Gulf in the News – March 15, 2013

PDO employs drone technology to monitor flaring

Source: Oman Daily Observer (Read full story)

Underscoring its vigorous embrace of innovation and technology to sustain its business, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) employed an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) to undertake its first ever live flare inspection at one of its interior oilfield locations, the majority government owned oil and gas producer has revealed.

Prime Minister visits Kuwait-Iraq border

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and National Assembly Apeaker Ali Al-Rashed yesterday inspected the borders with Iraq a few days after Iraqi farmers rioted and prevented a United Nations team from completing repairs of border markers. The prime minister was briefed by security officials on the Kuwaiti preparations on the borders in the face of the developments to protect Kuwaiti territory against any violations or aggression.

35 injured in Bahrain unrest

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

Thousands of anti-government protesters threw firebombs and stones at riot police and burned tires in Bahrain on the second anniversary of the intervention by a Gulf force in the country’s crisis. Police fired stun grenades at the demonstrators protesting the intervention during the clashes in the mainly Shiite neighborhoods surrounding Manama. Starting early in the morning, the mostly young demonstrators blocked roads leading into scores of villages to prevent security forces from entering. The main opposition group Al Wefaq said 35 protesters were wounded in the clashes, including three critically.

Al-Rabiah to Promote Saudi Auto Industry in U.S.

The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council (USSABC) issued a press release today to announce a new conference in Michigan to promote the Saudi auto industry. H.E. Tawfiq al Rabiah, the Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry, is listed as a confirmed speaker of the event, which will “bring together senior Saudi Government officials, major Saudi industrialists, and leading OEMs to highlight the advantages of doing business in the Middle East’s largest car market” in Birmingham, Michigan.

Qatar richest country in the world: IIF

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

Qatar retained its ranking as the world’s richest country in 2012, with its per capita income soaring to an incredible $106,000, while Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with assets of $115bn, was ranked 12th among sovereign wealth funds in the world. Qatar emerged as the world’s wealthiest country in 2010 with a per capita income of $88, 559, having overtaken Luxembourg, and continued with its top ranking the next year (2011). Washington-based Institute for International Finance (IIF) has reported that Qatar’s per capita GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) was $106,000 (QR387,000) in 2012, helping the country retain its ranking as the world’s wealthiest nation.

GCC oil and gas sector remains one of most promising — SAGIA

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

 Despite all achievements made in the oil and gas sector in the Gulf, the sector remains one of the most promising that provides various investment opportunities, Abdullatif Al-Othman, Governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) said in his speech at the Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS 2013) here in Bahrain on Wednesday. He also stressed on the importance for the GCC to adopt policies that aim to raise the added value in this sector, and encourage the establishment of industries and support services in downstream conversion, manufacturing, engineering, and construction.