In August 1990, though he didn’t know it, Iraq’s President Saddam Hussain created the conditions by invading Kuwait for the launch in Madrid 14 months later of what remains the most credible attempt to end the Arab-Israel conflict. His actions…
Category: Middle East business and economics
Middle East
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Cesare Borgia, Machiavelli and a prince who would be king
In March 1507, Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, found himself isolated and surrounded by enemies near the town of Vianna 80 miles south of Bilbao. He was 31 but had already enjoyed a glittering career. A bishop at…
2016: the year history ended again and the world became multipolar once more
The Soviet Union was dissolved on 26 December 1991 The red flag over the Kremlin was replaced with the pre-1917 Tsarist one. It was the end of the Soviet challenge which shaped most of the 20th century. A year…
Saudi fertiliser plant sale advances
Two Saudi petrochemical giants have hired investment banks to advise on the potential sale of a stake in the Ibn Al-Baytar fertiliser company. Saudi Arabia Fertilizers Company (Safco) has hired Samba Capital, while Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) has chosen…
9/11 suit delays Saudi bond
Saudi Arabia’s first international bond may be delayed by a U.S. vote on legislation that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue the Arab country, Bloomberg reported today. A Senate vote to override President Barack Obama’s veto of the…
Iran to raise South Pars output by 20+ per cent
Managing Director of Pars Gas & Oil Company Ali Akbar Sha’banpour said on 22 August that the company aims to raise output from the South Pars joint gas field with Qatar to 530m cubic metres a day (cmd) next spring…
IMF deal calls for radical change in Iraq
For full coverage of Middle East business, see MEED The government of Iraq will cut public spending, raise taxes and electricity tariffs and implement sweeping reforms in its economic and financial management by 2019, the agreement signed last month between…
Dubai Resorts raises AED 1.7bn in rights issue
For full coverage of Middle East business, see MEED Dubai Parks & Resorts said today that it has raised AED 1.68bn from a 1.6 times oversubscribed rights issue. The company said total subscriptions were AED 2.67bn. Most of the money is…
The Arab Spring in retrospect
This article was published by MEED in May 2011 Wishful thinking will not help the Arab uprisings May, 2011 BY EDMUND O’SULLIVAN The death toll is mounting as the reaction to Arab uprisings unfolds. Champions of change are learning that lasting…
German foreign minister says Iran a stabilising force
For full coverage of Middle East business events, see MEED Germany wants to work with Iran to help calm regional conflicts and prevent tension escalating with regional rival Saudi Arabia, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told foreign journalists in Berlin on…