In This Issue

o   LINK OF THE WEEK - SAUDI-U.S. RELATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
o   GULFWIRE FLASHBACK - OVER THREE YEARS OF GULFWIRE
o   BUSINESS & FINANCE NEWS
  ·   REGION
      - Energy Futures - 04.04.03
      - Oil Falls on the US-Led Advance in Iraq
      - OPEC Pumps Extra to Prevent War Oil Spike
      - Effects of Iraq War on Oil Prices and the Saudi Economy
      - UAE Central Bank to Back Kuwaiti Dinar
      - Hull War Risk Rates in Gulf Ports Surge
      - Arab Investors May Withdraw Funds
      - Investment in Gulf States Set to Increase
      - GCC-EU Free Trade Area Likely to be Set Up in '05
      - GCC On Course to Single Currency
      - UAE Charge Denied
      - Qatar Energy Minister Chairs Dolphin's Third DPSA Meeting
  ·   BAHRAIN
      - War Surcharge "Will Not Affect Food Rates'
      - Airlines to Resume Bahrain Services
  ·   QATAR
      - Qatar Merits A3 Rating: Moody's
  ·   SAUDI ARABIA
      - Saudis Want a Piece of the Iraqi Pie
      - Oil Prices and Impact of War to Dominate Saudi Arabian Economy
      - Tax Cut on Foreign Firms Under Study
      - GCC Insights: Saudi Telecom on the Fast Track to Liberalization
      - New Technology to Boost Oil Recovery
      - New Saudi Oil Field Discovered
      - Dumping Cost SR20B
      - Move to Employ 20,000 Saudis
      - Gold Shops Warned
      - HP To Build New Plant
      - PC Sales Down
      - Eight More Fields to be Added to Saudization List
  ·   UAE
      - No Change in Emirate Aircraft Orders, Routes
      - Thuraya Becomes Latest Victim of War Restrictions
      - DTCM Sets Up Convention Bureau
      - Careers UAE 2003 to Offer More Job Openings for UAE Nationals
      - UAE Industrial Affairs Law is Being Revised
      - Work Begins on Dubai Airport Tunnel Road
      - UAE Plastic Industry Growing: EIB Study
      - Northern Road Network to be Expanded

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News - Region

ARABS WARN US AGAINST WIDENING CIRCLE OF ENEMIES
"Arab commentators and officials warned the United States [Apr. 2] that its war on Iraq was widening its circle of enemies in the Middle East and urged Washington to refrain from picking new fights.  The comments came in the wake of recent threats by senior members of President George W. Bush's administration against Syria and Iran, and later Israeli warnings to Damascus, that they would be held to account if they gave support to Iraq…" Complete report…

ARABS WARY OF ROLE IN A NEW IRAQ
"Arab nations likely will avoid participation in the postwar administration of Iraq, fearing a link to an eventual U.S. occupation would signal their acceptance of a war broadly opposed by their citizens… …Arab leaders now say they are unable to take a public or private role in rebuilding Iraq…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
MUSLIM STATES COULD PLAY BIG ROLE IN IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION - GWD Mar. 31, 2003.htm#NR4 

CONFLICT CASTS SHADOW ON ARAB LEAGUE
"The U.S.-led war on Iraq has cast a shadow over the Arab League, which for 50 years embodied the aspirations of millions of Arabs for unity but is now under fire for failing to stop the latest Gulf war. Disappointment at its failure to stop the war has sparked talk of scrapping the 22-member League, replacing it with something new, or introducing serious reforms…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
ARAB LEAGUE LINES UP BEHIND IRAQ - GWD Mar. 31, 2003 

News - Bahrain

EXPAT RIGHTS 'UNDER THREAT'
"Bahrain's legal system is failing to defend the rights of foreign workers, according to a Bahraini lawyer… …Expatriate workers from countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh flock to see him at the International Law Office…" Complete report…

News - Kuwait

FEAR OF SADDAM CEMENTS KUWAIT'S POLARIZED SOCIETY
"Hatred of Saddam Hussein runs deep in Kuwait… …the perceived menace of the Iraqi president has helped to hold together a society sharply divided along ideological lines. What will happen when he is no longer there?"… Complete report…

