DUBAI, 17 July 2005 — Dubai-based Mashreqbank Group said yesterday its first-half net profit more than doubled to 676.6 million dirhams ($184.2 million) from 338.1 million dirhams a year ago. A bank statement on the Dubai bourse website said net interest income increased 18 percent to 476.8 million dirhams and total income jumped 95 percent to 1.54 billion dirhams. Earnings per share rose to 7.81 dirhams from 3.90 dirhams, while assets grew to 36.76 billion dirhams from 29.85 billion dirhams.