Etihad set to start Doha flights

Abu Dhabi, June 12, 2006

Etihad Airways has announced a six-flights-a-week service between Abu Dhabi and Doha starting from June 18.

The airline will fly every day of the week except Tuesday on the route using Boeing B767-300 aircraft.

"We are delighted to start services to Doha next week," said Dr Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, chairman of Etihad Airways.

"Abu Dhabi and Doha are premier business cities in the region and rapidly developing into key leisure destinations too. The new service will drive growth in both sectors."

The aircraft, which will accommodate 196 guests with 10 seats in Diamond, 36 in Pearl and 150 in Coral zones, can also hold up to 12 tonnes of cargo with a full passenger load.

Outbound, Etihad flight EY705 will depart Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) at 21.30pm and arrive at Doha International Airport at 21.30pm local time. Return flights on EY706 depart Doha at 22.30 pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 00.30 am.

The new service links up two of the energy powerhouses in the region and provides further economic impetus to both development-focused cities.-TradeArabia News Service

Syrian economy promising says Schroeder

Damascus, June 10, 2006

The former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has described the Syrian economy as a promising one in his speech at the opening of the Second Syrian-Emirati Economic Forum in Damascus yesterday.

He also said that the Syrian economy is taking continuous steps towards integration in the world economy.

Sheikh Tarek bin Faysal Al Qasimi, head of Economic development department in Sharjah, stressed in his remarks that oil has contributed in developing economies in the emirates as well as infrastructure development.

Sheikh Al Qasimi stressed that economic growth rate ranges between 1 - 18 per cent especially in tourism, industry, education sectors.

Abdullah Dardari, Syrian deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said: " I cannot imagine investments in Syria without the presence of Emarati investors as well as the presence of Syria's traditional friends in Europe, especially Germany."

Dardari said that Syria's GDP growth rate had reached more than 4.5 per cent due to the stress on macro development in its economic policies.

Dardari said the government's role should be always present to create job opportunities or preparing an economic environment that would indirectly contribute to creating job opportunities, transparent working mechanisms and continuous legislative development that is compatible to modernisation and integration in world economy.-TradeArabia News Service

Bahrain appoints first Arab Woman Judge

(AFP), 6 June 2006

MANAMA - Bahrain appointed a woman judge on Tuesday for the first time in its history, becoming the first to do so among the conservative and male-dominated Gulf Arab states.

King Hamad issued a decree appointing Mona Jassem Al Kawari to the civil courts, the official Bahrain News Agency reported.

“I am very proud to be the first woman judge in Bahrain,” Kawari told AFP after her appointment.

“This nomination does not surprise me though because his majesty has been encouraging women since the launch of reforms.”

There are at present two women ministers in the Bahraini government.

Bahraini women only got the vote for the first time in a 2001 referendum on turning the small Gulf archipelago into a constitutional monarchy.

A total of 31 women stood as candidates in municipal and parliamentary elections the following year but not one won election.

The next round of elections is tentatively expected in October but no date has yet been formally set.