View Systems Inc., a security and teledata solutions provider, announced today an initial order for 40 ViewScan units from Belcom, a company based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Belcom, which conducts business in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, is one of the fastest growing telecom, IT, and security services firms in the Middle East. It is also a dealer for and business partner of View Systems.

The company’s ViewScan product is fast becoming the choice screening system, both domestically and internationally. It’s a computer-based system that can scan up to 1200 people per hour. As a person passes through the portal, a photograph is taken and stored on the laptop computer that comes with the unit. “Threat” objects are visually located on the computer screen and an audible alert can easily be set to sound.

The company is currently procuring the parts necessary to build more than

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China Architectural Engineering Inc. (CAEI) posted a net loss of 16 cents per share for the third quarter, compared to a net profit of 18 cents in the prior-year period. The net loss in the quarter can be attributed to lower contract revenue, adjustment to estimated gross revenue of the Dubai Metro project, and increase in raw material and overhead costs. Full loss provision of the project in Doha, and losses from the discontinued construction works in the closed Shenzhen office also contributed to the earnings disappointment in the quarter.   Quarterly revenues of $25.6 million were down 54% year over year primarily due to the Dubai Metro dispute. The company said that its dispute with the master contractor of the Metro Red Line Project in Dubai, led to an adjustment to estimated gross revenue of the project, and resulted in lower recognized revenue in the quarter from ...

Kuwait-based Abyaar Real Estate Development Company (Abyaar), which develops and manages properties in the UAE and in Dubai in particular, recently announced a net profit for the first nine months of 2009 of KD5 million ($17.5 million) and an EPS of 6.90 fils (a subdivision of currency used in many Arab countries, where KD1 roughly equals 1000 fils).  Per its chairman, Hesham Abdul Wahab Al Obeid, the firm reduced financing debt during the period by 30%, down to KD 77 million, compared to KD108 million during the same period of 2008.  Owners’ equity also increased, up to KD146 million.

The strong showing begs the question how quickly Abyaar will return to the debt markets; in October 2008 it postponed a proposed sale of Islamic bonds worth up to $1 billion in order to finance its expansion plans.  Rashed Al-Rashdan, its

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Russia has reached a new record high in monthly oil production, at more than ten million barrels a day in October, maintaining its position as the world's biggest oil producer.  Rosneft is at the forefront of the increase with production from its new Vankor field in the Arctic.  Vladimir Putin has nodded approval for a Danish initiative on CO2 emissions that could replace the Kyoto Protocol, but with two caveats - that Russian interests be taken note of, ie the country's immense CO2-absorbing forests, and that the resolution be ratified by all the world's biggest economies.  Russia may increase threefold its supplies of gas to Denmark, which could see supplies reach a total of 3 billion cubic meters a year via the Nord Stream pipeline.  The Prime Minister has urged the 'stingy' EU to assist Ukraine in its difficulties ...

UAE-based budget carrier Air Arabia, the Arab world’s largest listed carrier, announced its intentions to build a new hub in Egypt that would offer connections to Europe, Africa and the Middle East, one month after formalizing a partnership with Egypt’s Travco Group, the Middle East’s largest travel and hospitality group.  “At a time when the global aviation industry is witnessing serious challenges as a consequence of the worldwide financial crisis, we continue to move forward with our strategic expansion strategy, as demonstrated by this important announcement,” said Air Arabia Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani.

Despite the airline industry’s overall close historical correlation with broad market indices, “budget travel” represents an industry subgroup that, from an investment standpoint, can be as good a defensive play as any medical and consumer product company, brewery or tobacco firm.  Air Arabia may be a case in point, having been named the

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Dubai’s government returned to the open bond market upon a growing sense that the notoriously ‘profligate’ emirate–as at least one analyst has previously criticized it in comparison to its more steady, oil-fueled sibling Abu Dhabi–can be trusted not to default on its $80bn or so of outstanding debt. On the heels of last week’s proposed Euro Medium-Term Note (EMTN) program which seeks to raise 6.5bn, divided into four billion dollars in EMTN and 2.5-bn in Islamic bond issue, or sukuk, the government on Wednesday successfully placed nearly $2 billion in new five-year Islamic bonds–divided into both a dollar and dirham tranche–the biggest sukuk sale from the Gulf region this year. Pricing was set at 375 basis points plus/minus 10 points over mid-swaps for the dollar tranche, and with the same spread over three-
month Emirates Interbank Offered Rate, or EIBOR, used for the
 dirham

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Axial Vector Energy Corporation (AVEC) announced this morning that it has been invited to sign an MOU to integrate its ultra clean Axial Vector Engines and Generators into Dubai Public Transport. RTA, which is owned by the Government of Dubai, plans and executes all public transportation systems in the emirate of Dubai. RTA is committed to providing the most technologically advanced transportation techniques while simultaneously being environmentally conscious.

The MOU forms a close relationship between AVEC and the RTA ensuring the government of Dubai will have superior technology for improving the air and further establishing Dubai’s world leadership of vision and innovation.

This new agreement will allow AVEC to deploy its technology into the public transport arena ensuring high volume penetration in a relatively short period of time into the commercial market. Additionally, the use of AVEC technologies in a public transport sector

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Qatar is a red-hot economy. Last year it grew around 18% and this year it ought to grow another 16%. We saw the headlines in the Gulf Times in the lounge while waiting for our transfer to Dubai.

Qatar’s greatest asset is its natural gas reserves. In fact, the largest gas field in the world is here. Its discoverers were disappointed when they found it in 1971. They were looking for oil.

The boom Qatar now enjoys is the result of some daring investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) back when people thought doing such a thing was a little batty. Faisal Al Suwaidi, the head of Qatargas, deserves the props for his wager, which have paid off handsomely. Today, Qatar produces about one-quarter of the world’s natural gas.

Qatar supplies such faraway customers as Japan, India and China. Qatargas also operates the largest LNG terminal in Europe at South Hook on

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Acxiom Corporation (ACXM) recently announced that it has acquired DMS (Direct Marketing Services), a premier provider of direct marketing services in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) market.  This acquisition will enable Acxiom to enter the markets of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. The company plans to service its current global partners who plan to expand in the Middle East as well as regional marketers in that region.  The new Acxiom MENA organization will serve global and regional clientele from offices in Jeddah and Dubai. The operation will be led by DMS Managing Director Yousef Hamidaddin, who becomes CEO of Acxiom MENA.  Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.  Acxiom Corporation integrates data, services and technology to create and deliver customer and information management solutions for companies. Acxiom has a customer base that includes firms in the financial services, insurance, information services, and ...

Axial Vector Energy Corp., a leader in energy conversion efficiency, is fortunate in that it is run by one of the most seasoned international management and advisory teams, with over a century of combined experience. This is critical in starting and growing a company, obtaining the required capital, locking in the rights to key products and technologies, and ensuring that your message gets out to the public on a worldwide basis.

• Samuel Higgins, Axial Chairman, has been involved in raising and investing capital globally for over 30 years, with extensive experience in the energy industry, as well as in real estate and technology. His global contacts include his role as Managing Director of a family office in Latin America that advises high net worth individuals. He also has strong connections in the Middle East, and is partner in Emirates International Capital Advisory

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