~~GULFWIRE DIGEST~~#171~~WEEK OF NOVEMBER 18-24, 2002~~ (fwd)

["Clement M. Henry" <chenry@mail.la.utexas.edu>]

*****************************
Clement M. Henry
Professor of Government
University of Texas at Austin
Austin TX 78712
tel 471-5121, fax 471-1061

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 17:30:21 -0600
From: GulfWire e-Newsletters <GulfWire@arabialink.com>
To: *GulfWire Members* <gulfwire@arabialink.com>
Subject: ~~GULFWIRE DIGEST~~#171~~WEEK OF NOVEMBER 18-24, 2002~~

GulfWire Digest~~#170~~Week of November 18, 2002 - Information and Insights
on Gulf AffairsGulfWire Digest
      A family of e-newsletters from the National Council on U.S.-Arab
      Relations & the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee
      Issue #171                                   Week of November 18-24,
2002

      Information and Insight on Gulf Affairs




            Of Note



            The population of the UAE has grown 19 fold since 1968.  For
more check "News UAE"
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     In This Issue

            o   NEWS
              ·   REGION
                  - GCC SUMMIT
                  - AL ATIYYA DENIES MOVING GCC SUMMIT FROM DOHA
                  - GULF ARABS WELCOME IRAQ'S ACCEPTANCE OF U.N. TERMS
                  - ATTACKS IN IRAQ 'NO-FLY' ZONES TEST U.S. STANCE
                  - U.S. TAKING STEPS TO LAY FOUNDATION FOR ACTION IN IRAQ
                  - POWELL LASHES OUT AT ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC
                  - ROBERTSON REMARKS DENOUNCED
                  - U.S. CITIZENS URGED TO STAY VIGILANT
                  - BRITAIN WARNS BRITISH COMMUNITY
                  - IRAN STUDENTS CLAIM VICTORY OVER ACADEMIC'S CASE
                  - ARABIC EDITION OF US FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE
                  - NO DECLINE FOUND IN NUMBER OF STUDENTS GOING OVERSEAS OR
                    COMING TO U.S.
                  - GCC STATES WARNED OF SEVERE WATER SHORTAGE
              ·   BAHRAIN
                  - BAHRAIN'S KING APPOINTS WOMEN, NON-MUSLIMS TO UPPER
HOUSE
                    OF PARLIAMENT
                  - WOMAN APPOINTED, NOT ELECTED, TO PARLIAMENT SAY KING HAS
                    GIVEN WOMEN CHANCE TO PROVE THEMSELVES
                  - BUSH PRAISES BAHRAIN'S LANDMARK ELECTIONS
                  - ANALYSIS: BAHRAIN AND THE DEMOCRACY DREAM
                  - BAHRAIN'S DEMOCRACY
                  - ISLAMIC PARTIES' ELECTION SUCCESS MAY BENEFIT U.S.
                  - COMMON RULES FOR THE ELECTED PARLIAMENT AND SHURA
COUNCIL
                  - U.S. EMBASSY TRIES TO GAG DUKE TALK
                  - CALL FOR POLITICAL PARTIES 'PREMATURE'
                  - BAHRAIN TO ALLOW SCRIBES' UNION
                  - PROGRAMS FOR ESTABLISHING FOUR NEW CITIES
              ·   KUWAIT
                  - KUWAIT ARRESTS SENIOR AL-QAIDA MEMBER
                  - KUWAITI YOUTH: FROM FRIEND TO FOE
                  - CZECH TROOPS TRAIN IN KUWAIT
                  - KUWAITI JUDICIARY FINES AL-JAZEERA TV
                  - KUWAIT'S FIRST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY HAS ITS ROOTS IN ST.
LOUIS
              ·   SAUDI ARABIA
                  - US ENVOY HIGHLIGHTS EXISTING EXCELLENT SAUDI-US
RELATIONS
                  - KINGDOM URGES IRAQ TO ASSIST UN INSPECTORS
                  - MUFTI HITS OUT AT SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHARITIES
                  - SAUDI ASSISTANCE VITAL FOR AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION, SAYS
US
                     DIPLOMAT
                  - NO ACCORD YET ON IRAQI TEAM'S KINGDOM VISIT
                  - WOMEN BARRED FROM PROPHET'S CHAMBER
                  - DECISION ON TAXI SECTOR IS FINAL: NAIF
                  - US ENVOY GREETS STUDENTS
                  - PRIVATE SECTOR TO SET UP CLUBS FOR SAUDI WOMEN
              ·   UAE
                  - UAE POPULATION GROWS 19-FOLD IN THREE DECADES
                  - NEED FOR RAIL NETWORK DISCUSSED
                  - DRAFT LAW ON HEALTH IN FINAL STAGES
            o   LINK OF THE WEEK - ARAB LEAGUE (BBC QUICK GUIDE)
            o   GULFWIRE FLASHBACK – OVER THREE YEARS OF GULFWIRE
            o   BUSINESS & FINANCE NEWS
              ·   REGION
                  - ENERGY FUTURES – 11.15.02
                  - WAR TO IMPACT REGION'S ECONOMIES HEAVILY
                  - OIL RISES ON FEARS OF GUERRILLA ATTACKS
                  - OPEC FLOODING WORLD MARKETS WITH CRUDE OIL AS IRAQ
                     TENSIONS BUILD
                  - MIDDLE EAST EMBRACES PRIVATIZATION
                  - STAGNATION 'AT ROOT' OF ARAB PROBLEMS
                  - U.N. URGES ARABS TO COORDINATE MORE
                  - BATELCO AND OMANTEL SIGN COOPERATION DEAL
              ·   BAHRAIN
                  - APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL FOR ORGANIZING TENDERS FOR
                    GOVERNMENT PURCHASES
              ·   KUWAIT
                  - KUWAIT ACHIEVES THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE
REGION
              ·   OMAN
                  - OMAN OIL CO BUYS BRITISH FIRM'S 49 PC STAKE IN BP OMAN
                  - NEW POWER LINE TO LINK OMAN, UAE
              ·   QATAR
                  - QATAR ACHIEVES A BUDGET SURPLUS OF $714.9 MILLION IN Q3
                  - QATAR PLANS STEEL, CEMENT PRIVATIZATION
              ·   SAUDI ARABIA
                  - SAUDI GAS PROJECT SET TO GO AHEAD, SAYS 'MEES'
                  - FINANCE MINISTER ATTESTS TO SOUNDNESS OF SAUDI ECONOMY
                  - SCORES IN RUNNING FOR PIECE OF THE RAIL PIE
                  - NEW MEASURES IN THE OFFING TO TACKLE DEBTS: SULTAN
                  - STC SET TO START SALE OF SHARES FROM DEC.17
                  - SAUDI BUSINESSMEN KEEN ON PRIVATIZATION
                  - SAUDIS SECURE $380M CONTRACTS FROM IRAQ
                  - INSURANCE SECTOR 'BREAKTHROUGH'
                  - UNIFIED PATENTS PROCEDURE
                  - GERMAN EXPORTS TO KINGDOM UP 18%
              ·   UAE
                  - UAE'S EARNINGS FROM OIL, GAS EXPORTS MAY DROP
                  - NUMBER OF BUSINESSWOMEN GROWS FIVE-FOLD
                  - NEW FINDS COULD PUSH UP GULF'S OIL RESERVES
                  - DUBAI TO ESTABLISH A $4 BILLION FESTIVAL CITY
                  - DFM MARKET CAP UP TO DH33.24B IN THIRD QUARTER
                  - 350 NEW FIRMS IN JAFZ IN LAST 10 MONTHS
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            News - Region