2,000 KUWAITIS DEMONSTRATE IN SUPPORT OF US-LED WAR
"Some 2,000 Kuwaitis rallied yesterday in support of the war to oust President Saddam Hussein… …While the rest of the Arab world has largely condemned the US-led campaign against Iraq, Kuwait, which is serving as the main launch pad for the war, has made little secret of its desire to see the back of Saddam…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
U.S. TROOPS SEEN DIFFERENTLY IN KUWAIT - GWD Mar. 3, 2003

KUWAIT SUPPLIES KARBALA WITH FOOD AND WATER AS OF NEXT WEEK
Kuwait announced on [Apr. 3] it would supply food and water to the Iraqi town of Karbala starting next week.  The Center for Humanitarian Aid has been sending relief items to southern Iraqi towns since the beginning of the war with the intent of helping the Iraqis get back on their feet.
Source: KUNA

KUWAITI TEAM EXPECTED TO DOUSE FLAMES AT BURNING IRAQI WELL LATER TODAY
The head of the Kuwaiti Oil sector said [Apr. 3] that Kuwait's firefighting team would extinguish the second Iraqi well fire by [Apr. 4].  The oil fields were set on fire by retreating Iraqi forces and Kuwait is extending aid to coalition forces in putting out the fires.
Source: KUNA

News - Oman

News - Qatar

News - Saudi Arabia

KINGDOM SEEKS INTERVENTION OF PEACE-LOVING STATES TO END WAR
"Saudi Arabia [Mar. 31] renewed its call for an immediate halt to the US-led war on Iraq, saying the war is killing innocent people and causing untold misery as a result of the continuous bombardment by US/UK forces…" Complete report…

SAUDI ELITE FEEL BETRAYED BY U.S. ACTIONS
"The princes, politicians and professors are assembled for a "majlis" - a Saudi soirée where men (though not women) weigh in on the burning issues of the day. Tonight, with bombs raining down over Baghdad, a large-screen television intrudes on the customary repartee with images of bloodshed. 
Yet it is not just the war between America and Iraq, but the looming conflict between America and Saudi Arabia that preoccupies them. America the beautiful has become the evil empire…" Complete report…

U.S. HALTS TOMAHAWKS OVER SAUDI ARABIA
"The United States stopped launching Tomahawk cruise missile over parts of Saudi Arabia after the kingdom complained that some of the weapons landed in the vast desert country… …The cruise missile problems involved missiles fired from ships in the Mediterranean and Red seas, and a military source said late Saturday the United States was considering moving some of its ships from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf to get around the Saudi problem…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDI PROTESTS OVER STRAY CRUISE MISSILES - GWD Mar. 31, 2003

SAUDI FIRM REFUSES SR240M DEAL TO PROVIDE US ARMY WITH TRUCKS
" A trucking company has refused a SR240.5 million deal to provide the US Army with trucks to be used in the war in Iraq… …the deal involved providing 1,300 trucks, and would have been profitable for the company… … the trucks would have been used to transport weapons and machinery into Iraq…" Complete report…

AL-SAFI DAIRY SHUNS SUPPLY DEALS WITH US FORCES IN IRAQ
"A top dairy company has turned down an offer to supply coalition forces fighting in Iraq amid reports that Saudi transport firms have rejected 40 potential contracts with US-led troops… …Al-Safi Dairy Co… …said [Apr. 5] it would not support the war in any way…" Complete report…

IRAQ WAR SPARKS JIHAD DEBATE IN SAUDI ARABIA
"Soon after the Iraq war began, government-appointed clerics in Saudi Arabia appeared on state television and declared that it wasn't worth shedding Muslim blood by joining a holy war to protect Saddam Hussein and his 'infidel' regime… …Within the kingdom, the war has sparked a debate on jihad -- a religious duty for Muslims that includes combat in defense of Islam…" Complete report…

SAUDI FIGHTERS 'BOUND FOR IRAQ'
"Western intelligence sources say they have detected a small group of Saudi extremists trying to get into Iraq to attack coalition forces there.
They say they believe the men are pretending to be aid workers and that they may be hoping to cross the border from Iran…" Complete report…

GERMAN ARRESTED IN RIYADH FOR ALLEGED AL-QAEDA LINK
"The German Foreign Office has confirmed the detention of a German national in Saudi Arabia. He was allegedly involved in a terrorist attack on a Tunisian synagogue last year, which killed 21 people… …Germany and Saudi Arabia currently have no extradition treaty, but local sources said that the Kingdom and Germany were cooperating on this issue…" Complete report…

