In This Issue

12th Annual Arab-US Policymakers Conference
Strengthening Arab-US Relations: What is Required? Sept. 7-8, 2003 Washington, DC [more]

O   Link Of The Week - Arab Culture and Civilization -- National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education
O   GulfWire Flashback - Over Four Years Of GulfWire
O   Business & Finance News
  ·   Region
      - Energy Futures - 08.01.03
      - OPEC To Sit Tight On Oil Output Limits
      - Iraq Signs Oil Deals
      - Iraq Oil Output Tops One MBPD
      - Arab Stock Marts Surge 15PC In Second Quarter
      - Thai Exports To Mideast Touch $2.5B
      - Mideast Airlines Plan $50B Orders
      - Sweet & Sour: Economics Of Detente Comes To The Gulf
      - Gulf Air Set For Next Phase Of Expansion
      - Gulf Air To Relaunch Flights To US
      - Good Prospects For Mobile Telephony In The Arab Region
  ·   Bahrain
      - Telecom Race Is On
      - BCCI Consult On Trade Laws
  ·   Kuwait
      - Kuwait To Probe $7B Oil Project
      - Indian Firms Join Oil Majors To Bid For Kuwait Deal
  ·   Oman
      - Oman Revives $2.5B Aluminum Venture
  ·   Qatar
      - Rasgas II To Supply LNG To Spanish Firm
  ·   Saudi Arabia
      - Kingdom, UN Body To Discuss Progress On WTO Accession
      - Saudi Arabia To Pursue Gas Exploration And Production Separately
      - Saudi Arabia's $30 Billion Bonus From Oil Revenues
      - Saudi-Us Trade Council
      - Europe Firms Set To Invest In Saudi Arabia
      - JCCI Chief Looks To New Aide To Boost Investment
      - E-Governance, E-Commerce To Be Promoted By Riyadh
      - Saudization Of Private Sector Faces Difficulties
      - All's Fare In Carving Out Niche In Land Transport
      - Holidaymakers' Apathy Puts A Crimp In Tourism Trade
      - Restaurant Ship Idea Floated To Boost Tourism
      - Firm Surprised At Kingdom Ban On Zamzam Cola
  ·   UAE
      - Abu Dhabi Imports Climb To $590M In June This Year
      - Duty Free Sales Top $1M Daily In July
      - ADCO Begins To Develop Oilfield 
      - Demand For Rolled Steel Rises
      - Tourism Key Driver Of Dubai Economic Growth
      - Dubai Must Study Revenue Options
      - Dutch Firm To Build The World
      - Zayed Centre Builds Mali University
      - CNBC Arabiya Business Channel Starts Broadcasting From Dubai
      - Ministry Bans 17 Food Supplements, Drugs

About the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations

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.  

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News - Region

U.S. ACCUSES ARAB TV STATIONS OF BIAS
"Two of the most high-profile Arab TV networks reacted angrily [Jul 27] to U.S. claims of biased news coverage about the Iraq war… …U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz accused Al-Jazeera, based in Qatar, and Dubai-based Al-Arabiya of bias in their reporting. Wolfowitz told Fox News that the networks incite violence against American forces with slanted reports that he asserted are funded by Middle East governments…" Complete report…

News - Bahrain

JAILED BRITON ARRIVES HOME
"Richard Mechan, 37, was convicted of stabbing an American colleague while working in the Gulf four years ago.  He had always maintained he was acting in self-defense but was originally given a 15-year sentence… …Mr Mechan arrived back in Britain on [Aug. 3] after the King of Bahrain decreed that his five-year jail sentence was at an end.  The sudden move brings to an end a lengthy campaign by Mr. Mechan's family to secure his release…" Complete report...

News - Kuwait

REPORT: FIRE SWEEPS THROUGH U.S. CAMP IN KUWAIT 
"A fire swept through a U.S. military camp at Kuwait airport [Jul 31], but the only casualties were soldiers suffering from smoke inhalation… …There was no word on whether it could have been sabotage, though Kuwait has seen several attacks on the thousands of U.S. troops based in the oil-rich Gulf state for the war on neighboring Iraq…" Complete report…

                                             News - Oman

News - Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON 'WELCOME TO INTERVIEW AL BAYUMI'
"U.S. officials are welcome to interview a Saudi citizen who knew two of September 11 hijackers while living in San Diego… …Prince Saud Al Faisal, speaking on U.S. television networks, said U.S. and British officials already had questioned Omar Al Bayumi and released him after finding no evidence linking him to the hijacking plot…" Complete report…