            GCC SUMMIT
            "The annual decision-making summit of the Gulf Cooperation
Council will take place December 22-23 in Qatar, which takes over the
presidency in 2003, GCC Secretary General Al-Attiya said [Nov. 16]. A
conference of foreign ministers to prepare the summit and draw up an agenda
will now be held on
            November 19, a day earlier than previously announced, he added.
Attiya said the Iraqi crisis and the Palestinian question could be expected
to dominate the summit..."  Source: AFP
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            SUMMIT REPORTING ~~ GulfWire Digest #128 - December 31, 2001
            AL ATIYYA DENIES MOVING GCC SUMMIT FROM DOHA
            "Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Abdulrahman
Al-Atiyya denied that there were attempts to move the venue of the next GCC
summit
            from Doha, saying 'the summit is pre-programmed and is held on a
rotation-basis between GCC countries.'" Source: KUNA [Nov. 15]

            GULF ARABS WELCOME IRAQ'S ACCEPTANCE OF U.N. TERMS
            "Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies have breathed a sigh of
relief after Iraq accepted a new U.N. resolution on disarmament and urged
their neighbor to cooperate with the world body to avert a new war in the
region.  The pro-Western Gulf monarchies, which lined up behind a U.S.-led
military coalition that drove Iraqi occupation troops from Kuwait in 1991,
have publicly opposed any military campaign to disarm Iraq..."  Complete
            report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREES TO RETURN UN WEAPONS
INSPECTORS TO IRAQ ~~GulfWire Perspectives - November 8, 2002

            ATTACKS IN IRAQ 'NO-FLY' ZONES TEST U.S. STANCE
            "Iraq fired yesterday on U.S. and British warplanes patrolling a
"no-fly" zone over the southern part of the country, confronting the Bush
            administration with its first test under the new U.N. resolution
insisting Iraq disarm..."  Complete report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            IRAQ AND THE UNITED STATES: HOW THREATENING A STORM? By John
Duke Anthony ~~ GulfWire Perspectives - Oct. 24, 2002

            U.S. TAKING STEPS TO LAY FOUNDATION FOR ACTION IN IRAQ
            "The Bush administration is initiating a series of diplomatic
and military steps that must be completed before the United States could go
to war in Iraq, American and allied officials say. The tasks, some of which
could take weeks or even months to carry out, include formalizing allies'
roles in any offensive, discouraging neighboring countries like Turkey and
Israel from taking their own action, and deciding whether to seek United
Nations support for an attack. Failure to accomplish many of these
objectives could delay or
            complicate the onset of war..."  Complete report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            IISS: U.S. WAR EXPECTED OVER NEXT 6 MONTHS ~~ GulfWire Digest
#167 - Oct. 21, 2002
            EIGHT REASONS WHY THE U.S. WILL ATTACK SADDAM THIS YEAR ~~
GulfWire Digest #159 - Aug. 12, 2002

            POWELL LASHES OUT AT ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC
            "US Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out [Nov. 14] against
recent anti-Muslim rhetoric from some prominent conservative US Christians,
saying
            such 'hatred' damaged US interests. Powell's comments came a day
after President George W. Bush repudiated the same remarks in a rare rebuke
of the religious right — one of his main political power bases..."  Complete
report...