MOH BRACES FOR BORDER EMERGENCIES
"The Ministry of Health has set up training programs and provided diagnostic kits for its hospitals staff near the Saudi-Iraqi border areas as part of the ministry's emergency plan in the event of biological or chemical terrorism… … The program is being implemented in coordination with the directorate of civil defense, the nodal point for handling emergencies…" Complete report…

U.S. CITES CHINA, ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA FOR POOR HUMAN RIGHTS
"…Citing continued abuses by security forces, the lack of freedom of speech, movement and religion, the report said 'serious problems remained' in Saudi Arabia… … Although the Saudi government has taken some measures to participate in human rights activities, such as allowing a visit by the U.N. Human Rights envoy, it continued to view its interpretation of Islamic law as its "sole source of guidance on human rights," and does not follow international standards on the issue…" Complete report…

KINGDOM STARTS ISSUING LICENSES FOR PILOTS, CREW
"Saudi Arabia has begun issuing its own licenses for pilots and crew after the United States revoked certification of four Saudi pilots on the grounds they posed a security threat… …the new licenses are recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization and also cover the technical staff…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
US REVOKES LICENSES OF 2 SAUDIA PILOTS - GWD Feb. 17, 2003

DEATH OF 75 NEW-BORN BABIES CAUSES CONCERN
"The death and mass funeral of 75 newborn babies in Riyadh could be an indication that there is a lack of adequate incubators in some government hospitals… …these deaths did not take place on the same day - as was reported in the Arabic language media - but over a four-day period"… Complete report…

ITALY RECALLS MUSLIM AMBASSADOR
"Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Torquato Cardilli, 60, who made headlines in November 2001 by reverting to Islam, has been recalled by the Italian government… …His successor Dr. Sanguini is a non-Muslim with a degree in political science from Milan University…" Complete report…

REVENUES OF CHARITIES PUT AT SR14 BILLION
"The revenues of the Kingdom's 248 charitable and social organizations between 1985 to 2002 were estimated at SR14 billion…" Complete report…

News - UAE

DUBAI PLANS DISTRICT COUNCILS
"The Dubai Executive Council decided to form district councils covering different areas in the emirate. The councils aimed at enhancing public participation in decision-making and development of their respective districts… …The executive council decided that such councils should be elected democratically, where their members are elected from among social personalities in these areas…" Complete report…

UAE POPULATION CROSSES 3.75M MARK 
"The UAE population, which stood at 3.48 million at the end of 2001 with expatriates and dependents accounting for a substantial percentage of its inhabitants, crossed at 3.75 million mark at the end of 2002… …The 25-29 years age group was the largest, at around 481,000, followed by the 30-34 year age group at 456,800 and the 35-39 year age group at 426,000. Those in the 10-19 year age group, at 504,578 comprised around 15 per cent of the entire population…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
UAE POPULATION GROWS SHARPLY IN LAST 20 YEARS - GWD Jan. 13, 2003 
UAE POPULATION GROWS 19-FOLD IN THREE DECADES - GWD Nov. 18, 2002

GULF EDUCATION AND TRAINING EXHIBITION ATTRACTS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES 
"…the 15th Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX) will be held according to schedule from April 8-11, 2003 at the Dubai World Trade Center… …The show, held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, will have over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries exhibiting a variety of educational diplomas, programs and courses…" Complete report…

Link of the Week

LINK OF THE WEEK

SAUDI-US-RELATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE

The Saudi-U.S. Relations Information Service (SUSRIS) web site is part of a private sector, information service highlighting the characteristics, strength and importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

The SUSRIS is a public service of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations as an element of its mission: To educate Americans about Arab countries, the Middle East, and the Islamic world through leadership development, people-to-people programs, lectures, publications, and grassroots outreach.

The SUSRIS, along with its companion site the Saudi-American Forum, provides information on a broad range of topics that underscore the Saudi-US relationship, as well as interactive features, such as an expansive discussion forum and subject fact sheets, briefings, links and more. As the service develops we will pack the site with hard to find resources to assist visitors in learning the details of the historic ties between these countries.        

GulfWire Flashback - 3 Years of GW

<<ONE YEAR AGO>>

FROM GULFWIRE DIGEST (#141) WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2002

ARAB WORLD UNITES IN ANGER AT ISRAEL'S ACTIONS
"…Arab regimes rushed to display their anger with Israel, only days after a summit in Beirut at which they agreed to offer a full peace with the Jewish state…" 

<<TWO YEARS AGO>>

FROM GULFWIRE DIGEST (#91) WEEK OF APRIL 9, 2001>>

BAHRAIN PANEL BEGINS REFORM PROCESS
Sweeping changes to bring about long awaited political, economic and social changes to take the island into the 21st century are now under way. The process started this week with the committee entrusted with the task of implementing the National Action Charter to bring about these changes
deciding to take up some of the issues.

