Newspapers strike over press freedom
More than 20 Egyptian papers protest President Mubarak's crackdown on opposition voices.

UAE gets tough on Ramadan price hikes
Newspaper ads hammer home message that businesses exploiting consumers will be closed down.

Saudi ads beg mercy for maids
A series of public service commercials is to promote better treatment of domestic helpers in kingdom.

Official fatwa site unveiled
Saudi Arabia's Council of Senior Ulema launches official website for religious edicts by Muslim scholars.

Looking to the future
The path towards a sustainable built environment in the Middle East took a huge step forward this month.

Kuwait firms slam new trading rules
Listed companies say rule changes will force firms to flee country and deter foreign investment.

Kuwait finance plans on slow burn
Country will not become international financial and trading centre until 2020, bank governor says.

Dana sells $875mn of Islamic bonds
UAE energy firm delayed sale in July after defaults on US home loans triggered a global credit crisis.

Kurdistan defends oil deals
Government says contracts in line with Iraq's constitution and will sign two more in near future.

Dubai in London orchestra sponsorship deal
State-owned Dubai Properties signs three-year deal with London Philharmonic.

Qatar swoops for more London real estate
State-owned Qatar Diar buys into Grosvenor Waterside development in Chelsea.

Sainsbury poised to recommend Qatar bid
Board could recommend Delta Two's $10.6bn bid as early as this week, according to UK newspaper.

Arabic BlackBerry arrives in UAE
Etisalat teams up with RIM to launch the region's first fully Arabised BlackBerry push e-mail smartphone.

Commuter relief as air-conditioned bus stops rolled out
Dubai will replace 471 bus stops with high-tech air-conditioned facilities by October next year.

iPod's past, present and future