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From Goodwill to Ill-Will and Back: The Road Less
Traveled by John Duke Anthony
US Central Command:
Change at the Top
War, Reconstruction, and the Arab World by Shafeeq N.
Ghabra
Political and Economic Transition on the Arabian
Peninsula: Perils and Prospects
by James A. Russell
Postwar Iraq: The New Old Middle East by Anthony
Cordesman
Reforming the Middle East:
President Bush’s Neo-Con Logic Versus Regional
Reality
by Anthony H. Cordesman
A Coalition of the Unwilling: Arms Control as an
Extension of War by Other Means by Anthony H.
Cordesman
The UAE in Perspective: How it Came to Be by John Duke
Anthony Reviewed for GulfWire by Dr. Malcolm C. Peck
Saudi Arabia: Opposition, Islamic Extremism and
Terrorism by Anthony H. Cordesman
Planning for a Self-Inflicted Wound: US Policy to
Reshape a Post-Saddam Iraq by Anthony C. Cordesman
Changing the Middle East Status Quo -- Democracy and
Economic Development: A European View
Issues of Engagement and the Course of Future
U.S.-Saudi Relations, Post September 11 by Mary E.
Morris
The West and the Arab World: Partnership or a
"Clash of Civilizations" by Anthony H.
Cordesman
Bahrain, Too, Goes to the Polls (Part I) by John Duke
Anthony
Bahrain, Too, Goes to the Polls (Part II) by Scott
McIntosh
Qatar's Heightened Profile by John Duke Anthony
US Strategy in the Middle East: The Gap Between
Strategic Theory and Operational Reality by Anthony H.
Cordesman
The American-Saudi Arabian Relationship: A Briefing by
HRH Prince Sa'ud Al Faisal, Minister of Foreign
Affairs by John Duke Anthony
A Firsthand Look at Saudi Arabia Since 9-11: On the
Road in Saudi Arabia with Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman
Saudi Arabian-American Relations: A Special View --
GulfWire's Interview with Colonel Bernard Dunn, Former
U.S. Defense Attache to Saudi Arabia
Deconstructing the U.S.-Saudi Partnership by James A.
Russell
Saudi Arabian-U.S. Relations in Context by John Duke
Anthony
US Rethinks the Relationship by Sharif Ghalib
In
the Wake of 'Operation Iraqi Freedom': Views from the
Region by John Duke Anthony
Mideast
Peace and the Way Forward: Reflections of a Peace
Envoy by Gen. Anthony C. Zinni
Time
for Making Historic Decisions in the Middle East by
Vahan Zanoyan
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About
GulfWire
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GulfWire
is a public service of the National Council on
U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate
Cooperation Committee
Publisher
Dr. John Duke Anthony
Editor-in-Chief
Patrick W. Ryan
Deputy Editor
Connie R. Trisdale
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Margaret Philpot
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B. F. Hammock
Info:
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CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCEMENT
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12th Annual Arab-US
Policymakers Conference
[more]
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HAVE YOU
READ THESE SAUDI-AMERICAN FORUM ITEMS?
|
Remember
Khobar Towers by Louis J. Freeh
Saudi
Suicide Bombings Act Against Al Qaeda
by Wyche Fowler
and Edward S. Walker
Don't
Let Bin Laden Win!
by Anthony H. Cordesman
The
Approaching Turning Point: The Future of U.S. Relations with
the Gulf States
by F. Gregory Gause, III
In
the Eye of Yet Another Storm: US-Saudi Relations and the Iraqi
Campaign
by
Gregory J. H. Dowling
Saudi
Arabia: Winds of Change in the Desert
by Sandra Mackey
The
Prince
by Elsa Walsh
US-Saudi
Ties Prove
Crucial In War
by Michael Dobbs
The
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by David E. Long
Saudi
Arabia Enters the 21st Century: The Military and
International Security Dimensions by Anthony Cordesman
Saudi
Arabia and the United States - Birth of a Security Partnership
by
Parker T. Hart
|
|
In
This Issue
|
O News
· Region
- U.S.
Keen On Mideast Reforms
- Arabs
Snub US Over Iraq Troops
- U.S.
Considers Reducing Its Role In Iraq
- Truck
Bomb At Jordanian Embassy In Iraq Kills 11
- UN
Estimates Iraq Needs $5B From Donors To Restore
Basic Services
- U.S.