US REJECTS SAUDI CALL ON 9/11 REPORT
"The United States has rejected a request to make public the section of a report on the 11 September attacks that deals with Saudi Arabia. The 900-page congressional report, released last week, suggested that people connected to the Saudi Government might have given financial support to the hijackers… …The White House statement comes as Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal is in Washington to press President George W Bush on the issue…" Complete report…
Also:
SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET BUSH OVER 9/11 REPORT
'WE UNDERSTAND THEIR REASONS'
CONGRESSIONAL 9/11 REPORT MISSING PAGES: SAUDIS ASK FOR FULL DISCLOSURE 

SULTAN FLAYS CONGRESS REPORT ON SEPT. 11
"Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, responded angrily on [Jul 25] to a US congressional report implying that Saudi Arabia had a role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks… …'All members of Congress know Saudi Arabia and the American government under the leadership of President Bush has said officially that the Kingdom is not a party in these affairs' Prince Sultan said…" Complete report…
Also:
RIYADH HOPES ROBUST STANCE WILL SILENCE U.S.
TERROR REPORT SAID TO EXAMINE SAUDI LINK
~~GulfWire Link~~
9/11 REPORT MALICIOUS, SAYS SAUDI - GWD Jul 28, 2003

US LAWMAKERS PRESS BUSH ON SAUDI FINANCING DATA
"Members of a Senate committee on [Jul 31] pressed the Bush administration on whether it has shielded some Saudi Arabian organizations accused of financing terrorist groups from possible U.S. economic sanctions… … members of the Governmental Affairs Committee demanded a list of Saudi entities that a Treasury Department agency recommended be sanctioned as terrorism financiers…" Complete report…
Also:
KINGDOM UNDER FIRE IN SENATE

SAUDIS TURN UP THE HEAT ON TERROR
"Worried about the potential for more attacks like the three Riyadh bombings in May, which killed 34 people and injured more than 200, Saudi Arabia has launched a nationwide crackdown on terrorism… …To date, three terror cells have been uncovered inside the country. Although their members are being rapidly tracked down, captured or killed, new members are springing up like mushrooms.  And, they seem to have no problem in getting their hands on huge quantities of weapons and explosives…" Complete report...
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDIS CRACK TERRORIST CELL - GWD Jul 28, 2003

SECURITY FORCES ARREST 3 MORE FUGITIVE MILITANTS
"Saudi security forces have arrested three fugitive militants in the northern Al-Qasim province, the scene of last week's shootout that left two policemen and six nationals with links to Al-Qaeda dead… …the three detained men, all Saudi nationals, who are currently undergoing police interrogation…" Complete report…

EIGHT KILLED IN SAUDI SHOOTOUT
"Six suspected militants, armed with guns and hand grenades, and two policemen were killed [Jul 28] in a shootout north of the capital… … The shootout, which came amid an anti-terror crackdown in the kingdom, took place in al-Qassim, 350 kilometers (220 miles) north of the capital, Riyadh…" Complete report…
Also:
SIX MUSLIM MILITANTS KILLED IN SAUDI FIREFIGHT 
'GulfWire Link~~
GOVERNMENT VOWS TO STAMP OUT TERRORISM - GWD May 26, 2003

TERROR SUSPECT DISCLAIMS ROLE IN MAY 12 RAID
"One of the 19 terrorist suspects who escaped on May 6 when their hideout was raided by Saudi security forces has said that he has nothing to do with the May 12 Riyadh bombings… …Sultan Jabran Al-Qahtani, in a statement purportedly by him posted on an Islamist website, said that he 'did not participate' in the attacks, but was 'so happy' that they had taken place…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDIS CRACK TERRORIST CELL - GWD July 28, 2003

PRINCE: AL-QAIDA TRAINED SAUDI MILITANTS 
"Muslim militants arrested or killed in recent police raids were trained by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and possibly in the Saudi kingdom, the interior minister said… …'Most of them received their military training in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and a small number perhaps were trained on farms and the like inside the country,' Prince Nayef was quoted…" Complete report…

