briefs

Global Investment House-Qatar gets new assignment

Doha: The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) yesterday authorised Global Investment House-Qatar to carry on regulated activities at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). Phillip Thorpe, chairman and chief executive officer of Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) said "We are very pleased to have received applications and expressions of interest from a wide range of institutions based in Qatar and in neighbouring GCC countries. These have included applicants that are already well established in the region and start-ups bringing new businesses and new investors to the financial services sector," Thorpe said.

Esnaad gets two Rolls-Royce tugboats

Dubai: Rolls-Royce Group, a Britain-based engineering company, sold two UT780 tugboats to the UAE, its first Middle East order for this class of vessel. Esnaad, a unit of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil, bought the ships, which have been modified to handle high temperatures, the companies said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. The ships are being built in Indonesia and will be delivered in the first quarter of 2008. Their value was not disclosed. The purchases are the first step in a $200 million fleet replacement programme, Esnaad said in the statement. The company plans to replace 21 ageing vessels within five years.

Maktoob.com partners with BBC

Dubai: Online Arab community Maktoob.com yesterday announced that it has partnered with BBC to improve its online news service for Arab readers. Ahmad Nassef, Maktoob.com general manager said the partnership will help them upgrade their newly launched news section and provide their readers with the latest breaking news. BBCArabic.com editor Mohammad Yehia said the world's largest broadcasting organisation is also happy to be associated with Maktoob.com, because the region's top web portal will give them added exposure.