The flow of goods in and out of the UAE defied global headwinds to surge 25 per cent to a record high of Dh1 trillion (US$272.24 billion) last year, said a senior trade official. Despite the euro-zone crisis, the non-oil trade data for the single-currency bloc was also strong, with exports to troubled Greece rising by about 67 per cent, said Abdullah Al Saleh, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade. The data does not [...]

Dubai expects to attract nearly Dhfour billion in fresh foreign capital this year as investors from other countries pour applications to tap the emirate’s rebounding potential. http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120222112125/Dubai_sees_Dh_4bn_rise_in_2012_FDI

Companies in Dubai are set to benefit from a new partnership between the Dubai International Financial Centre(DIFC), the financial and business hub connecting the region’s emerging markets with the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Americas, and TheCityUK, the independent body responsible for promoting financial and professional services in the UK and overseas. http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120222115507/Dubai_and_TheCityUK_signs_partnership_agreement_to_boost_collaboration_between_financial_centres

Dubai’s finance department announced Wednesday that it has completed financing for phase one of a 1.08-billion-dollar tram project being built by a consortium of European and US companies. http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidANA20120222T131821ZJMP69/Dubai_completes_financing_for_108b_tram_project

Qatar has recorded one of its strongest years yet in terms of visitor numbers, with travellers from the Gulf region pushing strong hotel occupancy rates, according to new statistics released by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120219111459/Qatar_becomes_the_destination_of_choice_for_GCC_tourists

Plans are under way to extend Dubai Metro’s Green Line to Academic City, International City and the Lagoons developments within five years. http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidGN_21022012_220271/Dubai_Metros_Green_Line_to_extend_up_to_Academic_City

Markets across the region rallied yesterday, with Dubai venturing further into bull-market territory, after Greece received a €130 billion (Dh631.72bn) EU bailout. The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index rose 1.7 per cent, with Abu Dhabi’s main benchmark climbing 0.9 per cent to its highest level since October 2. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All-Share Index rose 0.8 per cent to its highest intraday level since October 2008. A bull market is defined as an increase of [...]

The UAE has moved from the phase of event host to maker of international events and has proven its capabilities as an industry leader and a gateway to the growing markets in the region, Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, the Minister o…

Should companies be given the vote? Lord Digby Jones, a former director-general of the CBI, thinks so and he’s suggested a business vote as part of the mayoral elections planned this year for major cities, such as Birmingham.

Company formation specialist Links Group celebrates 10 years of business success Firm says forthcoming legislative changes will transform its business and local economies for the better 21 February 2012, Dubai, UAE: Links Group, the foremost company formation specialist in the UAE and Qatar, this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. A pioneer in nominee partner structures for onshore license issuance, Links Group has been at the forefront of attracting foreign businesses to the two Gulf States. [...]