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TRA believes that such pricing destroys the market's forces and hinders competition between operators by reducing the opportunities for fair competition in the market, and harms the interests of consumers in the long run," explained the overseeing body in a statement.

"Batelco has been informed of this decision and is in process of making a detailed submission to the TRA outlining reasons why we believe we acted fairly and consistent with the regulatory and competitive laws of the Kingdom," said Rashid Abdulla, the chief executive officer of Batelco Bahrain in emailed statement. "We look forward to the opportunity to outline our case to the TRA and we are confident we will receive a fair hearing."

There was no equivalent statement, or comment of any kind, issued from STC Bahrain.

Analysts believe that any decision issued from the TRA will have no meaningful effect on the way Batelco or Viva do business.

"The TRA is doing its job to prevent aggressive competition so other operators don't suffer. Eventually Batelco and Viva will have to reduce their prices. This will reflect on their market share, but could help margins as prices increase," the analyst said.

September 11, 2011

President of the Jordan Construction Contractors Association (JCCA), Ahmad Tarawneh has expressed his concern that developers of giant building projects throughout Jordan will renege on their financial obligations to pay contractors for work they were contracted to do.

If dues from public sector institutions are factored in, then the amount of money owed to contractors is greater than JD 200 million, said Tarawneh.

If they don’t get paid soon contractors will be forced to fire staff.

Among the stalled projects are the Disi Water Conveyance Project which is contracted to the Turkish company GAMA; the Saraya Aqaba real estate development; and the Abdali Urban Regeneration Project. Just these three schemes together are worth JD100 million, which has still not been paid.

"For the past two years, developers have been promising to pay their financial obligations to contractors but nothing happened," complained Tarawneh. He added that the delays have seriously harmed contractors, which will cause massive layoffs unless the companies begin to meet their financial obligations.

The government is also obligated to contractors, owing them an additional JD100 million, according to the JCCA. The Minister of Public Works and Housing Yahya Kisbi announced last week that the public sector owes contractors at least JD50 million. He said that the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation owes about JD21 million, which is connected to the financing of the Amman Development Corridor Project.

However, Tarawneh pointed out that there is an additional JD50 million that the government owes to contractors for projects that do not have allocated funds from the state budget.

September 13, 2011

The bank which calls itself “The World’s Local Bank,” HSBC, has decided to lay-off at least 200 employees in six countries in the Middle East. The job cut of 200 in the region is just the beginning of a major reduction in worldwide employees reaching as many as 30,000 cuts by the year 2013. The number 200 represents a 2.3% reduction in jobs in the Middle East region.

The proposed lay-offs will affect HSBC workers in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon and Oman. A regional “hub and spoke” model of organization will also be newly instituted, with the hub located beyond these six countries, in Dubai, where operations will be strengthened.

The manager of personal financial services at HSBC, Rick Crossman, in the UAE has said, "The UAE has a very strong retail banking and wealth management business, and in addition will become the hub country for the regional business. Because of these factors, we anticipate minimal - if any - job losses in the UAE.”

A leaked memo which was cited by the Times of Oman quotes the MENA regional head of retail banking and wealth management for HSBC as saying, “We have more management layers than is necessary, and accountability between region and country is not well defined.”

September 18, 2011

Violence has stepped up a notch or two in Syria as the government continues to crackdown harshly on anti-government protestors across the country. One hundred people or more have already died just this past week in the Syrian regime’s attempts to suppress rebels in the face of growing concern and criticism within the international community.

The latest battle took place last Wednesday along the Syrian border with Turkey, the latest region targeted for punishment by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to witnesses and activists heavily armed troops along with armored cars drove through the town of Jabal al-Zawiya in the north-western province of Idlib, cracking down on protestors and disrupting communications to and from the area.

Rami Abdul Rahman, member of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London stated that, “They used heavy guns in that area, starting from this morning.”

Mr. Rahman said that at least 100 people were killed at the hands of the Syrian security forces, with a total of 22 just last Monday. In a recently revised update provided by the UN of the estimate of the number of people killed in Syria since the protest movement began in March 2011, the number has already reached 2,600.

