Ottawa Business Journal

Doing business in the Gulf

Blog posts and articles from OBJ reporter Elizabeth Howell's six days in the Persian Gulf.

SHIFTING SANDS: Peeking through the dust

March 9, 2009 - 15 h 24

In 2008, the region's GDP increased at a phenomenal annual rate of between five and 10 per cent in the countries of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar....

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
SHIFTING SANDS: Against the wind

March 9, 2009 - 15 h 11

Perhaps surprisingly for those new to the Persian Gulf, that question is also on the minds of many investors in the region. Even oil revenues - at an all-time high...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
SHIFTING SANDS: Balancing between east and west

March 9, 2009 - 16 h 40

The chair of the Ottawa-based Human Resource Systems Group Ltd. went to Qatar a year ago to provide consulting and training services to Al-Attiya Computer and...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
BLOGGING FROM THE GULF: Day 1 - Meeting the Middle East

February 22, 2009 - 9 h 50

All I wanted to do was buy some dinner. It's Sunday afternoon here in Doha, the rapidly expanding capital of Qatar. that is known for both its sports venues and...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
BLOGGING FROM THE GULF: Day 2 - Opening my eyes

February 23, 2009 - 14 h 20

"You're travelling ALONE?" the Russian gentleman asks me during our 1.5-hour wait in line to register at the IDEX conference in Abu Dhabi. I nod, not sure I want to...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
BLOGGING FROM THE GULF: Day 3 - Capital improvements?

February 24, 2009 - 10 h 20

Chanting draws me out of sleep at 5:30 a.m.; it's prayer time at the mosque a few blocks away. The air is still, humid, and tinged brown with dust. By the time the...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
BLOGGING FROM THE GULF: Day 4 - Bridge to Doha

February 25, 2009 - 12 h 06

The hotel's bathroom telephone reminds me just how small this world is; Nortel Networks Corp.'s name is on the top, which makes me do a triple-take. I also note the...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
BLOGGING FROM THE GULF: Day 5 - Guards, gates and pedagogy

February 26, 2009 - 9 h 40

"Isn't it good to see the Canadians so far ahead of everyone else!" jokes Mississauga-based freelance journalist Raheel Raza to me. Indeed, the two of us are right...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports
BLOGGING FROM THE GULF: Day 6 - The end is the beginning

February 27, 2009 - 3 h 44

Whenever I travel, I carry books about journeys in my purse with me to read in the airport, in my hotel room, and whenever I have a few moments during which I feel as...

Content type: Article
Section: Special Reports