To Deploy Combined Task Force In Iraq
- GCC
States To Facilitate Movement Of Nationals
· Bahrain
- Land
Laws Reviewed By Cabinet
· Kuwait
- Come
After Apologizing, Abbas Told
- Kuwait-Based
Group On [New Zealand] List Of Terrorist Entities
- Kuwait
Loans Afghanistan $15M
· Oman
- Asian
Newcomers To Be Tested In Oman
- GCC
Insights: Oman Seeks To Boost Tourism Industry
· Qatar
- Qatar's
Emir Names New Crown Prince
· Saudi Arabia
- Abdullah
Begins 4-Nation Tour With Visit To Syria Today
- First
National Dialogue Center Established
- U.S.
Gov't Won't Release Terror Financing List
- U.S.
Officials Press Saudis On Aiding Terror
- Report:
2 Saudi Militants On Wanted List
- Kingdom
Condemns Libyan Leader's Remarks
- Bayoumi
To Be Quizzed By FBI Again
- Bassnan
Plans Lawsuit In US Against Unlawful Arrest
- Women
Legal Consultants Under Study
- Saudi
Bomb Britons Return
- Kingdom
To Help Build Part Of Afghanistan's Road Network
· UAE
- UAE
Plans National Labor Union In 2004
- Interview:
Dubai 2003 To Give A Fillip To UAE Business
|
12th
Annual Arab-US Policymakers Conference
|
|
|
![2002 Arab-US Policymakers Conference [Photo: P. Ryan]](http://www.arabialink.com/images/MPC2003/Panel5Franks.jpg) |
![2002 Arab-US Policymakers Conference [Photo: P. Ryan]](http://www.arabialink.com/images/MPC2003/Room1TV.jpg) |
|
Strengthening
Arab-US Relations: What is Required?
Sept.
7-8, 2003
Washington, DC
[more]
|
O Link
Of The Week - Ministry of Information,
Sultanate of Oman
O GulfWire Flashback
- Over Four Years Of GulfWire
O Business & Finance News
· Region
- Energy
Futures - 08.01.03
- GCC
To Modify Rules On Buying National Products
- Fiscal
System In GCC Upset By Heavy Expatriate Remittances
- Reforms
To Boost The Industry In The Gulf
- U.S.
Official: Iraq To Make Oil Choices
- Flow
Of Iraqi Diesel To Gulf States Likely To Drop
- India
To Launch Major Campaign In The Gulf
- Church's
Chicken To Open Across Mideast
· Bahrain
- Bahrain-US
Free Trade Talks
- Bahrain
Firms Win Alba Deals
- 4,500
Jobs Boost For Bahrainis
· Kuwait
- Kuwait's
Housing Sector Perfect; Realty Prices Up
· Oman
- Telecom
Services In Oman Set To Become Cheaper, More
Competitive
- Zamil
Steel Bags Sr22 Million Oman Steel Towers Contract
· Qatar
- US
$238M Qatar Road Job
· Saudi Arabia
- Giant
Gas Projects Set To Trigger New Investments
- WTO
Talks Progressing, Kingdom Likely To Join After 2005
- TIFA
Designed To Boost Ties After Sept. 11 Events
- Kingdom
Opens Up Water, Electricity Sectors
- MOH
Imposes Tighter Controls On Licenses For New Clinics
· UAE
- Dubai
Bank Signs Pact With Reuters
- Abu
Dhabi Buys Less From U.S.
- Total,
Abu Dhabi Oil Co. Sign Plant Deal
- Marubeni
Wins $1.33B In Business From UAE
- CRM
Market In UAE Forecast To Grow To $90M In 2008 -
Madar Research
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|
About
the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
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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.
CLICK
HERE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT
|
|
News
- Region
|
U.S. KEEN ON MIDEAST REFORMS
"The Bush administration made a broad pledge on
[Aug 7] to spread democracy and free markets to the
Middle East, promising to move beyond the recent
focus on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
in an ambitious but vaguely defined project to
transform the region… …The goal years from now
are a region of increasingly open societies,
economic prosperity and representative government.
But undemocratic rule remains the norm in a tense
area where the United States has extensive oil
interests and political relationships that it
considers critical to the anti-terror war and
Arab-Israeli peacemaking…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
INTERVIEW:
REGION MOVING TOWARDS REFORMS - GWD May 19, 2003
ARABS SNUB US OVER IRAQ TROOPS
"Arab League foreign ministers have ruled out
sending troops to help US forces to stabilize
Iraq… …The ministers from 11 Arab states and the
Palestinian Authority also refused to recognize the
US-backed Iraq Governing Council as a legitimate
government…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
ARAB
LEAGUE BOSS COOL TOWARD IRAQI BODY - GWD July 21,
2003
U.S.