            ROBERTSON REMARKS DENOUNCED
            "Earlier, Robertson took aim at U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
for Near East Affairs David Satterfield, who has just begun a five-day
mission to the region, accusing him of sacrificing Israel's interests for
those of Arab nations..."  Complete report...

            U.S. CITIZENS URGED TO STAY VIGILANT
            "The United States has urged its citizens worldwide to remain
vigilant and reminded them of the continuing threat of terrorist actions
that may target civilians, saying the scheduled November 14 execution of a
convicted Pakistani national in Virginia may trigger retaliatory attacks
against American interests overseas. The warning, posted on the website of
the U.S.
            embassy in Bahrain and dated November 12, expires on May 7,
2003..." Complete report...

            BRITAIN WARNS BRITISH COMMUNITY
            "According to Al-Hayat newspaper (November 10, 2002), the
British Foreign Affairs Ministry has recently sent out a warning message to
British citizens residing in the Arabian Gulf States of Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The
ministry requested the British communities in these states, amounting to
more than 125,000 persons be aware of possible hostile attacks in
restaurants, hotels and malls. Nevertheless, the ministry did not ask anyone
to leave the region..."  Source: IPR

            IRAN STUDENTS CLAIM VICTORY OVER ACADEMIC'S CASE
            "Students who have staged Iran's biggest pro-reform protests for
three years claimed a victory for freedom of speech [Nov. 17] as Iran's
supreme leader ordered a review of the death sentence against a dissident
academic... ...The week-long student rallies and strikes in support of
history lecturer Hashem Aghajari, condemned to hang for blasphemy, had
raised political tension at a crucial stage in the power battle between
Iran's reformists and hardliners..."  Complete report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            POLITICAL CRISIS DEEPENS IN IRAN ~~ GulfWire Digest #170 - Nov.
11, 2002

            ARABIC EDITION OF US FOREIGN POLICY MAGAZINE
            "Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Watan will launch [Nov. 13] the first
Arabic edition of the US-based magazine Foreign Policy, which will also be
distributed
            throughout the Middle East..."  Source: AFP

            NO DECLINE FOUND IN NUMBER OF STUDENTS GOING OVERSEAS OR COMING
TO U.S.
            "Many colleges reported that a growing number of their
students — especially men from Arab nations, India and China — could not
obtain visas. These
            included students who had already completed one or more years at
an American college but were not allowed to re-enter the United States after
returning home..."  Complete report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            NOSEDIVE IN APPLICATIONS FOR US VISAS ~~ GulfWire Digest #158 -
Aug. 5, 2002
            U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT HALTS SAUDI VISA SHORTCUT PROGRAM ~~
GulfWire Digest #156 - Jul. 22, 2002
            VACATIONING SAUDI STUDENTS WORRIED ~~ GulfWire Digest #160 -
Aug. 19, 2002

            GCC STATES WARNED OF SEVERE WATER SHORTAGE
            "High consumption of sweet water because of rapid population
growth, the hot desert weather and a steady expansion in non-oil sectors are
depleting the water resources in the UAE and other Gulf states and this
could lead to a severe supply shortage in the absence of massive investment
in desalination projects.  The warning by the Gulf Center for Strategic
Studies is the latest in a series of alarms sounded by official and private
institutions in the Arab world about the spectre of thirst in the region
without measures to
            bridge the gap and cut growth in consumption..."  Complete
report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            ARABS DISCUSS WATER CRISIS ~~ GulfWire Digest #102 - Jun 25,
2001
            JAPAN TO HELP OMAN FIGHT WATER SHORTAGE ~~ GulfWire Digest
#133 - Feb. 4, 2002
            JAPAN TO AID MIDDLE EAST TO SECURE FRESH WATER ~~ GulfWire
Digest #129 - Jan. 7, 2002


            News - Bahrain

            BAHRAIN'S KING APPOINTS WOMEN, NON-MUSLIMS TO UPPER HOUSE OF
PARLIAMENT
            "In a move designed to bring more democracy to this Gulf state,
Bahrain's ruler appointed six women and a Jewish representative Saturday to
the upper house of parliament.  Although it was not the first time that
women or non-Muslims are members of the Shura Council, they are among the
first 40 appointed members to sit in a new bicameral legislature. The lower
house was
            elected in the first polls in three decades in October.
Previously, the Shura Council had only made policy recommendations but had
no legislative
            powers. The council, which will have equal powers as the lower
house, was dissolved in February to pave the way for last month's
elections..."
            Source: AP
            WOMAN APPOINTED, NOT ELECTED, TO PARLIAMENT SAY KING HAS GIVEN
WOMEN CHANCE
            TO PROVE THEMSELVES
            "'I was appointed and not elected, but there are signs society
is finally waking up to notice the importance played by women,' said Nada
Haffadh, a
            45-year-old family physician who was among the 40 people named
to the upper house, known as the Shura, in a royal decree issued [Nov.
16]..."  Source: AP

            BUSH PRAISES BAHRAIN'S LANDMARK ELECTIONS
            "President Bush hailed Bahrain's first parliamentary elections
in nearly 30 years, calling it an 'important example' of a nation making the
transition to democracy..."  Complete report...