SAUDI INSTALLATIONS UNDER SURVEILLANCE IN GERMANY, REPORT SAYS
"Federal intelligence authorities recently have placed the Saudi embassy, consulates and other facilities in Germany under surveillance… …The report in Der Spiegel news magazine… …quotes intelligence sources as saying the action was taken in the wake of the [US] report on the September 11 terrorist attacks and implications of involvement by Saudis…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDIS WITHDRAW BERLIN DIPLOMAT AFTER GERMANS CITE POSSIBLE MILITANT LINK - GWD Apr 28, 2003

NO EVIDENCE' AGAINST SAUDI EXPELLED FROM MALAWI 
"Fahd Al-Baheli, the office manager of the Prince Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz Committee for Relief to the Republic of Malawi, returned here last [Jul 25] after being held by authorities in the sub-Saharan country for 37 days… …He was released because no evidence could be found linking him to terrorist activities including transferring money to terrorist organizations, contrary to reports by some wire agencies at the time of his arrest…" Complete report...

SAUDI PRO-REFORM JOURNALIST BANNED
"An outspoken pro-reform journalist [Jul 29] alleged that the Saudi government had banned him from writing, in the latest round of a battle between hardliners and liberals in the kingdom… …Shobokshi wrote in Okaz, where he penned a weekly column, that he dreamed of a day when Saudis voted in elections, debated human rights and women could drive - topics which have alarmed the kingdom's religious establishment…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDI ARTICLE SPURS DELIGHT AND ANGER - GWD Jul 21, 2003

U.S. TROOP PULLOUT MUTUALLY AGREED SAYS SAUDI ENVOY
"In a rare public statement by a Saudi ambassador, the Kingdom's envoy to London, Prince Turki Al Faisal said ending the American military presence in Saudi Arabia was mutually agreed with the United States government… …'Their departure in no way sours the longstanding relationship that exists between the Kingdom and the U.S., which dates back more than half a century'…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
US TROOPS TO LEAVE - GWD May 5, 2003

KINGDOM TO FINGERPRINT PEOPLE ARRIVING AT ALL POINTS
"The head of the Passports Department in Saudi Arabia, Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Sajeeni, revealed [Jul. 29] that Saudi Arabia would take new measures to eliminate the problem of overstayers in the Kingdom. He said that the new strategies would also put an end to those who enter the country with fake passports or forged papers… …The official said that passports departments all over the Kingdom would start fingerprinting all those who enter Saudi Arabia whether by sea, land or air…" Complete report…

244 IRAQI REFUGEES TO GO HOME THIS WEEK
"The UN refugee agency said [Jul 28] it would repatriate 244 Iraqi refugees in northern Saudi Arabia this week because they were desperate to go home but encouraged other refugees to wait for Iraq to stabilize… …Spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Mamoon Muhsen said the United Nations would help about 3,686 refugees to go home, but was discouraging others from doing the same now because of instability in Iraq…" Complete report…

WHAT DIRECTIVE ON CHARITY DONATIONS?
"Two weeks after the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs introduced new regulations banning the public collection of money for charitable purposes using donation boxes, including those placed outside mosques, a random visit by Arab News to dozens of shops, supermarkets and drug stores revealed that many are violating the ministry's directives. The majority of owners told Arab News that they are unaware of the new ministry regulations ordering the removal of the charity boxes…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
WATCHDOG SET UP FOR CHARITIES - GWD Jul 21, 2003

WEBSITE ON ABDULLAH AL-FAISAL LAUNCHED ON HIS 86TH BIRTHDAY
"A website to commemorate the 86th birthday of a man who was formerly Saudi minister of interior, minister of health and minister of sport, was launched on [Jul 26]… …Speaking of Prince Abdullah, who is one of the few officials to have headed two ministries simultaneously, Prince Talal added that some very informative data will at the disposal of web users who will enjoy reading Prince Abdullah's biography, the list of his published books and poetry and rare photographs from his early years…" Complete report…

News - UAE

DUBAI - LAUNCHPAD FOR GLOBAL FINANCIAL WAR ON TERRORISM
"The world's financial barons gathering in Dubai this September have a complex agenda to tackle, with an urgent G8 demand to launch a new collective financial attack in the war on terrorism… …Experts say some 'terrorist' funds remain undetected in the global banking system, while some companies allegedly linked to terror groups are still doing business legitimately in several states…" Complete report… 
      

Link of the Week

ARAB CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND LIBERAL EDUCATION

ABOUT THE SITE: We began this project in light of the September 11th attacks. Recognizing that Americans tend to know little about the Arab world* from which the assault emerged, and with which the United States was intensively engaged, we sought to identify and assist in the creation of learning resources for our liberal arts campuses. Reflecting on the distributed nature of Arab studies across the NITLE member colleges and universities, we determined to facilitate a collaborative effort across campuses and disciplines.