<<THREE YEARS AGO>>

FROM GULFWIRE DIGEST (#39) WEEK OF APRIL 3, 2000>>

KUWAITI ON SADDAM'S 'STRATEGIC MINDSET.'
Shafiq Ghabra, the director of the Kuwait Information Office in Washington told the Philadelphia-based "Middle East Forum" on 27 March that Saddam Husseyn's "strategic mindset" on Kuwait has "not changed since 1990." Every other country in the region is in the process of changing its political discourse by debating reform and economic change, Ghabra said, but the situation in Iraq is different. There, he continued, "The greatest danger flows from the degree Saddam is out of touch with reality." This makes miscalculation by Saddam "a constant danger to those around him." As a result, "those who say that Iraq poses no threat are gravely mistaken."

Business News - Region

The Best Energy Resource in the World: Country Analysis Briefs by DOE/EIA

OIL FALLS ON THE U.S.-LED ADVANCE IN IRAQ
"World oil prices slumped heavily again on [Apr. 2] as the U.S. military advanced toward Baghdad and as record Saudi production helped restore low U.S. crude inventories…  …The war in Iraq has cut off Baghdad's 1.7 million barrels of daily exports from the 77 million barrel-per-day (bpd) world market. Worries about a prolonged conflict sent prices sharply higher last week…" Complete report...

OPEC PUMPS EXTRA TO PREVENT WAR OIL SPIKE
"OPEC exporters cut the cost of the Iraqi war to the West by releasing extra volumes of oil last month to prevent a spike in crude prices… …The United States' main allies in the Gulf -- Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- hiked output dramatically with Riyadh pumping at its highest rate in 21 years…" Complete report…

EFFECTS OF IRAQ WAR ON OIL PRICES AND THE SAUDI ECONOMY
"There is no doubt that America's war on Iraq will be the dominant event shaping the world economy and financial markets during the next few weeks and months… …The Kingdom will be positively affected by higher oil prices, and indirectly yet negatively through its effects on the rest of the world…" Complete report…

UAE CENTRAL BANK TO BACK KUWAITI DINAR
"The UAE Central Bank has embarked on a repurchase scheme for the Kuwaiti dinar in order to support the value of Kuwaiti currency in the wake of the war on Iraq… …According to the plan, the Kuwaiti dinar would be allowed to fluctuate by a margin of 3.5 per cent from the official rate…" Complete report…

HULL WAR RISK RATES IN GULF PORTS SURGE
"Effective April 1, reinstatement of hull war risk policies is being done at much higher premium for vessels operating in the Arabian Gulf… … This adds to an extremely fluid situation with hull war risk rates for vessels calling at Arabian Gulf ports having gone up many times over the last week…" Complete report…

ARAB INVESTORS MAY WITHDRAW FUNDS
"Arab investors might withdraw their money from foreign banks out of the fear that it will be frozen due to the war in Iraq… … the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq could push many regional investors to withdraw their money from the U.S. and other Western banks, which hold a large part of the overseas Arab money, estimated at  $700 billion to $1,500 billion…" Complete report…

INVESTMENT IN GULF STATES SET TO INCREASE
"Investment in Gulf property and construction is expected to soar due to a number of factors including a surge in oil prices and access liquidity in the market.  Many Arab investors are repatriating their funds from the West due to the widening gap between the East and West, which, many industry officials predict will be invested in the UAE's commercial and residential properties…" Complete report…

GCC-EU FREE TRADE AREA LIKELY TO BE SET UP IN '05
"A European-GCC Free Trade area is expected to be set up in 2005… …there was a precondition that a unified customs tariff be adopted by the GCC countries. 'The two parties have agreed upon around 70 per cent of the clauses of the GCC-EU Free Trade Agreement'…" Complete report…

GCC ON COURSE TO SINGLE CURRENCY
"The GCC countries are likely to achieve their goal of a single currency ahead of schedule… …Experts also cautioned that banks in the GCC must prevent erosion in loan quality and strengthen their financial capital to achieve greater efficiencies…" Complete report…

