Middle East airlines profits are set to quadruple this year to US$400 million, according to a report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Middle East should prepare to capitalise on the world shipping industry?s increasing focus on the East, an industry expert has said.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has announced it will expand its codeshare agreement with Royal Air Maroc, the national airline of Morocco, providing customers with access to more destinations in Morocco and West Africa.

Expansion work will begin next year to increase the capacity of the King Fahd Causeway, which links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, to handle up to 100mn passengers a year. The plan will include the construction of two 400,000 sqm artificial islands, one on the Bahrain side and one on the Saudi side of the causeway.