                                                     [ more ] 

GulfWire Flashback - 4 Years of GWD

<<ONE YEAR AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#158) WEEK OF AUG 5, 2002

EXPERTS PUT LARGE PRICE TAG ON REBUILDING OF IRAQ
A panel of experts on Iraq told a Senate committee today that there are no obvious successors to Saddam Hussein and that the Bush administration should be prepared to help install and protect a pro-American government if it decides to topple him — a proposition, they added, that would be long and
expensive..." 

<<TWO YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#108) WEEK OF AUG 6, 2001

ARABS CALL FOR REVIVAL OF ISRAEL BOYCOTT
"Representatives of 14 of the 22 Arab League countries called yesterday for a revival of a boycott of Israel which slackened after Arabs began peace talks with Israel nearly a decade ago. But diplomats expressed doubts that the boycott, which was effective during previous decades, would play the same role now, noting that several Arab states which stayed away from the meeting would not abide by its decisions."

<<THREE YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#57) WEEK OF AUG 7, 2000

GULF WAR'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY MARKED
Speaking on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Saddam Husseyn's invasion of his country, Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah ruled out a resumption of ties with Iraq in the near future and said that
his country intends to renew defense pacts with Western countries. "Talking about resuming relations with the Iraqi regime is premature and is out of the question in these circumstances, while that regime continues its hostile behavior toward Kuwait," he noted.

<<FOUR YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#4) WEEK OF AUG 2, 1999

U.S. BACKING ON ISLANDS
Assistant Secretary of State Martin S. Indyk said resolution of the dispute between Iran and the UAE over three islands was important for regional security, according to the Khaleej Times.  Indyk reportedly added the U.S. supported the UAE's peaceful approach and was pleased by other GCC states'
assistance in resolving the issue.

Business News - Region

[GulfWire] ENERGY FUTURES - 08.01.03
Light Crude (NYM) $32.31 bbl UP from $30.10 bbl on 07.25.03
Brent Crude (IPE) $29.90 bbl UP from $28.18 bbl on 07.25.03
Heating Oil (NYM) $.8512 gal UP from $.7825 gal on 07.25.03
Natural Gas (NYM) $4.874 mmbtu UP from $4.695 mmbtu on 07.25.03
Unleaded Gas (NYM) $.9434 gal UP from $.8755 gal on 07.25.03
Source:

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

OPEC TO SIT TIGHT ON OIL OUTPUT LIMITS
"OPEC [Jul 30] prepared to keep oil supply limits unchanged, slow post-war Iraqi output preventing any need to tighten the taps… …OPEC's strategy of tight market management… …has bred confidence among dealers in its ability to defend prices against Iraq's return…" Complete report…
Also:
NO CHANGE IN OPEC OIL OUTPUT EXPECTED 

IRAQ SIGNS OIL DEALS 
"Iraq has signed new crude export contracts with foreign oil companies, a state oil official said [Jul 27], the second set of such deals since the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein… …the contracts for August 1 to December 31 were sealed with European refiners Shell, BP and TotalFinaElf, US majors Chevron-Texaco, ConocoPhillips, Valero Energy and Marathon Oil Sinochem of China; and a company from the Mitsubishi group, which is buying for Japanese refineries…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
US, UK MAJORS TAKE LION'S SHARE IN IRAQ OIL TENDER - GWD Jul 14, 2003

IRAQ OIL OUTPUT TOPS ONE MBPD
"Iraq's oil output is now surpassing one million barrels per day (bpd), with increased oil sales helping fund the reconstruction effort here, the US-led coalition occupying the country said [Jul 29]… …A key development in the industry, the spokesman added, was the conclusion of a deal between Iraq and Syria to resume rail links. The first train in from Syria, expected to arrive in Baghdad late Thursday, will bring empty oil tankers back into Iraq from Syria, where they had been held since the start of the US-led war in March…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
IRAQ OIL PRODUCTION MAY RESUME IN 7 WEEKS - GWD Apr. 21, 2003