“In all Syria they are arresting the first and second line of activity people, that’s why you don’t see big demonstrations, they’re all in jail or killed or hiding,” said Mr Abdul Rahman.

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed the fear that most leaders in the region share, that the situation in Syria will lead to a civil war between the two Muslim sects; the Sunnis, which the majority of Syrians are members of, and the Alawites, the sect of the ruling class.

Western outrage over the violence in Syria was dismissed as irrelevant by Syrian presidential advisor Bouthaina Shabaan. He believes the west’s attitude is part of a clever plot to undermine Syrian stability. Shabaan told the state run news agency that,

“We don’t believe the west and other forces in the region when they talk about democracy and human rights.”

September 20, 2011

Public Hanging Routine in Iran

Iran has the dubious title of second in the world in carrying out executions of criminals; only China has more.

On Tuesday this week a murderer was hung in one of Tehran’s main squares, bringing this year’s number of executions to201, but it is believed that Iran does not disclose all the executions they administer. Iran admits to having executed 179 criminals in 2010, but international human rights groups believe that many more actually took place.

This week’s hanging was of convicted murderer Sajad Karimi, who, according to his own confession, shot a physician while he was walking outside his office in a highly populated eastern neighborhood of Tehran. The crime took place about one year ago, after Karimi planned to take revenge on the cardiologist and university lecturer, who was Karimi’s mother’s heart surgeon. Apparently Karimi blamed the doctor for his mother’s death.

Before being led to the gallows Karimi stated that, “I believed the doctor made a mistake.”

Spokesmen in Tehran say that the death penalty is an essential part of their judicial system which helps to maintain law and order. They said that executions are only carried out after intensive investigation and judicial proceedings.

Murder is not the only crime punishable by death in Iran. Rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are just a few of the crimes which can have an execution applied.

September 22, 2011

The 31^st anniversary of the commencement of the Iraq-Iran war was marked last week with a spectacular military parade complete with a display of Iran’s growing arsenal of short and medium range ballistic missiles.

The solid-fuel Sajjil was brought back for another year, after its parading last year was such a success.

The Sajjil missile has a range of over 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) which, in theory can be a direct threat to Israel and several US allied Arab countries, especially those with US military bases on their soil.

The parade and military display was held only a few weeks after Turkey agreed to place an early warning radar system within their borders as part of a general NATO defense system whose main purpose these days is to counter Iranian missile threats. Military and political leadership in Washington, DC are hopeful that the radar system will be up and running in Turkey before the end of the year.

Iran’s response to the announcement of NATO’s intention to deploy the missile defense radar system in Turkey was to warn the west that such an action would force an escalation of regional tensions.

September 26, 2011

Palestinian President Abbas Cheered in Ramallah

President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, returned home on Sunday to a hero’s welcome. Thousands greeted him in Ramallah upon his return from delivering a controversial speech to the United Nations General Assembly in which he called for the creation of a Palestinian State.

It is estimated that about 6,000 people cheered Abbas as he returned to work at the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. They were holding Palestinian flags as well as flags symbolizing the political party Fatah, the party which Abbas leads. The crowd also held aloft posters with a photo of President Abbas.

Conspicuously absent were signs and flags of the Islamic party Hamas, indicating that Hamas, the party which rules in the Gaza strip, is opposed to Abbas’ speech at the UN.

Despite Hamas’ apparent disapproval, it is believed that the bid for UN recognition of an independent Palestinian state, and the fierce opposition from the US and Israeli that this move has provoked, has actually improved Abbas’ position among his own people. Until now the common view of Abbas among the Arabs of Palestine was that he is a weak, uncharismatic bureaucrat who cannot stand up to pressure exerted from either Washington or Jerusalem.

Analysts contend that both Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the UN with the primary intention of impressing their constituents back home.

“As absurd as it may be, these two leaders, the Palestinian and the Israeli, travelled to New York to speak to Ramallah and Jerusalem,” wrote Sima Kadmon of the popular Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper. “Just like Netanyahu took care to maintain his political standing in Israel, [Abbas] sought to bolster his image on the Palestinian street and in Arab states and boost Fatah’s position as compared to Hamas.”

October 2, 2011

The former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is being accused of “parroting” the same demands as Israel is making, delegitimizing his role as unbiased mediator in the eyes of the leadership in Palestine.