CONSIDERS REDUCING ITS ROLE IN IRAQ
"The steady loss of American troops and a
terror bombing at the Jordanian Embassy may prompt
the Bush administration to revise the U.S. security
role in Iraq, shifting some responsibility to
emerging local forces… …Secretary of State Colin
Powell, at a news conference, said… …'it may be
what you want to do is to stand back a little bit
more and let Iraqis who have started to create
forces, protect installations'…" Complete
report…
TRUCK
BOMB AT JORDANIAN EMBASSY IN IRAQ KILLS 11
"A powerful truck bomb exploded outside the
Jordanian embassy compound in Baghdad on [Aug 7],
killing 11 people, wounding 65 and leaving
burned-out cars and shattered glass scattered
nearby…" Complete
report…
Also:
JORDANIAN
MISSION BOMBED
|
|
New
CentCom Commander, General John Abizaid
joins roster of confirmed speakers for the
12th Annual Arab-US Policymakers
Conference
[more]
|
UN
ESTIMATES IRAQ NEEDS $5B FROM DONORS TO RESTORE
BASIC SERVICES
"Iraq will need $5 billion from a planned
meeting of international donors in October just to
keep its creaking infrastructure going and basic
services from grinding to a halt… …Iraqi Finance
Ministry officials estimate the cost of keeping the
country's institutions and services running at $20
billion for 2004… …Given Iraq's problems in
cranking up oil exports, most estimates forecast
total income of $15 billion or less in 2004 -
leaving a gap of at least $5 billion…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
TOTAL
VALUE OF AID TO IRAQ CROSSES $1.4B - GWD July 28,
2003
U.S.
TO DEPLOY COMBINED TASK FORCE IN IRAQ
"The U.S. army will deploy an experimental new
security force in Iraq, packaging elite special
forces, infantry, military police and civil affairs
troops in one unit for effective peacekeeping…
…the task force was being put together by U.S.
Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division in a
Pentagon drive for military flexibility…" Complete
report…
GCC
STATES TO FACILITATE MOVEMENT OF NATIONALS
"The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
has stepped up efforts to facilitate employment and
movement of their nationals among member states…
…The new regulations are part of efforts to boost
commercial links as well as travel and tourism…
…The GCC is also considering a plan to issue a
unified tourist visa for non-Gulf nationals, which
would allow the visa holder to travel to any or all
Gulf countries…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
SINGLE
GULF VISA LIKELY THIS YEAR - GWD June 30, 2003
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News
- Bahrain
|
LAND LAWS REVIEWED BY CABINET
"Bahrain is reviewing its laws on ownership of
land and property by non-Bahrainis… …The move is
part of the government's efforts to encourage and
promote investment opportunities and attract
investors…" Complete
report…
|
|
News
- Kuwait
|
COME AFTER APOLOGIZING, ABBAS TOLD
"Kuwait said [Aug 9] it had withdrawn an
invitation to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud
Abbas for a visit to the emirate because he would
not apologize for Yasser Arafat's support of Iraq
for its 1990 invasion… …Had his visit
materialized, Abbas would have been the first top
Palestinian official to come to Kuwait since the
1990 invasion…" Complete
report…
Also:
PALESTINIAN
PRIME MINISTER SKIPS TRIP TO KUWAIT IN GULF VISIT
KUWAIT-BASED
GROUP ON [NEW ZEALAND] LIST OF TERRORIST ENTITIES
"Kuwait-based Lajnat Al Daawa Al Islamiya (LDI)
was [Aug 7] listed as a terrorist entity under the
Terrorism Suppression Act… …The listing in New
Zealand will take effect immediately for a period of
three years… … LDI was a fundraising entity for
terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda…"
Complete
report…
KUWAIT
LOANS AFGHANISTAN $15M
"The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development
(KFAED) has extended Afghanistan a 15-million-dollar
loan to finance improvements of a road…
…Rebuilding Afghanistan's roads after decades of
war is a priority for the central government as it
attempts to improve security and communications with
the provinces…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
KUWAIT
'S ARAB FUND OFFERS A $66.5 MILLION LOAN TO MOROCCO
- GWD July 14, 2003
|
|
News - Oman
|
ASIAN NEWCOMERS TO BE TESTED IN
OMAN
"In a proposal that may have far-reaching
impact on Indian expatriates returning to Oman after
leave, the UAE Health Ministry is studying the need
to make medical tests compulsory to check for
communicable diseases…" Complete
report…
|
|
GCC INSIGHTS: OMAN SEEKS
TO BOOST TOURISM INDUSTRY
"Tourism in Oman is bound to undergo
positive development thanks to new liberal
rules which have relaxed cross-border
travel regulations. Effective from July 7,
the Sultanate has eased visa requirements
and relaxed cross-border
regulations…" Complete
report…
|
|
News
- Qatar
|
QATAR'S EMIR NAMES NEW
CROWN PRINCE
"The emir of Qatar, a key U.S. ally,
named his fourth son as heir apparent [Aug
5], replacing an older son as crown prince
in a move analysts said was aimed to
prevent any power struggle in the Gulf
country… …Emir Sheikh Hamad bin
Khalifa al-Thani had accepted a decision
by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa
al-Thani to quit as crown prince…
…Younger brother Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
bin Khalifa al-Thani will replace him in
the role…" Complete
report…
Also:
NEW
QATAR CROWN PRINCE NAMED
|
|
|
News
- Saudi Arabia
|
ABDULLAH BEGINS 4-NATION TOUR WITH
VISIT TO SYRIA
"Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and
commander of the National Guard, is scheduled to
visit Syria [Aug 8] on the first leg of a
four-nation tour which will also take him to Egypt,
Morocco and Russia… … Foreign Minister Prince
Saud Al-Faisal announced… …that the crown prince
would be launching an Arab tour to be followed by a
trip to Russia in a bid to unite the Arab
ranks…" Complete
report…
FIRST
NATIONAL DIALOGUE CENTER ESTABLISHED
"Saudi Arabia [Aug 3] took a further step
toward fostering a national dialogue between people
who hold different views by establishing a center
for national dialogue… … Last June, the King
Abdul Aziz Library witnessed the convening of the
first national dialogue meeting, the National Forum
for Dialogue, which lasted for four days and drew
religious scholars and intellectuals from all walks
of life. The group later met with the crown prince
and presented him with a summary of the main points
of their discussion, which emphasized rational
debate, frankness and objectivity, while
highlighting the importance of adopting moderate
language when discussing Islamic issues…" Complete
report…
Also:
WINDS
OF CHANGE IN SAUDI ARABIA
~~GulfWire Link~~
REFORMS
IN KINGDOM ARE UNDER STUDY, SULTAN SAYS - GWD Jul
28, 2003
US
GOV'T WON'T RELEASE TERROR FINANCING LIST
"The Treasury Department rejected a request
from senators [Aug 5] and refused to release a
classified list of Saudi individuals or
organizations suspected of financing terrorist
groups… …The refusal to release the list marks
the second time in two weeks that the Bush
administration has rejected requests by senators to
declassify information about Saudi ties to
terrorists…" Complete
report…
Also:
SENATOR
RIPS GOV'T ON SAUDI MONEY PROBE
~~GulfWire Link~~
US
LAWMAKERS PRESS BUSH ON SAUDI FINANCING DATA - GWD
August 4, 2003
U.S.
