HSBC Barred From Taking New Funds In Saudi Arabia

HSBC Saudi Arabia needs to revamp its compliance procedures before CMA can reverse the ban, sources reportedly said.

Visiting Venezuelan Delegation To Meet Saudi Deputy Oil Minister -Source

The delegation will meet Prince Abdulaziz because Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi is out of the country on a business trip, a source said.

Abu Dhabi To Invest Over $25bn In Offshore Oilfields -ADNOC Official

The plan is part of the UAE’s strategy of increasing its crude oil output potential to 3.5 million barrels per day by 2017-18.

Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank Sets IPTs For Benchmark Dollar Tier 1 Bond -Leads

The lender set price guidance for the bond, which will boost its Tier 1 (core) capital, in the low 7 per cent area.

Saudi Aramco Board Visits South Korean Shipbuilder -Sources

Saudi Arabia has been supplying more crude to Asian markets and Saudi Aramco’s shipping arm has tendered to build 5 very large crude carriers (VLCCs).

Kuwait’s Gulf Bank Q1 Net Profit Rises 12%, Misses Estimates

The bank said in a bourse filing that net profit for the three months to the end of March was $32.4 million.

Saudi Telco Mobily Swings To Q1 Net Loss, Misses Forecasts

Mobily, an affiliate of the United Arab Emirates’ Etisalat, made a net profit of SAR199 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding Posts 10.3% Q1 Net Profit Increase

Kingdom made a net profit of SAR139.4 million ($37.2 million) in the first quarter of 2015.

Saudi’s Sipchem Says Has Finished Testing New Plastics Plant

The Sipchem Chemicals Co plant will make up to 63,000 tonnes per year of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin.

Oman Electricity Co To Meet Investors For Potential Debut Dollar Bond Issue

The firm chose Bank Muscat and J.P.Morgan to arrange investor meetings for the bonds in the United States and Europe.

Dubai’s Noor Bank Sets Price Thoughts For $500m 5-yr Debut Dollar Sukuk

Initial price thoughts were set in the 140 basis points area over midswaps for the sukuk, which have an agency-based structure known as wakala.

Dubai Courier Aramex Q1 Net Profit Rises 10%

The company made a net profit of Dhs86.6 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Taiwan CPC To Set Up Oil, LNG Trade Units In Dubai, Qatar

The company expects to set up offices by the end of this year.

UAE’s ADNOC Says No Timeframe For Decision On Onshore Concession

Nine firms bid for stakes in the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) concession which became available after a 40-year deal expired.

Kuwait’s KUFPEC Looking For Acquisitions Globally -CEO

The company is looking in all regions and did not specify a minimum price level below which the acquisitions would become uneconomic.

Obama, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Discuss Need For Military Equipment

Obama and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan “reaffirmed their mutual commitment to close defense and security cooperation”.

Saudi’s Tasnee To Cut Costs, Revise Contracts After Swinging To Loss

For the first quarter of 2015, Tasnee posted a net loss of SAR332.5 million ($88.7 million).

What To Expect From UAE Real Estate

CBRE Middle East’s MD Nicholas Maclean and head of research Matthew Green, give their insights into the Dubai and Abu Dhabi real estate markets.

Saudi’s Sipchem Q1 Net Profit Up 17.3%, Misses Estimates

Sipchem attributed the increase in quarterly profit to higher production and sales and lower expenses.

Qatar’s Masraf Al Rayan Q1 Profit Rises 18.%, Beats Estimates

Net profit for the three months to March 31 was QAR511 million.

Saudi Border Guard Killed In Yemen – Interior Ministry

Several members of Saudi Arabia’s forces have been killed since the country began its air strikes.

Aldar Launches Three New Residential Projects In Abu Dhabi

The developer launched West Yas and Mayan communities on Yas Island while its third project Meera will be located on Reem Island.

Qatar’s Doha Bank Q1 Net Profit Rises 5.2%, Ahead Of Estimates

The lender made a net profit of QAR420.2 million ($115.4 million) during the first quarter of 2015.

Kuwait Studying Proposals To Introduce Same Tax For Local, Foreign Firms

Kuwaiti companies generally do not pay taxes on income, although foreign firms pay a levy on commercial activities.

Abu Dhabi Real Estate Slowdown Expected, Rental Cap Could Be Reintroduced

Low oil prices mean Abu Dhabi’s real estate market is expected to be stable to negative this year, with a new rental cap under consideration.

Union Properties Partners With Naif Al Rajhi Investments For Saudi Projects

Through the deal, a limited liability company specialised in real estate investment and development in Saudi Arabia will be formed.

Oman’s ONIC Holding And Ominvest Say Boards Approve Proposed Merger

The merger will still require approval from the shareholders of both companies, the Capital Market Authority and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Saudi Arabia On Alert Over Possible Oil Or Mall Attack

An interior ministry spokesperson said that all information has been passed on to the security forces, who are on alert.

Foreigners Queue For Opening Of $500bn Saudi Bourse

The move is likely to start the process of incorporating Saudi Arabia into major equity indices by the likes of MSCI, and this could attract as much as $24 billion in foreign capital.

Naimi Says Saudi Oil Production Near Record High In April

Naimi said that oil production in Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest crude exporter, was “around 10 million” bpd in April.