            ANALYSIS: BAHRAIN AND THE DEMOCRACY DREAM
            "There was good news and bad news in last week's parliamentary
elections in Bahrain. The good news was the Gulf nation's return to
parliamentary
            government, suspended for more than a quarter of a century. The
not so good news was two-fold. Women candidates -- appearing for the first
time on the
            ballot -- failed to gain any seats in the new Parliament. The
second was that Islamic extremists scored major gains..."  Complete
report...

            BAHRAIN'S DEMOCRACY
            "The ambassador of Bahrain believes last month's election in the
Gulf nation proves that democracy and Islam can co-exist.  'We're very
excited about the election. We're excited about starting the new
government,' Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali al Khalifa said... ... Foreign
observers certified the
            election as free and fair, the ambassador said. Nine female
candidates ran in the election, although none was elected.  'This is
overwhelmingly a vote of confidence' in the king's democratic reforms, he
told Embassy Row in a
            recent interview. Mr. Khalifa said the new democracy guarantees
civil and religious rights..."  Source: Washington Times

            ISLAMIC PARTIES' ELECTION SUCCESS MAY BENEFIT U.S.
            "The success of Islamic parties in recent elections around the
world is not cause for alarm and might preempt growing fundamentalism in
those
            countries, foreign policy analysts say.  'They've been made a
part of the game, and the radical edges will be smoothed out as they get a
stake in the status quo,' says Gerd Nonneman, an expert in Middle Eastern
politics at Lancaster University in England..."  Source: USA Today [Nov. 15]
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            BAHRAIN ISLAMISTS SWEEP FIRST VOTES ~~ GulfWire Digest #168 -
October 28, 2002

            COMMON RULES FOR THE ELECTED PARLIAMENT AND SHURA COUNCIL
            "Members cannot have joint membership of both chambers. They
cannot simultaneously be members of the municipal councils or hold a
government
            job..."  Complete report...
            RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PARLIAMENT
            RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SHURA COUNCIL

            U.S. EMBASSY TRIES TO GAG DUKE TALK
            "A Bahraini religious center accused the U.S. embassy [Nov. 12]
of campaigning to convince Americans and others to boycott the lectures of a
            controversial anti-Israel crusader. Self-styled "American
dissident" David Duke arrived yesterday morning in Manama to promote his new
book..."
            Complete report...

            CALL FOR POLITICAL PARTIES 'PREMATURE'
            "A leading Islamist member of the newly-elected Bahraini
parliament dismissed as "premature" calls by some of his colleagues to set
up full-fledged political parties in the Gulf kingdom..."      Complete
report...

            BAHRAIN TO ALLOW SCRIBES' UNION
            "The Labor Ministry has given a green light to the government
supported Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) to set up the first
journalist union in the Gulf region, an official statement said [Nov.
14]..."  Complete report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            BAHRAIN ISSUES NEW PRESS LAW ~~ GulfWire Digest #169 - Nov. 4,
2002

            PROGRAMS FOR ESTABLISHING FOUR NEW CITIES
            "Al-Qanat newspaper quoted the Minister for Housing and
Agriculture, Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah al-Khalifa, who said in mid-October
2002 that the Supreme Council for Planning and Building confirmed the
program for the building of four new cities at a total investment of $ 5
billion. He added that the new cities would be built in the north of the
country, on the island of Mahrak, on the island of Satra, and in the Luzi
region.
            Furthermore he estimated that the population of the new cities
would be about two hundred and fifty thousand. The newspaper noted that the
            ground-breaking ceremony for the new city to be built in the
north took place in early October 2002 with the participation of Bahrain
Crown Prince Sheikh Sulayman bin Hamad al-Khalifa..."  Source: IPR [Nov. 14]


            News - Kuwait

            KUWAIT ARRESTS SENIOR AL-QAIDA MEMBER
            "Kuwait has arrested a senior Al Qaida member who has identified
those who were behind last month's attack against a French supertanker off
Yemen,
            Kuwaiti dailies reported in their [Nov. 17] issues. The
newspapers said the Kuwaiti suspect, identified only as 'Mohsen F...'"
Complete report...
            KUWAITI YOUTH: FROM FRIEND TO FOE
            "...While Western diplomats in Kuwait say there is no doubt that
the majority of the million Kuwaitis and the government will back the United
States in a war with Iraq, some are worried that an attack on Iraq will only
further push some Kuwaitis into taking violent action against their American
            guests..."  Complete report...
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            ANALYSIS: HOW DEEP IS KUWAIT'S ANGER? ~~ GulfWire Digest #168 -
Oct. 28, 2002

            CZECH TROOPS TRAIN IN KUWAIT
            "Under the gaze of top U.S. military brass, Czech troops
training in the Kuwaiti desert showed off their skills [Nov. 14] in
responding to a
            terrorist attack using biological weapons..."  Complete
report...

            KUWAITI JUDICIARY FINES AL-JAZEERA TV
            "The Kuwaiti civilian court issued a sentence to fine al-Jazeera
TV in Qatar to pay a sum of 5001 Kuwaiti Dinars as an initial compensation
for four
            Kuwaiti lawyers who filed a lawsuit against its administration
and one of its anchors because of openly defaming Kuwait and its people
through one of its weekly programs..."  Complete report...