OFFICIALS PRESS SAUDIS ON AIDING TERROR
"A delegation of senior U.S. counter terrorism
authorities is in Saudi Arabia this week to press
government officials there to do more to crack down
on the financing of terrorism… …A central
purpose of their trip is to get the Saudi government
to shut down businesses and charities used to funnel
money to terrorist groups, including al
Qaeda…" Complete
report…
REPORT:
2 SAUDI MILITANTS ON WANTED LIST
"Two militants killed in a shootout with Saudi
police last week were part of a cell of 19 suspected
terrorists linked to al-Qaeda and thought to be
behind the deadly May suicide bombings in Riyadh…
…The two were on a list of 19 suspected militants
sought since police uncovered a large arms cache in
the capital, Riyadh, on May 6. The deaths mean at
least 10 of the suspects on the list have been
killed or captured…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
EIGHT
KILLED IN SAUDI SHOOTOUT - GWD August 4, 2003
KINGDOM
CONDEMNS LIBYAN LEADER'S REMARKS
"Saudi Arabia [Aug 8] condemned remarks by
Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi accusing the Kingdom
of being based on fundamentalism and extremist
ideology… …the Libyan leader had also alleged
that the Kingdom's Wahhabi school of Islam was
responsible for the rise of Al-Qaeda and other
terrorist groups…" Complete
report…
BAYOUMI
TO BE QUIZZED BY FBI AGAIN
"Five FBI agents in the Kingdom will continue
to question a Saudi national for his alleged ties
with two of the Sept. 11 hijackers… … Foreign
Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal told a press
conference here [Aug 6] that the FBI agents came
with the permission of the Saudi government…"
Complete
report…
Also:
BAYOUMI
DENIES LINKS TO SEPT. 11 ATTACKS
~~GulfWire Link~~
WASHINGTON
'WELCOME TO INTERVIEW AL BAYUMI'- GWD August 4, 2003
BASSNAN
PLANS LAWSUIT IN US AGAINST UNLAWFUL ARREST
"Osama Bassnan, the Saudi citizen mentioned in
the congressional report on Sept. 11 attacks, has
said he and fellow Saudi Omar Al-Bayoumi were merely
casual acquaintances… …Bassnan said he planned
to bring a lawsuit against those responsible for his
and his wife's arrest last October. He was held for
a period of 85 days…" Complete
report…
WOMEN
LEGAL CONSULTANTS UNDER STUDY
"The appointment of Saudi women as legal
consultants in law offices is still under study,
says Justice Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Sheikh…
…The appointment of female consultants would help
Saudi women raise their problems more effectively
since at present they must approach male lawyers to
take up their cases. Female lawyers are tipped to
open women-only offices for legal
consultancy…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
ARAB
WOMEN ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND IN ALL FIELDS - GWD
July 14, 2003
SAUDI
BOMB BRITONS RETURN
"Six Britons convicted of bombings in Saudi
Arabia have returned to the UK after being released
from jail… …The men had been convicted of a
series of bombings that killed one Briton,
Christopher Rodway, in November 2000, and injured
several other Western expatriate workers… …
the men had been granted 'royal clemency'…" Complete
report…
KINGDOM
TO HELP BUILD PART OF AFGHANISTAN'S ROAD NETWORK
"Saudi Arabia, the United States and Japan have
pledged $180 million to rebuild a portion of
Afghanistan's road network… …To launch the
reconstruction, the US has contributed $80 million,
Japan $50 million and Saudi Arabia another $50
million…" Complete
report…
|
|
News
- UAE
|
UAE PLANS NATIONAL LABOR UNION IN
2004
"The UAE has decided to join other countries
and allow the creation of a national labor union
which will give limited access to expatriates and
ensure better protection for all workers, a senior
official said. The Ministry of Labor and Social
Affairs has drafted a law on the Union which has
been on the cards for several years and is expected
to materialize in 2004…" Complete
report…
|
|
INTERVIEW: DUBAI 2003 TO
GIVE A FILLIP TO UAE BUSINESS
"Dubai 2003, the Annual Meetings of
the Boards of Governors of the World Bank
Group and International Monetary Fund
(IMF), will create opportunities for the
UAE's corporates who will have networking
opportunities with global financial and
corporate leaders, said a top Dubai 2003
official. For a week in September, Dubai
will become the financial capital of the
world. The entire global media will be
focusing on Dubai 2003 and how the global
financial leaders set the goals for
economic integration of the world by
narrowing the rich-poor gap during the
event…" Complete
report…
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| |
|
Link
of the Week
|
|
Ministry
of Information, Sultanate of Oman
|
|
GulfWire
Flashback - 4 Years of GWD
|
|
<<ONE YEAR AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#159) WEEK OF AUG 12, 2002
BUSH
GIVEN IRAQ INVASION PLAN
"U.S. Central Command head Gen. Tommy Franks
briefed President Bush this week about a scaled-down
contingency plan to strike Iraq that calls for an
invasion force of some 80,000 to 100,000 personnel
including only 50,000 ground troops, administration
officials said..."
<<TWO
YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#109) WEEK OF AUG 13, 2001
KINGDOM
'MOST GENEROUS DONOR COUNTRY IN THE WORLD'
…Saudi Arabia tops the list of countries in terms
of developmental assistance as a percentage of gross
domestic product. It has given more than [$70.1]
billion in aid to 72 developing countries, including
several Arab states and many with Muslim minorities.