One senior Palestinian leader, Nabil Shaath, has stated that Palestinian officials seriously considered whether or not to make a formal request to remove Blair from his position as envoy for the Middle East Quartet. In the end the request was not made, but Palestinians are still not happy with remarks made by the prime minister which they say are too biased in favor of the Israeli position on the issues concerning Israel and Palestine.

"Everyone had reservations about Blair's performance, but we don't want to embarrass him anymore," Shaath said. "If you want to do it, you wait until things have quieted down."

Blair became envoy for the Quartet after his leaving the office of prime minister in 2007.

Palestinian confidence in Blair as Quartet envoy began to falter last July, when Blair supported the side of the Israelis in a debate which took place within the Quartet membership over statement describing a return to peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Other members of the Quarter, the EU, US Russia and the UN were not able to come to an agreement on such a statement. The role that Blair played in this debate gave cause for “serious doubt that (Blair) could carry in his duties” in an unbiased way, said Shaath.

When Blair took the role of envoy "we thought he would be a real support to the Palestinians. But he gradually reduced his role to that of asking the Israelis to take down a barrier here or a barrier there… He really escaped all the political requirements of his job as representative of the Quartet," explained Shaath.

October 4, 2011

Double Attack Thwarted by Troops in Iraq

Three attackers and as many as 14 others were killed on Monday when Iraqi troops recaptured a government compound and police station in Anbar province, about 120 miles west of Baghdad.

The attack began in Baghdadi when two bombers detonated an explosive device outside a government compound, while others attackers stormed the compound disguised in uniforms, taking approximately 20 people hostages.

Simultaneously the town’s police station was also attacked, but the security forces there were able to defend the station by killing two of the attackers and arresting the third.

Anbar Provincial Governor Qassim Mohammed announced the end of the siege: "The operation is over. Iraqi special forces stormed the compound; all the attackers have been killed."

Mohammed said that in addition to the three attackers who were killed, four others, including a police chief were also killed. Other sources revealed that as many as 13 people were killed in the action and the attack.

It is believed that somewhere between three and seven bombers participated in the attack on the compound. The government building where the hostages were held, which was the headquarters for the provincial council, was partially destroyed in the siege and subsequent rescue.

October 10, 2011

Robots Coming to Abu Dhabi

According to the financial journal Arabian Business, a Barcelona-based company, PAL Robotics, has developed a human-size robot which is designed to replace non-skilled and low-skilled workers in factories and other places of employment.

PAL Robotics, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate Royal Group, is dedicating its research and development department to the production and commercialization of humanoid styled robots.

Several months ago PAL Robotics released REEM, a robot which is mobile, measures 1.65 meters tall and can travel at speeds of about 5 km/hour. REEM was on display at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, and excited such a stir that the ADNEC ordered 20 robots from PAL. As a result of the successful showing PAL Robotics is planning on opening a factory to produce the REEM robots in the UAE.

Robots in Arabia Part II

Jorien Guijs, the marketing manager for PAL Robotics is excited about the future of PAL Robotics.

“To be able to deliver these robots to ADNEC, and other future clients, we are building a factory in Abu Dhabi. If all goes according to plan, the factory will be ready by the second half of 2012, producing about a dozen of robots a month.”

Guijs added his expectations about marketing REEM.

“At the moment REEM is prepared for use at exhibition centers and shopping malls. In the future we will focus as well on the healthcare sector, airports, museums and other public spaces.”

REEM is classified as a humanoid robot. It is able to navigate autonomously, it has a touch screen to deliver tasks and other commands, and the developer claims that REEM can walk itself through any type of environment and therefore has the potential ability to replace low-skilled workers in the marketplace.

The robot can also be used as a guide with the ability to track faces. REEM has other recognition functions, and a small flat space which can be used to transport small objects such as luggage, food, and more. The built-in lithium battery gives about 8 hours of use, and then can be recharged.

The expected price for each REEM humanoid robot is expected to be about $269,157, dependent on the demand.

October 23, 2011

First Free Vote After Arab Spring in Tunisia

Sunday, October 23 marks an historic day, not only in Tunisia, but for the entire Arab world as citizens go to the polls in what will be a free election for a 217-member assembly whose mandate will be to appoint a temporary interim government and to draft a new constitution.