            KUWAIT'S FIRST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY HAS ITS ROOTS IN ST. LOUIS
            "Several years ago, a group of Kuwaiti educators decided the
country should establish its first private university to deal with a rising
number of
            students and to provide a more dynamic education than the
state-run system could.  'We wanted to contribute to the development of the
country and
            region, have more freedom to go into creative work and be
responsive to the market requirements...'"  Complete report...


            News - Saudi Arabia

            US ENVOY HIGHLIGHTS EXISTING EXCELLENT SAUDI-US RELATIONS
            "The US and Saudi Arabia have established a close business
relationship over the past 70 years. The US is Saudi Arabia's largest
trading partner and, for the United States, Saudi Arabia represents
American's largest trading partner in the Middle East, said Robert W.
Jordan, the US Ambassador to
            Saudi Arabia. He told Saudi Commerce and Economic Review that
there exist extremely good reasons for these close commercial ties, strong
reasons, that
            cannot be overcome easily..."  Complete report...
            KINGDOM URGES IRAQ TO ASSIST UN INSPECTORS
            "Saudi Arabia [Nov. 18] welcomed Iraq's decision to accept UN
Security Council Resolution 1441 and allow the return of UN weapons
inspectors. It
            expressed hope that the Iraqi move would end the current tense
situation and drive away the specter of war from the region..."  Complete
report...

            MUFTI HITS OUT AT SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHARITIES
            "Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the grand mufti, [Nov. 12] blasted
the smear campaign being launched by certain sections of the Western media
to discredit Saudi charitable societies. 'Our charities are supporting the
poor and working for the good of humanity,' he said..." Complete report...

            SAUDI ASSISTANCE VITAL FOR AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION, SAYS US
DIPLOMAT
            "The Kingdom has pledged $220 million in economic assistance
over a period of four years for the reconstruction of Afghanistan as part of
a
            multilateral effort involving the United States, Japan and the
European Union. This was disclosed in an exclusive interview to Arab News by
            Ambassador David T. Johnson, US coordinator for Afghanistan, who
said the amount would be disbursed under a phased program. Johnson said he
came here in view of the important role that the Kingdom has been playing in
the reconstruction of Afghanistan."  Complete report...

            NO ACCORD YET ON IRAQI TEAM'S KINGDOM VISIT
            "No agreement has been reached between the Saudi Export
Promotion Center and the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce and
Industry on a visit by an Iraqi delegation to Saudi Arabia to explore the
possibility of joint industrial projects and to hold talks on economic and
industrial cooperation
            between the two countries..."  Complete report...

            WOMEN BARRED FROM PROPHET'S CHAMBER
            "Women have temporarily been banned to enter, approach or pray
at the Prophet's chamber and the rawdah (the area near the Prophet's
chamber) at
            the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, Al-Madinah newspaper reported
[Nov. 14]. The General Presidency of Prophet's Mosque Affairs was forced to
take the unprecedented move by the inconveniences caused by the huge crowd,
according
            to an official source at the presidency..."  Complete report...

            DECISION ON TAXI SECTOR IS FINAL: NAIF
            "Interior Minister Prince Naif has said that the decision on
Saudizing the taxi sector is final. He clarified the government's stand to
reporters while attending a function to honor outstanding students of Riyadh
region on [Nov. 14]. "All should know that the decision to Saudize the taxi
sector is final and definite but we should give sufficient time to implement
it successfully," Prince Naif said. He is currently studying the methodology
and timing for implementing the program in collaboration with the ministries
            of communication and labor and social affairs..."  Complete
report...

            US ENVOY GREETS STUDENTS
            "US Ambassador Robert Jordan hosted a reception recently to
welcome King Faisal School students who are participating in a special
exchange program with Brown University in the US. The students visited Brown
University during the summer 2002 on joint program between the two
institutions. Ambassador Jordan pointed out to Dr. Mohammed Al-Khateeb,
president of King Faisal School and to the staff who accompanied the
students to the US that such programs are essential for Saudis and Americans
to learn about each other and overcome some of the misunderstandings that
exist on both sides..."  Complete report...

            PRIVATE SECTOR TO SET UP CLUBS FOR SAUDI WOMEN
            "The Saudi private sector will be allowed to establish cultural
and sports clubs for women according to rules and regulations of the
government.  'With the implementation of the new privatization policy, women
will be able to
            practice their own favorite sports at their own private sports
clubs,' said the minister of interior..."  Complete report...

