26-29 September: Affordable Housing Development Summit Middle East, Manama
27-28 September: Unconventional Gas, London
3-5 October: Middle East Investments Summit 2010, Dubai
3-6 October: SWPF - Saudi Water & Power Forum 2010 Conference & Exhibition, Saudi Arabia
3-7 October: Funds Forum Middle East, Bahrain
4-6 October: POWER-GEN Middle East 2010, Doha, Qatar
10-12 October: The 3rd annual Saudi Arabia International Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference, Dammam
11-12 October: Unconventional Oil 2010, London
12-14 October: Offshore Middle East 2010: The 3rd Annual Offshore Middle East Conference & Exhibition, Doha
18-19 October: Maghreb/Middle East Renewable Energy Conference, Marrakech
24-27 October: MENA Mining Congress 2010, Dubai
26-28 October: Iraq Mega Projects 2010 Conference & Exhibition, Istanbul
27-28 October: Gas to Liquids 2010, London
21-23 November: Private Equity World MENA 2010, Dubai
29 November-1 December: Iraq Petroleum 2010 Conference, London
6-8 December: Smart Grids Middle East, Dubai
Briefings & Reports
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Need an expert briefing to support an investment decision?
GSN’s team of experienced analysts are often called on by governments and their agencies, financial institutions, and energy companies to comment on developments in the Gulf region. Our analysts are available for private briefings (either by telephone or in person) and can produce tailored reports and research on a range of topics and issues. For more information contact Mark Ford. Email:mark@cbi-publishing.com
Politics, succession & risk in Saudi Arabia report
Politics, succession and risk in Saudi Arabia is a GSN special report, published in January 2010. The new report analyses Saudi policy on issues including succession, domestic and regional politics, defence, energy and financial trends, and features extensively researched biographical entries on 1,200 Al-Sauds from the ruling family’s main branch, together with profiles of leading cadet branch businessmen, and a range of maps and graphics.
Read more about the report
Islamic Finance Report
Published in June 2009, this GSN report is an essential reference tool for both newcomers, and well-established bankers and practitioners. Read more
Endorsements
"GSN now really is doing something (and at a quality level) that isn't available anywhere else that I know."
Professor Gerd Nonneman director Institute of Arab & Islamic Studies (IAIS), University of Exeter
"I have been a genuine admirer for many years. I regard GSN as the only one that focuses properly on Arabia and on Saudi Arabia in particular. That alone makes it very special as no country in the region is less understood in the UK than Saudi Arabia."
Stephen Day, consultant and former British ambassador
"GSN is by far the most professional and well-informed report on the region."
Luc Debieuvre, Bank Audi Saradar
"The website is excellent and adds value to an already very valuable publication"
José Silva Pereira general secretary Partex Oil and Gas
"Gulf States Newsletter provides a fund of information and insights for bankers and investors who are serious about doing business in the Gulf."
Francis Beddington, Banker and Economist
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announcements
Politics, succession and risk in Saudi Arabia
GSN’s new special report Politics, succession and risk in Saudi Arabia was launched to great acclaim at a 15 January seminar in London hosted and co-organised by Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. Senior figures from the banking, insurance and risk sectors joined industry and governmental political risk analysts for a frank roundtable discussion of the issues raised by a report that was recognised by discussants – who included Exeter University Professor Gerd Nonneman, political scientist Neil Partrick, Saudi academic Mai Yamani and Chatham House’s Maha Azzam and Claire Spencer – as a significant piece of research and analysis, which “raised the bar” for those researching the Kingdom. Read more about the report
The report is available to GSN subscribers for £175.
Need an expert briefing to support an investment decision?
GSN’s team of experienced analysts are often called on by governments and their agencies, financial institutions, and energy companies to comment on developments in the Gulf region. Our analysts are available for private briefings (either by telephone or in person) and can produce tailored reports and research on a range of topics and issues. For more information contact Mark Ford. Email:mark@cbi-publishing.com
Free email alerts of GSN's latest coverage
Keep track of the financial sector developments that affect your business by signing up for email Issue Alerts. You'll receive an email update when each issue is published, including excerpts of articles and links to full articles and other resources on our website. Sign up for eMail Issue Alerts
Issue 884 - 3 September 2010
ABU DHABI
Abu Dhabi’s Taqa accused of malpractice
A law suit filed by one of the Gulf’s most high-profile expatriate executives could point to a dark side in the mighty Abu Dhabi business empire, if the allegations are proven. more
Serious allegations against a blue chip investor
In his suit against Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), its former chief executive Peter Barker-Homek says that one of his main concerns was the unsavoury business practices going on at Taqa, particularly the presence of several multi-billion dollar assets and liabilities on Taqa’s balance sheet that were unexplained and that Taqa had no control over. more
GULF BANKS
Bad debt provisions exceed $20bn
Gulf banks have spent over $20bn on provisions for bad debt and lost investments since 2008 but are showing signs of returning to high profitability, according to ratings agency Standard and Poor’s. more
Issue 883 - 27 August 2010
BAHRAIN
BAHRAIN: Moody’s downgrade
Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded Bahrain’s sovereign rating, saying a faster rise in government spending than in non-oil revenue raised concerns over financial flexibility and economic growth. more
ECONOMIC TRENDS
OMAN: Increased oil production boosts economy more
The Middle East project finance market has been boosted by recent deals in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the opening of US export credit agency Export-Import Bank in Iraq more
IRAQ
Ex-Im Bank opens Iraq financing
The Export-Import Bank of the United States has opened short- and medium-term financing for US imports to Iraq. more
Issue 881 - 16 July 2010
DUBAI
Financial turmoil stimulates dialogue for change in Dubai’s government
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum might argue that the financial turmoil is over, but an increasing number of nationals are asking whether a more rigorous reappraisal of legislation and business practices is necessary for Dubai to emerge from its traumatic debt crisis as a more transparent place to do business more
BANKING AND INVESTMENT
BAHRAIN: BMI Bank appoints new chief executive more
OMAN: BankMuscat profits up, but below expectations more
QATAR: Qatar Holding out of the running for CMA-CGM more
SAUDI ARABIA: Bank Al-Jazira appoints new chief executive more
Fresh sanctions squeeze Iranian market, but specialist banks continue to service key customers
UN and US sanctions are targeting the financial sector, but the few bankers still doing business with Iran seem determined to maintain trade finance flows. more
Bond issue for South Pars gas field
Iran appears to be making progress in funding its offshore South Pars gas field, after several major western players withdrew their expertise and financing from a number of project phases during 2010. more
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia leads way on project financing deals
A cluster of new financing facilities has raised well over $10bn, boosting the GCC’s project finance market. more