UAE CHARGE DENIED
"The Director-General of Customs… …has denied allegations that the Kingdom did not abide by the unified customs agreement… …the Kingdom abided by all agreements signed by the GCC concerning customs, which allows for products to pass between GCC countries without obstacles or charges…" Complete report…

QATAR ENERGY MINISTER CHAIRS DOLPHIN'S THIRD DPSA MEETING 
"The Qatar Minister of Energy & Industry, Abdullah Hamad Al Attiyah, chaired the third meeting of the Development & Production Sharing Agreement (DPSA) Management Committee for the Dolphin Project in Doha on March 27. The CEO of Dolphin Energy Limited, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, said afterwards: "We had a particularly good meeting. Dolphin is now moving ahead with substantial technical developments in Qatar... ...The Dolphin Gas Project involves the development of natural gas reserves from Qatar's offshore North Field, their processing onshore at Ras Laffan - and transportation by pipeline of a minimum 2 billion cubic feet a day (bcf/d) of natural gas to the UAE from 2006..."  Source: Emirates Bulletin No. 061, April 2

Business News - Bahrain

AIRLINES TO RESUME BAHRAIN SERVICES
"Three airlines which have suspended flights to Bahrain because of the war may soon resume operations..." Complete report...

Business News - Qatar

QATAR MERITS A3 RATING: MOODY'S
"Qatar merits a stable outlook and an A3 rating as its economic development strategy is based on diversification and a relatively ambitious privatization program… …Qatar has enjoyed a budget surplus since 2001, after several years of deficits. Fiscal management has generally been prudent and the borrowing requirements of the government have been modest relative to the growth performance of the economy…" Complete report…

Business News - Saudi Arabia

SAUDIS WANT A PIECE OF THE IRAQI PIE
"Saudi businessmen are keen to compete with international firms to win a piece of the Iraqi pie once the war is over and reconstruction begins… …The businessmen claim that their companies have more experience in the field of reconstruction than American and British companies and that economists are asking them to work together and move quickly…" Complete report…

OIL PRICES AND IMPACT OF WAR TO DOMINATE SAUDI ARABIAN ECONOMY
"Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to touch 708 billion Saudi riyals this year… …Oil prices will continue to play a key role during 2003 for the Saudi economy. Saudi nominal GDP might fall by 5.22 per cent if oil prices average $23 per barrel throughout the year. However, it might grow by 4.4 per cent if the average oil price remains at 25 per barrel…" Complete report…

TAX CUT ON FOREIGN FIRMS UNDER STUDY
"The Shoura Council is expected to discuss [Apr. 6] a proposal to cut income tax on foreign companies based in the Kingdom. The move was designed to attract more foreign investment… …sources said the rate of tax to be imposed on foreign companies will be much less than the present one…" Complete report…

GCC INSIGHTS: SAUDI TELECOM ON THE FAST TRACK TO LIBERALIZATION
"…Saudi Arabia needs to speed up the opening of its telecom industry if only to catch up with fellow GCC countries.  Telecom statistics in Saudi Arabia lag behind the other GCC nations at large and the UAE in particular… …GSM penetration stands at 23 per cent in Saudi Arabia compared with 72 in the UAE…" Complete report…

NEW TECHNOLOGY TO BOOST OIL RECOVERY
"King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is developing technology that could dramatically increase oil recovery… …the research focuses on combining two methods of oil recovery. The first is the water-gas alternating process and the second is horizontal well infill drilling…" Complete report…

NEW SAUDI OIL FIELD DISCOVERED 
Saudi Aramco announced the discovery of a new oil field in the eastern region about 260 kilometers southeast of Riyadh and 50 kilometers south of Hardh.  The new oil field is called Yerbin.  Drilling started on May 20, 2002 and oil began flowing March 30, 2003 at a rate of 5100 barrels per day.
Source:  Saudi Press Agency

DUMPING COST SR20B
"Saudi Arabia is losing more than SR20 billion a year because of product dumping by foreign companies… …Gulf Organization for Industrial Consultancy [GOIC]… …urged the Gulf states to work together to solve the problem by adopting a new law to fight product dumping…" Complete report…

MOVE TO EMPLOY 20,000 SAUDIS
"The board of directors of the Manpower Development Fund met here [Apr. 2] under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Prince Naif and made allocations in this year's budget to train and employ 20,000 young men and women…  …Prince Naif also called for opening channels of communication between private companies, the chambers of commerce and the fund to speed up the Saudization drive aimed at cutting down the country's unemployment rate…" Complete report…