            News - UAE

            UAE POPULATION GROWS 19-FOLD IN THREE DECADES
            "The UAE's population has jumped nearly 19-fold since oil began
flowing out of the desert land more than three decades ago to turn the
small-scattered oases into one of the most advanced cosmopolitan cities in
the Middle East.
            Dubai was the most populated emirate in 1968 before it was
overtaken by Abu Dhabi just a few years later as a result of a massive
influx of expatriates when Abu Dhabi kicked off one of the biggest
construction drives in the world to take advantage of its oil wealth.
Figures by the Ministry of Planning showed Dubai's population stood at
59,271 in 1968 while Abu Dhabi had around 46,575 people... ...At the end of
2001, Abu Dhabi's population of 1.36 million accounted for nearly 40 per
cent of the UAE's total population
            while Dubai's 1.029 million people amounted to around 30 per
cent. Sharjah had 16 per cent as its population of 562,000 is the third
largest..."
            Source: Emirates Bulletin No. 246, Nov 17
            ~~GulfWire Link~~
            DUBAI'S POPULATION RISES TO OVER 860,000 ~~ GulfWire Digest
#123 - Nov. 26, 2002
            NEED FOR RAIL NETWORK DISCUSSED
            "Senior UAE officials, businessmen and university teachers
recently highlighted the importance of establishing a railway network
linking all major cities and emirates.  They see it as a means of easing
congestion on roads, curb pollution caused by vehicles, boost regional trade
and strengthen relationships among families..."  Complete report...

            DRAFT LAW ON HEALTH IN FINAL STAGES
            "A new draft law which would make it compulsory for expatriates
in the UAE to have private medical insurance, is in its final stages,
according to a
            senior insurance industry source. It is learnt that the law has
been passed through to the higher authorities before being signed by the
President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the official
added. The new regulations are part of an overall reform process underway in
the healthcare sector, as the government moves to trim unnecessary
expenditure on this count..."  Source: Emirates Bulletin No. 247, Nov 18

            Link of the Week

            [BBC] QUICK GUIDE: ARAB LEAGUE

            GulfWire Flashback - 3 Years of GW

            <<ONE YEAR AGO – FROM GULFWIRE DIGEST (#122) WEEK OF NOVEMBER
19, 2001>>
            BUSH HOSTS IFTAR MEAL AT WHITE HOUSE
            "President George W. Bush welcomed ambassadors from Moslem
nations to the White House November 19 for a sundown mean to break the
Ramadan fast. The
            President told the 53 ambassadors, "Tonight we are reminded of
God's greatness and his commandments to live in peace and to help neighbors
in need…" "…Ramadan and the upcoming holiday season are a good time for
people of different faiths to learn more about each other…"  He told them he
            appreciated "support for our objectives in the campaign against
terrorism…" White House officials said it was believed to be the first time
a U.S.
            president hosted an Iftar meal at the White House."

            <<TWO YEARS AGO – FROM GULFWIRE DIGEST (#72) WEEK OF NOVEMBER
20, 2000>>

            SAUDI URGES U.S. MIDEAST ROLE FREE OF ISRAEL PRESSURE
            "Saudi Arabia's King Fahd said yesterday the United States could
have an effective role in the Middle East only if it acted independently of
Israeli pressure. King Fahd made his comments about his country's strong
ally, the
            United States, at a cabinet meeting in Riyadh..."

            <<THREE YEARS AGO – FROM GULFWIRE DIGEST (#20) WEEK OF NOVEMBER
22, 1999>>

            DEFENSE COOPERATION
            "Officials were making optimistic comments about the prospects
for GCC defense cooperation following last week's GCC Defense Minister's
meeting in Dubai.  The ministers met to prepare recommendations for next
week's GCC summit in Riyadh... ... Beyond official pronouncements of
progress, the meeting approved a joint radar "belt" and stressed the
strengthening of the
            Peninsula Shield Force -- a GCC-wide joint force..."

            Business News - Region

            [GulfWire] ENERGY FUTURES – 11.15.02
            Light Crude (NYM)     $24.71 bbl DOWN from $25.78 bbl on
11.08.02
            Brent Crude (IPE)     $23.35 bbl DOWN from $23.49 bbl on
11.08.02
            Heating Oil (NYM)     $.6921 gal UP from $.6888 gal on 11.08.02
            Natural Gas (NYM)     $3.981 mmbtu UP from $3.903 mmbtu on
11.08.02
            Unleaded Gas (NYM)    $.6973 gal DOWN from $.7128 gal on
11.08.02
            Source: CNNfn
            WAR TO IMPACT REGION'S ECONOMIES HEAVILY
            "The U.S. plan to strike Iraq cannot be viewed only as a
political issue as the economic implications will be hard and far-reaching
for the global economic fraternity..."  Complete report...

            OIL RISES ON FEARS OF GUERRILLA ATTACKS
            "Oil prices rose on Monday as the threat of a new wave of Muslim
guerrilla attacks added to fears of an Iraqi war, highlighting the West's
reliance on
            Middle Eastern oil.  Britain and Kuwait both said on Sunday they
had foiled attacks by Arab assailants, Israeli sky marshals stopped a
suspected hijacking, and more warnings were issued that the al Qaeda
guerrilla network was back in business..."  Complete report...

            OPEC FLOODING WORLD MARKETS WITH CRUDE OIL AS IRAQ TENSIONS
BUILD
            "Saudi Arabia and other OPEC oil producers are flooding world
markets with crude oil, a shift that experts say should help offset any
economic
            dislocation from a military strike against Iraq... ...the
production surge has helped wipe out a 5-dollar-per-barrel "war premium"
that pushed the
            price of crude above 30 dollars in early October..."  Source:
KUNA

            MIDDLE EAST EMBRACES PRIVATIZATION
            "Several Middle Eastern states have this week moved closer to
embracing privatization schemes in order to shore up their finances. Saudi
Arabia's
            finance minister, Ibrahim al-Assaf, announced plans to privatize
20 sectors including telecoms, railways, health services and hotels..."
Complete
            report...

