Dubai state firms due to repay $50 b

State-related companies in Dubai are due to repay nearly 50 billion
dollars in debt -- 70 percent of the Gulf emirate's estimated GDP --
within the next three years, Standard and Poor' s said in a study
published on Thursday. There is a "significant" likelihood the
government of the Gulf emirate will have to give financial support to
at least some of the companies, the credit ratings agency said,
estimating that the government and the various companies owe 80 to 90
billion dollars in total. The companies include finance group DIFC
Investments, ports operator DP World, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ),
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCC), Emaar Properties and
Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group ( DHCOG). It is "almost
certain" DIFC and DHCOG will next special government help, while the
likelihood of JAFZ and DP World needing support is "very high, " the
report said, adding that a lack of official statistics means there is
a significant margin of error in the figures and this generates
uncertainty.