UAE cement maker Gulf Cement Company registered a 269 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit in 2005 to 502.5 mln UAE dirhams ($136.8m) the company said on February 5, 2006.  According to the company’s financial statements, earnings per share (EPS) rose to 1.42 dirhams ($0.39) for 2005, from 0.54 dirhams ($0.15/0.12 euro) a year ago.  The company’s sales grew 15 per cent to 148 mln dirhams ($40.3m).