Kuwait declares state of alert
Country announces state of alert for health services following deadly cholera outbreak in neighbouring Iraq.

Visa to launch radio frequency credit cards in UAE
Cards will allow users to pay without signature, pin number or direct contact with reader.

Kuwait Airways splashes cash to motivate staff
Airline will hand out pay rises to galvanise employees behind struggling company.

Oil price to smash $90 barrier
Price of crude could rise above $90 per barrel by December if US dollar continues to lose value, Iran says.

Iran-China trade to hit $20bn
Trade between the two countries is set to increase by 25% from $15bn currently, Iranian official says.

Oman 'firmly committed' to dollar peg, rate
Country to keep value of rial unchanged even as some traders bet on regional revaluation.

Kuwait's CBK yet to agree BBK sale
Commercial Bank of Kuwait contradicts local media report that CBK and Pearl to sell stakes in Bahraini lender.

Bahrain money supply surges
Annual money supply in kingdom grew in August at the second-fastest pace in at least six years.

Sabic raises wages by 6%
World's largest petrochemical firm also boosts employees' housing allowance to $5,333 a year.

Fluor still in talks over Al-Zour tender
US firm negotiating with Kuwait to provide infrastructure such as steam generation and water systems.

International firms vie for Kuwaiti tender
Kuwait Oil Company receives requests from 13 firms to build storage tanks, report claims.

Rayan buys into Saudi personal finance market
Qatar Islamic bank splashes $320mn for 20% stake in new Saudi consumer finance firm.

Zumorroda ups Housing Finance stake yet again
Kuwaiti investment firm increases stake in local mortgage lender to 15.025% from 14.02%.

Nationwide wireless broadband rolled out in Bahrain
Operator Zain launches Wimax to give users wireless internet access anywhere.

Orascom to bid for Egypt fixed licence
Operator reveals intentions to compete for country's second fixed-line phone licence, to be sold next year.

Mobinil to beat subscriber forecast
Egyptian mobile operator could have 15 million by year-end, but growth likely to slow in 2008, firm says.

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