"The Arab countries have been at the forefront
of benefiting from the aid and the credit line
facilities offered by the Kingdom,"…
<<THREE
YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#58) WEEK OF AUG 14, 2000
ARAB-ISRAELI
SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS VOICED
"The UAE's position on a Middle East peace
agreement was expressed to visiting U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Edward
Walker according to the official news agency WAM in
a report cited by AFP on August 13. Abu Dhabi's
Crown Prince Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan told
Walker, "No Middle East settlement will be
complete if the Palestinian people do not have all
their rights, such as establishing an independent
state on their land with Jerusalem as its
capital." He added, "A comprehensive and
just peace requires the implementation of
international resolutions concerning the territories
Israel occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem."
The crown prince also told Walker success of the
Syrian-Israel peace track was crucial to regional
peace."
<<FOUR
YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#5) WEEK OF AUG 9, 1999
ARAB
CONFERENCE ON ANTI-TERRORISM AGREEMENT
"Interior Minister Prince Nayef Ibn Abdul Aziz,
who is honorary president of the council of Arab
interior ministers, /August 2/ opened the first
session of the ministerial meeting currently being
held in Jeddah to discuss the
Arab agreement on combating terrorism. The meeting
is being attended by the interior ministers of
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and
Yemen, and the justice ministers of Egypt, Iraq,
Morocco, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Following the
session, Prince Nayef stated that member countries
that have
not yet endorsed the agreement on combating
terrorism will soon do so, and stressed the
unanimity of Arab opinion condemning terrorism in
all its forms."
|
|
Business
News - Region
|
|
[GulfWire] ENERGY FUTURES -
08.08.03
Light Crude (NYM) $32.20 bbl DOWN from $32.31 bbl on
08.01.03
Brent Crude (IPE) $29.67 bbl DOWN from $29.90 bbl on
08.01.03
Heating Oil (NYM) $.8495 gal DOWN from $.8512 gal on
08.01.03
Natural Gas (NYM) $5.05 mmbtu UP from $4.874 mmbtu
on 08.01.03
Unleaded Gas (NYM) $.9595 gal UP from $.9434 gal on
08.01.03
Source:
CNNfn
The Best Energy Resource in the
World:
Country
Analysis Briefs
by DOE/EIA
GCC
TO MODIFY RULES ON BUYING NATIONAL PRODUCTS
"GCC states have decided to modify
long-standing rules on giving priority to national
products over foreign imports in government
purchases following the creation of the landmark
customs union in the region… …the six member
states said they will not violate rules of the
Geneva-based WTO in the new mechanism that is
intended to encourage homemade products as part of a
long-term program to diversify their oil-reliant
economy…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
GCC
IN FRESH TALKS ON CUSTOMS UNION - GWD May 19, 2003
FISCAL
SYSTEM IN GCC UPSET BY HEAVY EXPATRIATE REMITTANCES
"Foreign workers in the six-nation GCC have
siphoned out more than $240 billion over the past 10
years as lack of investment opportunities and a
general trend to save at home… …Saudi Arabia has
been the main victim in the capital flight…
…Between 1993 and last year, the more than seven
million expatriates based in the 22-year-old Gulf
economic, defense and political group remitted a
total $240.5 billion, an average $24 billion a
year…" Complete
report…
REFORMS
TO BOOST THE INDUSTRY IN THE GULF
"Land ownership reforms in the Gulf - still in
its infancy and spearheaded last year by Dubai - is
going to add pace to the growing construction sector
in the region… …Some other Gulf countries are
also planning to follow the Dubai model of freehold
ownership that will help these states tap private
capital belonging to the large expatriate community
which has been investing their savings in their
respective countries…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
DUBAI
REAL ESTATE LAW WITHIN WEEKS - GWD January 27, 2003
U.S.
