arrested for swindling SR2m JEDDAH: Local police have arrested an African national accused of...
3 youths arrested for theft JEDDAH – When Filipino expatriate Shahriyar woke up in the...
Yemeni robbery suspects arrested JEDDAH – Police arrested Saturday seven Yemeni nationals accused of...

New plan helps control crowds at Haram

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:18 +0000

JEDDAH: The introduction of an executive plan map during the Umrah season was instrumental in helping control huge crowds of worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, according to an undersecretary at the Haj Research Institute. “Crowd management at the Grand Mosque during Ramadan, especially on the 27th night of the holy month, was a [...] Related posts:

Khaled reviews Ramadan traffic plan JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, chaired a...
Grand Mosque authorities ready Ramadan plan JEDDAH: More than 5,700 employees will serve the pilgrims to...
Big crowds flock to Madinah for heritage festival MADINAH: With the opening of Madinah’s heritage festival on Wednesday,...