ARAB STOCK MARTS SURGE 15PC IN SECOND QUARTER
"Arab bourses surged by more than 15 percent to hit their highest capitalization in the second quarter of this year as investors were tempted by strong oil prices, low interest rates and the end of the war in Iraq… …Saudi Arabia, which has the busiest and largest market in the region, accounted for the bulk of the capital increase as its 68 listed companies gained nearly $38 billion…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
WILL ARAB STOCK MARKETS MAINTAIN THEIR UPWARD TREND IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR? - GWD Jul 7, 2003

THAI EXPORTS TO MIDEAST TOUCH $2.5B
"Thai exports to the Middle East have grown over the years, touching $2.5 billion last year, an increase of 16.95 percent over 2001… …Expo Center Sharjah… …has launched a promotional campaign to market its facilities among various countries including Thailand… …The Eighth Thailand Exhibition will be held from September 27 to 30 at the Expo Center…" Complete report…

MIDEAST AIRLINES PLAN $50B ORDERS
" An estimated 620 planes will have to be delivered to the Middle East alone in the next 15 years to keep up with demand in air travel. Of those 282 will replace existing aircraft, while 338 will be used to expand fleets in the region… …the major driving factor behind purchases is anticipated growth in the airline industry over the coming years. Experts predict an annual growth of 4.8 percent globally, which means air traffic will double by 2018 and triple by 2023…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
EMIRATES AND QATAR AIR TO ANNOUNCE $11B ORDERS - GWD Jun 16, 2003

SWEET & SOUR: ECONOMICS OF DETENTE COMES TO THE GULF
"Have you noticed how when it rains in the Gulf, it tends to pour? Consider events in the energy world in the last few weeks. Saudi Arabia concluded a deal with Shell and Total for a mega gas project in the Empty Quarter and invited 41 other companies to come in and drill for gas; Kuwait began the selection process of consortia for a project to double its oil production from northern oilfields and Iraq signed its first term crude oil sales contracts since before the Gulf War. What do all three projects have in common…" Complete report…

GULF AIR SET FOR NEXT PHASE OF EXPANSION
"Gulf Air [Jul 27] said it plans to move ahead with its next phase of expansion following strong passenger and cargo growth in the first six months of this year. Expansion plans include flights to the U.S. and some more destinations in Europe… …The positive growth trend in first and business classes over the last six months continued with a significant 22.9 per cent increase for this month…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
INTERVIEW: OWNERS COMMITTED TO RESCUING GULF AIR - GWD Mar. 3, 2003

GULF AIR TO RELAUNCH FLIGHTS TO US
"Gulf Air will resume flights to the United States as well as some European destinations in the latter half of 2003 on the back of strong third-quarter passenger and cargo figures… …Gulf Air, which operates a 33-strong fleet flying to 45 cities in 33 countries, is owned by the governments of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
GULF AIR PLANS TO DOUBLE FLEET - GWD Apr. 21, 2003  

GOOD PROSPECTS FOR MOBILE TELEPHONY IN THE ARAB REGION
"It is estimated that by the end of 2003 there will be around 25 million mobile subscribers in the Arab region… …The mobile market in the region has overtaken the fixed line market…" Complete report…

Business News - Bahrain

BCCI CONSULT ON TRADE LAWS
"The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) [Aug 2] called upon the government to coordinate on the drafting of laws and legislation that have been signed by the Kingdom and other GCC states… … the BCCI said the laws must be founded on the principles of similar treatment 'particularly in view of the unified economic agreement that comprises many exceptions in terms of implementation in other GCC states'…"  Complete report…

Business News -Kuwait

INDIAN FIRMS JOIN OIL MAJORS TO BID FOR KUWAIT DEAL
"State-owned Indian Oil Corporation and ONGC Videsh Ltd have joined with global oil majors BP and Occidental to bid for a Kuwaiti oilfield production contract… …The BP-led consortium is one of three groups bidding for "Project Kuwait", which aims to increase production from a cluster of fields along the border with Iraq…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
CHEVRONTEXACO TO BID ON KUWAIT OIL PLAN - GWD Jul 28, 2003