OFFICIAL: IRAQ TO MAKE OIL CHOICES
"The Iraqi people and not the United States
will decide if the country should accept OPEC quotas
on its oil production, the U.S. energy secretary
insisted [Aug 7]… …Iraq is one of OPEC's 11
members but hasn't participated in the group's
production quotas since 1990. Analysts say it could
be a challenge for OPEC to reintegrate Iraq into its
quota system, as other members of the group might be
reluctant to pump less oil to accommodate exports
from a resurgent Iraq…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
IRAQ
OIL OUTPUT TOPS ONE MBPD - GWD August 4, 2003
FLOW
OF IRAQI DIESEL TO GULF STATES LIKELY TO DROP
"The flow of cheap Iraqi diesel to the UAE and
other neighboring states may soon dry up as the
Iraqi administration curtails diesel exports and
diverts this for domestic requirements. The United
Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC), which
co-ordinates logistics for major humanitarian
emergencies, has recommended to the U.S.-led Iraqi
administration to put diesel and other fuels on the
list of products prohibited from export…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
IRAQI
DIESEL FLOWING FREELY TO UAE MART - GWD July 21,
2003
INDIA
TO LAUNCH MAJOR CAMPAIGN IN THE GULF
"The Indian government is launching a major
tourism initiative in the region by sending a
high-level tourism delegation here in October to win
back Gulf tourists… …The delegation… …is
expected to visit Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar
and Kuwait to woo Gulf visitors and renew India's
close ties with the region…" Complete
report…
CHURCH'S
CHICKEN TO OPEN ACROSS MIDEAST
"Church's Chicken announced an agreement [Aug
7] with a poultry company in Kuwait to develop 60
restaurants in six Middle East countries… …The
Atlanta-based chain… …will develop restaurants
in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates and Qatar in the next five years. The first
four are scheduled to open in Kuwait this
year…" Complete
report…
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Business
News - Bahrain
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BAHRAIN-US FREE TRADE TALKS
"The US will open negotiations for a free trade
agreement (FTA) with Bahrain, hoping to accelerate
free market reforms in the Middle East… … The
free trade agreement (FTA) with Bahrain would build
on similar US deals already struck with Israel and
Jordan…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
FREE
TRADE AGREEMENT WITH US TO BENEFIT BAHRAIN: FINANCE
- GWD July 7, 2003
BAHRAIN
FIRMS WIN ALBA DEALS
"Bahrain-based companies have won contracts
worth $93 million (BD35.15m) as part of the Alba
Line 5 expansion… …The Alba expansion, due for
completion in February 2005, will increase the
smelter's 520,000-ton annual production by another
370,000 tons…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
ALBA
SECURES $1B FINANCE PACKAGE - GWD April 14, 2003
4,500
JOBS BOOST FOR BAHRAINIS
"More than 4,500 job opportunities are lined up
for Bahraini job seekers in various sectors…
…They include jobs in the sales and services,
management, supervision, technical, handicrafts,
agriculture and industry sectors - the majority of
which would be suitable for those from lower
educational backgrounds…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
BAHRAIN
PLANS TO GENERATE 12,000 JOBS - GWD June 16, 2003
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Business
News - Kuwait
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KUWAIT'S HOUSING SECTOR PERFECT;
REALTY PRICES UP
"Real estate analysts described the market
status as "more than perfect and as hot as the
weather" saying the Ijara financing activities
system (the Islamic alternative to lease financing)
boosted real estate prices by 20-25 percent…"
Complete
report…
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Business
News - Oman
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TELECOM SERVICES IN OMAN SET TO
BECOME CHEAPER, MORE COMPETITIVE
"Within the next few months, the telecom scene
in Oman will change dramatically as the government
has decided to promote competition in GSM services
by issuing a second license. The move comes as part
of the Sultanate's WTO obligations… …It is
expected that the license will be issued to a
consortium of local and foreign investor(s). The
government is expected to invite competitive bids
for issuing a second license for GSM services before
the end of this year or early next year…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
MARKET
ACCESS TO TELECOM SECTOR FROM 2005 - GWD May 19,
2003
ZAMIL
STEEL BAGS SR22 MILLION OMAN STEEL TOWERS CONTRACT
"Zamil Steel Industries (ZSI)… …has been
awarded a SR 22 million contract to design,
fabricate, test and supply 7,500 metric tons of
power transmission steel towers to Civil Contracting
and Construction Company of the Sultanate of
Oman…" Complete
report…
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Business
News - Qatar
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US$238M QATAR ROAD JOB
"United Engineers (M) Bhd (UEM) has been
awarded a 868.3 million riyal (US$238mil) contract
to build an 81km expressway linking Doha to the
Saudi Arabian border in the southwest…"
Complete
report…
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Business
News - Saudi Arabia
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GIANT GAS PROJECTS SET TO TRIGGER
NEW INVESTMENTS
"Saudi Arabia expects new investments worth
SR75 billion ($20 billion) in 10 giant gas projects
within the next six years… …Saudi Arabia expects
an annual growth rate of nine percent in the energy
and mineral sector, five percent in the industrial
sector, and 4.5 percent in the electricity
sector…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
KINGDOM
TO BRIEF FIRMS ON GAS EXPLORATION OPENINGS - GWD
June 30, 2003
WTO
TALKS PROGRESSING, KINGDOM LIKELY TO JOIN AFTER 2005
"Saudi Arabia will not join the World Trade
Organization before 2005, Al-Watan reported [Aug 8]
quoting a WTO official… …The WTO official said
the Kingdom had yet to hold between three to six
meetings with the working group, with a gap of three
to four months between them. He expressed his hope
that the number of meetings could be limited to four
if there was progress in the negotiations. He said
progress in solving outstanding issues with the WTO
was needed, as was the finalization of trade accords
with WTO member countries…" Complete
report…
~~GulfWire Link~~
KINGDOM,
UN BODY TO DISCUSS PROGRESS ON WTO ACCESSION - GWD
August 4, 2003
TIFA
DESIGNED TO BOOST TIES AFTER SEPT. 11 EVENTS
"Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim
Yamani and US Trade Representative Robert B.