GOLD SHOPS WARNED
"Gold shops, which violate the Saudization law and fail to employ Saudis will be closed down… … Saudization committee… …making every effort to ensure that all shops adhere to recently implemented law which bans foreigners from working in jewelry showrooms…" Complete report…

HP TO BUILD NEW PLANT
"Hewlett-Packard has announced the establishment of a new computer parts manufacturing plant in the Kingdom…" Complete report…

PC SALES DOWN 
"Computer sales in the Riyadh market have declined by 70 percent because of the war in Iraq… …'Consumers are only buying computer accessories now, whereas a month ago both Saudis and expatriates were rushing to buy the latest computers'…" Complete report…

EIGHT MORE FIELDS TO BE ADDED TO SAUDIZATION LIST
"The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is planning to add eight more businesses that will be only for Saudis to work in… …The eight new businesses include government schools canteens, flowers and gifts shops, stationeries, cars showrooms, perfume shops with an area less than 400 square meters and retail stores…" Complete report…

Business News - UAE

NO CHANGE IN EMIRATES AIRCRAFT ORDERS, ROUTES
"Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and chairman of Emirates, [Mar. 30] stressed that Emirates will not change its plans for aircraft purchases and inauguration of new routes because of the war on Iraq… … Emirates will announce its annual financial results this month and has definitely taken the repercussions of war into its financial considerations…" Complete report…

THURAYA BECOMES LATEST VICTIM OF WAR RESTRICTIONS
"The UAE Thuraya satellite company has become the latest victim of the war in Iraq as the U.S.-led coalition forces have started to impose curbs on journalists using its sophisticated handsets. Allied commanders justified their action by the fact that the Thuraya satellite phones include an advanced facility that could pinpoint the position of its users and the surrounding areas…" Complete report…

DTCM SETS UP CONVENTION BUREAU
"To facilitate Dubai's drive to improve its status as a preferred business destination, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced [Mar. 31] the setting up of the Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) within its organizational framework to coordinate the marketing and bidding process to host major international meetings, conferences and events… … the DTCM is finalizing its bid for 20 major events to be held next year…" Complete report…

CAREERS UAE 2003 TO OFFER MORE JOB OPENINGS FOR UAE NATIONALS 
"…Careers UAE 2003, the country's largest dedicated career fair for UAE nationals announced that this year's event will provide considerably more job opportunities for professionally qualified UAE nationals…" Complete report…

UAE INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS LAW IS BEING REVISED 
"The Industrial Affairs Law is being revised by the UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry… …'The way forward has to be through further industrialization, and through creating an environment conducive to welcoming industrial investors, entrepreneurs and technocrats, particularly the SME sector'…" Complete report…

WORK BEGINS ON DUBAI AIRPORT TUNNEL ROAD 
"Dubai Municipality [Mar. 31] began work on one of the longest and widest tunnels in the Middle East as part of a new Dh686 million road network around Dubai International Airport. It will handle the traffic expected to result from the massive airport expansion. The project forms part of Dubai Municipality's plans to improve traffic in the city, which is emerging as the region's air travel hub..."  Source: Emirates Bulletin No. 060, April 1

UAE PLASTIC INDUSTRY GROWING: EIB STUDY 
"With the expansion of the non-oil economy, demand for plastic products has grown steadily leading to a growth in manufacturing in the sector… …The industry has expanded rapidly in the nineties, still continues to grow, and is slowly making inroads into the export industry…" Complete report…

NORTHERN ROAD NETWORK TO BE EXPANDED 
"The Ministry of Public Works and Housing plans to develop the road network in the Northern Emirates. At a press conference [Apr. 1], Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of Communications and Acting Minister for Public Works and Housing, said the ministry is going ahead with expanding and maintaining the road network in the Northern Emirates. As part of the plan, the ministry will construct or repair several roads in the Northern Emirates. These includes the Umm al-Qaiwain-Falaj Al Mulla-Al Dhaid road at a cost of Dh118 million. The construction will start soon and it is expected to be ready by 2004..."  Source: Emirates Bulletin No. 061, April 2

Contact Info

Publisher: Dr. John Duke Anthony
Editor-in-Chief: Patrick W. Ryan
Deputy Editor: Connie R. Trisdale
Editorial Assistant: Margaret Philpot
Research Assistant: B.F.Hammock

Email: GulfWire@ArabiaLink.com
URL: http://www.arabialink.com/ 

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Photo Credit:
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Bell

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