Elections come exactly nine months after the former President Zinedine el Abidine Ben Ali fled the country on January 14 as the first of many mass demonstrations across the entire Arab world occurred in Tunisia.

Vying for power is the Islamist party Ennahda, which is expected to gain the most votes although it will probably not receive a clear majority in the assembly. The other parties are secular, and campaigning has been marred by disagreements between them and the Islamists, especially concerning party funding and voter apathy.

Reports however from Tunisia describe widespread optimism as the campaign ended and the voting began.

The mother of the man who is given credit for igniting the Arab Spring in December 2010 by setting himself on fire said that the election shows that her son’s actions has brought dignity and freedom to Tunisia.

"Now I am happy that my son's death has given the chance to get beyond fear and injustice," Manoubia Bouazizi said. "I'm an optimist; I wish success for my country."

October 25, 2011

Two major Middle East players have joined forces with the aim to strengthen their IT effectiveness in the fast-growing region in which they inhabit. Accenture, which specializes in management consulting, technology and outsourcing, acquired a majority of one of Saudi Arabia’s leading information technology companies, Al Faisaliah Business & Technology Company (FBTC.) FBTC is a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabia-based Al Faisaliah Group.

The joint venture between the two companies was first announced last June. FBTC will bring to the table their excellent enterprise architecture, systems implementation and technology consulting skills, and excellent addition to Accenture’s focus on consulting.

The partnership will allow Accenture to give all-encompassing IT services to clients in Saudi Arabia, while simultaneously achieving its goals of global best practices and the latest high tech processes and solutions for the international market. The plan now formulates that FBTC will take on the name Accenture and will become integrated into the Accenture global network.

"Establishing the joint venture is an important step to enhancing our capabilities and positioning Accenture as a leading technology services provider in Saudi Arabia," said Omar Boulos, managing director of Accenture in the Middle East. "We will now turn our focus to supporting the business goals of our clients and addressing the growing needs of companies in the market."

October 30, 2011

Chairman of Al Jazeera Steel Products Co SAOG, Sulaiman Mohamed Shaheen al Rubaie announced impressive results for the company’s net profits during the nine months from January until September 2011. The company, headquartered in Sohar, Oman posted an 81% net profit after taxes, reaching RO 2.751 million from RO 1.523 million during the same time period the previous year.

Announcing the results al Rubaie added,

"Your Company has also adopted a policy of working with low inventory so as to minimize risks from the volatility. A better management of inventory and emphasis on improving sales realizations and volume has in turn resulted in an overall better performance even in a market of challenging prices and lower demand. Shorter cycle time and more attractive interest rates helped the Company to reduce the borrowings. Even though the employee cost has gone up by more than a half million riyals, compared to the last corresponding period, the Company has managed to maintain reasonable profits."

The Chairman further explained Al Jazeera’s startling success. The Merchant Bar Mill (MBM) began producing commercially during the last three months of 2009, yet was able to reach a 70% production capacity level with only 12 hours of operation per day. The company is, however, planning on increasing operations to 24 hours/day in the coming days. Due to Al Jazeera’s ability to develop a broad product base for MBM products this past year was key in establishing high volume sales for the company, according to al Rubaie.

November 1, 2011

Cadillac Brand Manager Adrian Enciso Optimistic at Motor Show

The month of November brings the International Motor Show to Dubai, where the world’s most prestigious and coveted cars will show off their best features.

Among the many manufacturers and brands in attendance will be Cadillac, which will display its award-winning line-up for the 2012 car-buying season. Included in the Cadillac list is their exclusive CTS Coupe and Escalade models. One exciting development for Cadillac is the sport package which is being offered for the 2012 CTS Coupe loaded with rear-wheel drive.

The regional brand manager for Cadillac in the Middle East, Adrian Enciso, explained why he is enthusiastic about Cadillac’s offerings for the coming year:

"The CTS Sport Coupe and Escalade Sport continue to offer Cadillac's advanced features and luxury experience. Cadillac's 2012 range delivers the power and refinement of the brand, setting the standard of the world in the automotive industry, paving the way for innovative features and designs while maintaining the highest level of quality and safety."