Zoellick signed… …a Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA) designed to boost
bilateral relations in the wake of the Sept. 11
events and the Iraq war… …The TIFA establishes a
United States-Saudi Arabia Council on Trade and
Investment comprising representatives from each
country and chaired by the Office of the United
States Trade Representative and the Saudi Ministry
of Commerce and Industry…" Complete
report…
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KINGDOM OPENS UP WATER,
ELECTRICITY SECTORS
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun
implementing the first of the privatization projects
in the sector of water and electricity. The first
offer is Al-Shuraibah project, 120 km south of
Jeddah, for Saudis and foreign investors to produce
700 megawatts of electricity in addition to a daily
production of 176 million gallon of desalinated
water. Investment in this project is estimated at
about SR5.7 billion… …the government share will
be 32 percent while the Saudi company of electricity
and waters will have about 8 percent and the share
of the investors will be 60 percent of the total
capital of the project…" Complete
report…
MOH
IMPOSES TIGHTER CONTROLS ON LICENSES FOR NEW CLINICS
"In a move to promote Saudi participation in
the health sector, especially in terms of owning and
operating health clinics in the Kingdom, the
Ministry of Health (MOH) has imposed tighter
restrictions on the issuance of licenses… …it
'will no longer issue licenses for expatriate
doctors to own and operate private clinics or
hospitals.' Applications by Saudi doctors seeking
licenses, however, will be entertained by the MOH
according to the regulations and provisions…"
Complete
report…
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Business
News - UAE
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DUBAI BANK SIGNS PACT WITH REUTERS
"Dubai Bank has signed an agreement with
Reuters, the global information company, to provide
a real-time trading room that delivers cutting edge
treasury products and risk management
solutions…" Complete
report…
ABU
DHABI BUYS LESS FROM U.S.
"Abu Dhabi is veering away from the U.S. and
turning to Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany and other
countries for its imports… …During the first
quarter of this year, the value of the emirate's
imports from Saudi Arabia surged by 43 percent and
from Japan by nearly 51 per cent while its imports
from the United States grew by only four per
cent…" Complete
report…
TOTAL,
ABU DHABI OIL CO. SIGN PLANT DEAL
"French oil company Total SA and Abu Dhabi
National Oil Co. said [Aug 8] they have agreed to
invest euro100 million ($113 million) to build a new
melamine plant in the United Arab Emirates
capital… …The new plant is scheduled to begin
production by late 2006 with an annual capacity of
50,000 tons…" Complete
report…
MARUBENI
WINS $1.33B IN BUSINESS FROM UAE
"Japanese conglomerate Marubeni generated $1.33
billion worth of business and contracts through its
UAE operations last year… …It has pre-qualified
for the Department of Civil Aviation's (DCA) AX132
or PQ18 - Automated People Mover Systems (APM) -
which is expected to go to tender soon…" Complete
report…
CRM
MARKET IN UAE FORECAST TO GROW TO $90M IN 2008 -
MADAR RESEARCH
"Demand for customer relationship management
(CRM) strategies in the United Arab Emirates is
expected to increase substantially in the next six
years… …The projected growth in the local CRM
market runs contrary to the global scene, where
spending on CRM is expected to undergo a downturn
according to international research
organizations…" Complete
report…
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