            STAGNATION 'AT ROOT' OF ARAB PROBLEMS
            "Stagnation is a major problem in the Arab world, says a leading
banker and former diplomat. 'The problem in the Arab world is not
instability but
            stagnation,' said HSBC special adviser and former British
ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sir David Gore-Booth. The Middle East matters,
not just because it is an area of tension, but because it boasts real
achievements, he said..."  Complete report...

            U.N. URGES ARABS TO COORDINATE MORE
            "A top U.N. official Monday called for increased Arab
cooperation to boost the region's production capabilities and foreign
investment. Mervat Tallawy, executive secretary of the Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia, said coordination was needed 'to face the big
challenges.' She said inter-Arab trade accounted for 8 percent of the
region's total foreign
            trade. She said the lack of coordination, cooperation and joint
action limited the Arab capacity to produce and export goods at competitive
prices..."  Complete report...

            BATELCO AND OMANTEL SIGN COOPERATION DEAL
            "Bahrain Telecommunications Co (Batelco) announced it had signed
a memorandum of understanding with Oman Telecommunications Co (Omantel) to
jointly provide specialist services to business customers. The joint
initiative would involve international leased-line managed data services,
virtual private networks and Internet applications to facilitate e-commerce.
Omantel and Batelco are the sole providers of telecom services in Oman and
Bahrain, respectively..."  Source: IPR

            Business News - Bahrain

            APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL FOR ORGANIZING TENDERS FOR GOVERNMENT
PURCHASES
            "Al-Watan newspaper quoted an announcement published in early
October 2002 by the Ruler of the Country, Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa,
reporting the passage of a new law for the appointment of a council for
organizing tenders
            for government purchases. The paper quoted a news report of the
Bahrain News Service which said that the reason behind the appointment of
the new Council was to protect the public money and to eliminate the
possibility of interested parties influencing the government purchase
process..."  Source: IPR [Nov. 17]
            Business News - Kuwait

            KUWAIT ACHIEVES THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE REGION
            "A study conducted by the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies
shows that Kuwait achieved a 1 percent unemployment rate during the year
2001... ... Each year, around 6.39 million join the unemployed in the
region. The labor
            force reached 116 million, while the unemployed accounted for
21.6 million..."  Complete report...
            Business News - Oman

            OMAN OIL CO BUYS BRITISH FIRM'S 49 PC STAKE IN BP OMAN
            "Oman Oil Company (OOC), the government's investment arm, has
agreed to buy British multinational BP Plc's 49 per cent equity stake in BP
Oman. With this, the oil marketing firm will become a fully owned Omani
company..." Source: Oman Observer
            NEW POWER LINE TO LINK OMAN, UAE
            "Work is under way to establish a 33-KV power line to link
Khasab Power Plant with Al Ghalilah Power Plant in the UAE, according to
Sheikh Suhail
            bin Mustahail Shamas, Oman's Minister of Housing, Electricity
and Water..." Complete report on projects...

            Business News - Qatar

            QATAR ACHIEVES A BUDGET SURPLUS OF $714.9 MILLION IN Q3
            "Qatar's financial plan for the fiscal year 2002-03 is estimated
to witness an increase of QR2.6 billion ($714.9 million) in the
third-quarter ending September.  According to a bulletin made by The Qatar
Central Bank (QCB),
            the budget growth will be more than QR4.6 billion ($1.3 billion)
in the first six months of 2002..."  Complete report...
            QATAR PLANS STEEL, CEMENT PRIVATIZATION
            "Qatar said on [Nov. 12] it planned to privatize its steel and
cement industries to encourage a more active role by investors in the
economy..."
            Complete report...

            Business News - Saudi Arabia

            SAUDI GAS PROJECT SET TO GO AHEAD, SAYS 'MEES'
            "'Last week Shell submitted a mostly positive response to the
final offer from the Saudi Ministerial Committee ... relating to the five
billion dollar Saudi Gas Initiative Core Venture 3 (CV3), opening the way
for the project to go ahead once final modifications are agreed,' MEES
reports."  Complete report...
            FINANCE MINISTER ATTESTS TO SOUNDNESS OF SAUDI ECONOMY
            "Minister of Finance and National Economy Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf,
in a statement to be published [Nov. 16] in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyasah,
has
            attested to the soundness of the Saudi economy, refuting reports
that the Kingdom is facing economic stagnation and citing recent
developments
            including the successful operation of the Supreme Economic
Council, the progress of plans to privatize, and the reduction of custom
tariffs. In the past two decades, he said, efforts have been made to broaden
the economic base, and private sector revenues now constitute 70 percent of
the country's Gross National Product (GNP), which amounts to SR 700 billion
[U.S. $ 186.92
            billion]. He admitted that the State budget for this fiscal year
will face a deficit, but this deficit, he said, is lower than the figure of
SR 46 billion [$ 12.28 billion] that was earlier estimated. Reiterating the
government's concern to train citizens and enable them to find suitable
            jobs, he pointed out that the Kingdom's unemployment rate is
less than ten percent of the workforce..."  Source: SaudiEmbassy.net [Nov.
15]

            SCORES IN RUNNING FOR PIECE OF THE RAIL PIE
            "American, European, Japanese and South African firms are among
32 international bidders for the financial consultancy of the Kingdom's
1,600-km railway project, a Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) source said
here yesterday... ... The main project envisages adding a 950-km rail link
            between Riyadh and Jeddah. This will complete the rail link
between the country's east and west coasts through the existing 450-km rail
link between Riyadh and Dammam.  Initial estimates put the cost of this
project alone at more than $2 billion..."  Complete report...

