Dubai is returning to the bond markets for the first time in almost a year with a planned US$1 billion (Dh3.67bn) debt sale. The emirate has hired four banks to handle the sale of the Islamic bonds, known as sukuk, as it emerges from a financial crisis that culminated with the $24.9bn restructuring of Dubai World debt between 2009 and 2010. “The move could lead to lower borrowing costs for UAE companies if the Government’s [...]

The GCC received 58 per cent of the total accumulated foreign direct investment, or FDI, of $284 billion that flowed into the Arab countries between 2001 and 2010, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, or Unctad, said. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/biz/inside.asp?xfile=/data/uaebusiness/2012/April/uaebusiness_April128.xml&section=uaebusiness

The Abu Dhabi Municipality announced that total real estate transactions (covering both mortgage and sales) reached Dh43 billion in 2011, up 5 per cent from the previous year. http://gulfnews.com/business/property/uae/real-estate-transactions-increase-5-to-dh43b-1.1012683

Qatar’s aggressive sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has US$30bn to spend this year, executive board member Hussain Al Abdulla said at a conference on Sunday. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/qatar-swf-says-it-has-us-30bn-spend-this-year-454856.html

Dubai  Property developer Nakheel said yesterday it has awarded two separate contracts worth Dh43 million for project work on Palm Jumeirah.

In 2008, Qatar outlined its 2030 National Vision to become one of the most attractive markets for foreign businesses. In December 2010 that ambitious growth strategy received a welcome boost when Qatar was confirmed as the host for the 2022 Football World Cup. Wayne Merrick, Company Formation Specialist, Links Group, advices on how to get a slice of all that action. To read the complete article, please click: Private Sector Magazine

Akbar Al Baker says 3,000 workers have already been hired, with another 5,000 still to be recruited

Qatari lender says net income increased to $107m for first three months of year

Dubai’s foreign trade grew 22 per cent to Dh1.1 trillion last year over 2010, according to Dubai Customs . This is the first time it has crossed the Dh1 trillion mark. http://www.zawya.com/story/Dubais_foreign_trade_hits_Dh11tr_in_2011-GN_18042012_190446/

Clocking the world’s highest growth rate in 2011, Qatar is maintaining expansion despite a difficult international economic climate clouded by the eurozone crisis and doubts over the sustainability of US debt. Indeed, the country saw GDP growth of 14% in inflation-adjusted terms last year, with energy exports its leading economic driver. Qatar is forecast to outstrip global growth again in 2012, though the rate is expected to slow to around 6%, according to the IMF. [...]