Al Hilal Group has launched TradeArabia.com, described as the Middle East's most exciting business-to-business (B2B) web portal.

The site offers a dynamic mix of business and trade news, company information, a regional business marketplace and a free email service.

Al Hilal Group, the region's leading English language publisher of quality specialist magazines, is based in Bahrain with offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the UK (London) and the Far East.

"Anyone with an interest in exporting products and services to or from the Middle East to the countries with major trade links with the region will find TradeArabia.com vital to their business effort," says Ronnie Middleton, managing director of Al Hilal Group. ''It is the best business address in the Middle East.''

The portal provides daily industry news updates on 18 different sectors of the economy as well as an opportunity for visitors to the portal to access a worldwide database of more than 200,000 companies.

Companies can amend or update current information and new companies can add themselves to this focused business community, enabling their organisation to be featured under specific trade and industry activity.

Furthermore, the site allows companies to post products and services for sale or wanted in any of the 18 market categories in a B2B marketplace.

Additional information about the Middle East as well as major trading companies from around the world is included in TradeArabia.com.

A range of advertising and sponsorship opportunities is designed to propel participating companies to the forefront of the business community, with fees ranging from as little as $80 per month, providing prominent and targeted promotion.

The site can be accessed at www.tradearabia.com