            NEW MEASURES IN THE OFFING TO TACKLE DEBTS: SULTAN
            "Saudi Arabia will soon announce new measures including taxation
to tackle its staggering public debt problem, according to Prince Sultan,
second
            deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.  In an open
dialogue with Shoura Council members recently, the prince said the new
measures aimed at increasing revenues and reducing expenditures will be
presented to the Shoura Council for endorsement..."  Complete report...

            STC SET TO START SALE OF SHARES FROM DEC.17
            "Saudi Telecom Company will float 30 percent of its shares for
public subscription on Dec. 17 at the rate of SR170 per share, Finance and
National
            Economy Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf announced [Nov. 18]..."
Complete report...

            SAUDI BUSINESSMEN KEEN ON PRIVATIZATION
            "Privatization is inevitable if economic problems in the kingdom
are to be solved and dramatic changes will be witnessed in the near future
for the Saudi economy, said Saudi businessmen and economic experts..."
Complete report...

            SAUDIS SECURE $380M CONTRACTS FROM IRAQ
            "Saudi businessmen who made a landmark visit to Baghdad earlier
this month secured contracts worth $380 million with the Iraqi government, a
top Saudi businessman told Al-Jazirah newspaper..."  Complete report...

            INSURANCE SECTOR 'BREAKTHROUGH'
            "The Saudi government is likely to pass new legislation to
regulate the insurance sector, setting new standards and granting licenses
to reputable insurers, in a move that many in the industry have hailed as a
breakthrough..."  Source: Lloyd's List [Nov. 18]

            UNIFIED PATENTS PROCEDURE
            "An official spokesman of the GCC Patents Office has clarified
with reference to [Nov. 12] report in Arab News that a patent issued in one
GCC
            member country gets automatically registered in other states
unlike in EU, where a separate application for patent has to be filed in
each member country of the European Union. This is one of the highlights of
the unified patents procedure, he added..."  Complete report...

            GERMAN EXPORTS TO KINGDOM UP 18%
            "German exports to the Kingdom shot up by 18 percent in the
first half of this year compared to the corresponding period last year in
the wake of the Sept. 11 events..."  Complete report...

            Business News - UAE

            UAE'S EARNINGS FROM OIL, GAS EXPORTS MAY DROP
            "The UAE's earnings from crude oil and gas exports are expected
to slip by around 8 per cent to $23.2 billion this year, while its foreign
debt is
            likely to remain unchanged at nearly $18 billion, according to
official Arab figures..."  Complete report...
            NUMBER OF BUSINESSWOMEN GROWS FIVE-FOLD
            "During the past decade, the number of businesswomen engaged in
commercial activities in Dubai grew five-fold to 3,223 in 2002..."  Complete
report...

            NEW FINDS COULD PUSH UP GULF'S OIL RESERVES
            "Gulf Arab states and neighboring Iraq and Iran control nearly
35 per cent of the world's total recoverable natural gas resources - and
their reserves could surge by more than 50 per cent with expected new
discoveries, according to a UAE study. The UAE, its five partners in the
GCC, and the other Gulf states of Iraq and Iran sit atop 52,230 billion
cubic meters of associated and non-associated gas and their ratio to the
population is as high as 456 billion cubic meters for every one million
people, nearly 18 times the world average of 25 billion cubic meters, said
the study, published in the Oil and Industry News bulletin of the Ministry
of Petroleum and Mineral Resources..."  Source: Emirates Bulletin No. 247,
Nov 18

            DUBAI TO ESTABLISH A $4 BILLION FESTIVAL CITY
            "CEO of Al-Futtaim Group announced that his company is looking
to invest in Dubai's latest plan, which includes establishing a $4 billion
Dubai Festival City.  The CEO said that The Dubai Festival City, which will
be finished in 10 years, will extent to 1,200 acres along a 4km-long stretch
of Dubai's southern creek side. The city will have 75,000 people living and
working in
            it..."  Complete report...

            DFM MARKET CAP UP TO DH33.24B IN THIRD QUARTER
            "The total market capitalization of Dubai Financial Market (DFM)
increased by 7.64 per cent to Dh33.244 billion as of the end of third
quarter of 2002, from Dh30.884 billion. While the market cap of the banking
sector advanced marginally from Dh22.681 billion in the second quarter, to
Dh24.270 billion in the third quarter, the market cap of insurance sector
improved marginally
            from Dh264.400 million to Dh288.500 million."  Source: Emirates
Bulletin No. 247, Nov 18

            350 NEW FIRMS IN JAFZ IN LAST 10 MONTHS
            "Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ), one of the world's largest free
zones, has seen significant growth and development this year with the number
of national and multinational companies reaching over 2,300.  A total of 350
new companies have set up operations in the free zone from January to
October, as against 250 companies who had invested during 2001..."  Source:
Emirates Bulletin
            No. 247, Nov 18




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