Business News - Oman

Business News - Qatar

Business News - Saudi Arabia

SAUDI ARABIA TO PURSUE GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION SEPARATELY
"In an effort to increase investor interest in natural gas exploration, the Kingdom is presenting three giant projects in the country's first-ever licensing round… …The landmark licensing follows two years of direct negotiations with multinationals for three huge integrated gas, power and industrial projects that collapsed earlier this year because the oil majors and the Kingdom could not agree on the rates of return…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
GOVT TO INVITE TENDERS FOR GAS PROJECTS - GWD Jul 28, 2003

SAUDI ARABIA'S $30 BILLION BONUS FROM OIL REVENUES
"Things get better and better for Saudi Arabia. Oil prices may average $27 per barrel this year due to the failure of the US to restore pre-war production levels in Iraq… …This year Saudi Arabia will see oil revenues surge to a two-decade high of $61 billion, turning a projected $11 billion budget deficit into a $13 billion surplus, and creating 4.9% GDP growth…" Complete report…

SAUDI-US TRADE COUNCIL
"Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani and US trade representative Robert Zoellick signed here on [Jul. 31] an agreement for the development of commercial and investment relations between the two friendly countries. During the meeting, they also discussed relations between the Kingdom and the US in the fields of trade and investment…" Complete report…

EUROPE FIRMS SET TO INVEST IN SAUDI ARABIA
"That imaginary headline summarizes two concurrent developments that are part of a subtle shift in the Arabian Gulf. The subject rated barely a mention this month, even in the financial press, which is unfortunate because we are seeing early hints of a new 'status quo' for the region… …A different world seems to be taking shape in the Gulf - one more open to foreign investment and less dependent on U.S. military power. Iraq remains a wild card for regional stability…" Complete report…

JCCI CHIEF LOOKS TO NEW AIDE TO BOOST INVESTMENT
"Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Chairman Adel Faqeeh said [Jul 27] that the newly appointed JCCI secretary-general, Muhammad A. Al-Shareef, is expected to champion the chamber's efforts to increase investment in Jeddah… …Faqeeh pointed out that the chamber's board of directors had been working diligently in the hope of being able to provide new services, which would help achieve the goals set by the business sector and the board members of the chamber…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
RIYADH FORUM TO FOCUS ON INVESTMENT IN FOUR KEY SECTORS - GWD Jun 23, 2003

E-GOVERNANCE, E-COMMERCE TO BE PROMOTED BY RIYADH
"The Kingdom together with the other five Gulf states will have only a 0.1 percent share of the $7 trillion global e-business in 2005. This is true despite many initiatives currently in place to redress the situation and to boost Gulf countries' participation in global online business… …'The spending on IT in Saudi Arabia and the UAE represents only three percent of their GDP while for other Gulf states it is only one percent'…" Complete report…

SAUDIZATION OF PRIVATE SECTOR FACES DIFFICULTIES
"The private sector faces difficulties in implementing Saudization causing it to shift millions of Saudi riyals in investments to neighboring countries, make a number of Saudi factories to move to Dubai and forced many companies and establishments to close down after inflicted with losses…" Complete report… 
~~GulfWire Link~~
ABDULLAH ORDERS SAUDIZATION OF 21 MORE SECTORS - GWD Apr 21, 2003

ALL'S FARE IN CARVING OUT NICHE IN LAND TRANSPORT
"Private operators of land transport to various destinations in the Kingdom as well as to neighboring states have reduced their fares by nearly 30 percent, providing stiff competition to the state-run Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO)… …The land transport business has been in recession for a long time with its only boom period during Haj. The industry has now unanimously decided to reorganize itself and work in unity as a force…" Complete report…

RESTAURANT SHIP IDEA FLOATED TO BOOST TOURISM
"A Saudi investor intends to boost tourism on the Kingdom's west coast by establishing several large-scale projects including a restaurant ship that will travel along the coast and accommodate some 200 tourists… …Prince Abdullah hopes to establish new projects along the west coast from Tabuk in the north to Najran in the south, especially in cities that are already tourist destinations. The projects formed part of Saudi Arabia's ongoing tourism program…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
KINGDOM SET TO FREE UP TOURISM SECTOR IN BID TO WOO WESTERNERS - GWD May 12, 2003

FIRM SURPRISED AT KINGDOM BAN ON ZAMZAM COLA
"Al-Majarra Company has expressed its surprise at reports that its Zamzam Cola has been banned from entering the Saudi market… …Saudi customs has banned Zamzam Cola from entering into the local market, as there were objections over its brand name. Zamzam is a continuous spring in the Grand Mosque and the water has religious significance…" Complete report…

