Middle East

Qantas and Emirates airlines have joined forces to create a new global aviation partnership, it has been announced.

Under the terms of the agreement, Qantas will move its hub for European flights to Dubai and enter an extensive commercial relationship with Emirates.

The Kanoo Group is one of the largest and most diversified businesses in the Middle East. Deputy chairman Mishal Hamad Kanoo talks about the joint ventures and family values.

Kuwait-based Al Fajr Al Jadid specialises in automation and control solutions for industrial applications. Director Ano Nazarian talks about the importance of innovation and keeping abreast of the latest technology.

Over the past two years, Kuwait-based Al Rashed International Shipping Company has seen significant international growth—and it relies on good quality staff to support its expansion plans.

Israel’s Elbit Systems has won a contract worth $62 million to upgrade the Korean Air Force’s C-130 transport aircraft.

Under the terms of the contract, the C-130 aircraft will be installed with various types of advanced electronic systems, and the existing analogue cockpit converted to a ‘glass cockpit’ using Elbit Systems' digital flight displays.

The work is expected to take around four years, and will be carried out in co-operation with Korea Aerospace Industries, Korea’s leading local aircraft manufacturer.

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Jorf Lasfar Energy Company, has secured financing for the expansion of its coal-fired power complex in Morocco.  

The company signed financing arrangements for $1.4 billion equivalent of 16-year, multi-currency non-recourse project financing for the 700 MW expansion of the power complex.

Gulf Warehousing Company had a successful year in 2011 and is within sight of completing one of the finest logistics complexes in the Middle East: its-state-of-the-art Logistics Village Qatar.

Saudi-owned Al-Muhaidib Contracting Company is focusing on its home market and the provision of large-scale projects to cater for its booming economy and population.

The so-called ‘developed world’ may be facing economic slowdowns and currency turmoil but activity in Saudi Arabia is sufficiently vigorous for Al-Muhaidib Contracting Company to refocus on its home country and reduce the distractions of international exposure.