The Dubai International Motor Show is scheduled to take place at the Dubai World Trade Center from November 10 to 14, and will showcase other car brands in addition to Cadillac, such as Maserati, Ferrari, Jaguar and more.

November 6, 2011

Giordano Middle East Expanding in Abu Dhabi

The Mushrif Shopping Mall in Abu Dhabi is soon to be home to the 200^th shop of Giordano Middle East.

The goal for Giordano, one of the world’s leading clothing retailers, is to operate 250 stores in the region by the year 2015. Giordano has had a presence in the Middle East for 18 years during which time it has been continuously expanding. This year alone 14 new stores have opened here, including 12 in Saudi Arabia, one in Kuwait, and the last in Abu Dhabi.

“We are in full-swing getting our shops closer to our customers across the region. The substantial investments earmarked for this expansion programme seal our commitment to be a leading player in the retail apparel industry not only in the Gulf but also across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and the Asian sub-Continent. Since our first regional store opened in Burjuman in 1993, we have continued to grow and reaching our 200^th store landmark this year is an indication of our strength and success in the market. Our growth is all due to valued customers who have continuously supported and trusted our brand and our products,” said Ishwar Chugani, Executive Director at Giordano Middle East.

Due to the streamlining of operations in the region plus the introduction of product-lines in high demand Giordano has succeeded in posting double-digit profit growth this year as compared to the same time last year. Low inventories and increased cash flow have also helped the success of the company.

As Chugani added,

“Giordano’s strategy of ‘less is more’ means we focus on the essentials – which provide the right product mix and choices for our customers. We have made it through 18 years here in the Region and we look forward to many more years to come. While many things have changed over the years, our promise will never waiver. Our customers are assured of a collection that is essential, relevant and of superior workmanship.”

November 13, 2011

Emirates Airline Orders Fifty Boeing Jets in $18 Billion Deal

With options to buy an additional 20 777-300ERs, Emirates Airline has placed an order for 50 of the Boeing jets in a deal valued at an estimated $18 billion.

The deal marked the opening of the Dubai Air Show Sunday, making an impression as the deal is described as the single largest order in the Boeing Company’s history of selling commercial aircraft. The purchase is one more example of the Middle East’s largest airline carrier’s efforts to continue its remarkable aggressive expansion push.

Delivery of the 50 wide body aircraft is set for 2015, according to Emirate’s chairman Sheik Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Emirates Airline is not the only carrier who has been expanding over the past year. Other Middle East airlines, such as Qatar Airways and Etihad of Abu Dhabi, have also engaged in bold growth strategies including buying additional aircraft and adding new routes to their business plans.

The option to purchase an additional 20 aircraft will up the value of the deal by $26 billion, Sheik Ahmad added, saying that the airline was examining a selection of different alternatives for funding the order, including export credit agencies and Islamic funding mechanisms.

Each of the Boeing 777-300 long range, wide body aircraft is valued at $298.3 million according to the aircraft manufacturer’s website. Each plane can carry 365 passengers and has a range of about 14,685 kilometers. According to Emirates Airline, the Boeing 777 is at the moment their most profitable of the company’s aircraft.

November 14, 2011

Dana Gas Posts Profits for Third Quarter of 2011

Dana Gas PJSC announced its financial outcome for the fiscal quarter which ended on September 30^th 2011. Dana Gas is an incorporated company in the Emirate of Sharjah of the UAE and is the largest private sector natural gas company in the region.

The results for the third quarter of 2011 are impressive: Dana posted increased revenue from the sale of hydrocarbons to AED 645 million (176 million dollars) with a gross profit of AED 315 million. This translates into increases of 58% and 76% respectively when compared to last year’s results for the same time period.

The company credits the improved income and profitability to a total growth of 20% in production across the entire Group, while at the same time oil prices rose. There was an especially large increase in production in the Kurdistan region in Iraq due to the fact that two transport trains were simultaneously running from the Khor Mor Field, which helped satisfy the increased demand for gas at the power stations in Arbil and Suleymania in Kurdistan.

Dana Gas Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ahmed Al Arbeed commented on the company’s third quarter profits:

"