Business News - UAE

DUTY FREE SALES TOP $1M DAILY IN JULY
"Dubai Duty Free followed its successful first half-year sales with the announcement of record sales for last month totaling Dh114.7 million ($31.8 million), thereby averaging over $1 million per day… …While sales were buoyant across the board, certain categories showed strong increases over the same month last year. Sales of electronic goods reached almost Dh14 million ($3.9 million) and showed a 35 percent increase over sales in July last year…" Complete report…

ADCO BEGINS TO DEVELOP OILFIELD
"The Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) has begun work to develop a new onshore oilfield, Huwaila, for production of up to 10,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil by 2006… …While the value of the contract is not known, industry executives said the Huwaila project is something new and very interesting. 'It is a new field and it is innovative in the sense it will use multi-phase pumps to feed into the pipeline rather than individual pumps…'" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
ADCO TO INCREASE CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION - GWD Mar. 24, 2003

DEMAND FOR ROLLED STEEL RISES
"An investment of Dh2.5 billion [$680 million] will be needed for further expansion of Emirates Iron and Steel Factory to meet the growing demand for rolled steel in the UAE and other GCC states… …the massive jump in population growth in the GCC states and the subsequent rise in construction-related activities is expected to increase the demand for steel further in the near future. According to the study, this rise in demand may be met by locally produced rolled steel…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
UAE STEELMAKERS SEEK PROTECTION - GWD Jun 23, 2003

TOURISM KEY DRIVER OF DUBAI ECONOMIC GROWTH
"With oil contributing to only seven per cent of Dubai's GDP in 2002, economic sectors that drove its growth by 7.5 percent to Dh63.5 [$17.28] billion have been trade, industry, banking, real estate and tourism, the last being the single fastest growing sector of the economy… …In 2000, the last year for which the government has done the calculation, some $1.9 billion of economic activity in Dubai was attributable to tourism…" Complete report…

~~GulfWire Link~~
DUBAI EYES CRUISE TOURISM HUB STATUS - GWD Mar. 3, 2003

DUBAI MUST STUDY REVENUE OPTIONS
"The fast-growing Dubai economy may compel the government to consider various options to enhance additional sources of revenue to avoid a budget deficit during the next few years.  The Dubai government has so far had a surplus but is most likely to face deficits for several years…"  Complete report… 
~~GulfWire Link~~
UAE BUDGET FORWARDED TO CABINET - GWD May 26, 2003

DUTCH FIRM TO BUILD THE WORLD
"Dutch dredging and marine contractor Van Oord ACZ has been awarded a Dh850 [$231.43] million contract for the construction of 'The World' off the coast of Dubai… …The World, which will comprise a group of islands in the shape of the seven continents. The oval-shaped group of islands measures 6 km by 4 km. The land reclamation and construction of Globe Island will require some 125 million cubic meters of sand and 13 million tons of rock. Construction will take 24 months…" Complete report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
DUBAI TO BUILD 200 WORLD-SHAPED ISLES - GWD May 12, 2003

ZAYED CENTRE BUILDS MALI UNIVERSITY
"The Sheikh Zayed Foundation for Humanitarian and Charitable Activities announced here [Jul 29] the building of a university for Economics and Law Studies in Bamako, Mali… …The university will be the first of its kind to be set up in West Africa and allow students from Mali and other countries in the region holding secondary school certificates to pursue their higher education…" Complete report…

CNBC ARABIYA BUSINESS CHANNEL STARTS BROADCASTING FROM DUBAI
"CNBC Arabiya, a regional Arabic-language satellite business channel, has started broadcasting from Dubai and will focus on economic news of the Middle East and North Africa … …CNBC Arabiya, owned and run by Middle East Business News (MEBN) under a licensing and affiliation agreement with CNBC, is the latest addition to a growing number of regional news outlets that have chosen DMC as their base…" Complete report…

MINISTRY BANS 17 FOOD SUPPLEMENTS, DRUGS
"The Ministry of Health has ordered the withdrawal from the market of 17 food supplements and herbal medicines produced by an Australian company… …The move followed a similar decision by Australian authorities to enforce the closure of Pan Pharmaceuticals Limited (PPL) for a six-month period after some consumers experienced life-threatening reactions to some of its drugs…" Complete report…

Contact Info

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

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AUSPC 2002 by P.Ryan
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