Qatar National Bank Q2 net profit rises 10%, beats forecasts

QNB, aiming to become the largest bank in the MEA by 2017, said loans and advances rose 9.2 per cent in the first half of the year

Oman takes legal action against Bulgaria over bank collapse

Oman’s biggest sovereign wealth fund owned a 30 per cent stake in Corporate Commercial Bank

Saudi regulator accepting applications from credit rating agencies

Agencies which apply before the end of August will be allowed to operate until they receive a licence

Dubai house rents to fall by 4% in 2015- report

Dubai is unlikely to see a steep growth in rents as the market stabilises, a new report says

DIFC Courts says 447% rise in value of claims in first half of 2015

The average value per claim in the Court of First Instance increased 490 per cent to Dhs 106.4m

Oman plans $600m solar energy plant to save on gas use

Construction of the first phase of the plant, ultimately expected to generate 1,021 megawatts, will start this year

Marka signs Dhs 31m franchise deal for ice cream brand Morelli’s Gelato

Post the deal, Marka plans to open 17 Morelli’s outlets in the MENA region by 2020

Saudi’s Mobily unlikely to stabilise before next year – chairman

The company has been rocked by accountancy issues which have forced it to restate financial statements dating back to 2013

Tunneling work begins on mega Riyadh Metro project

The 176 km six-line driverless network is scheduled for completion in 2019

Three senior staff at UAE’s Arabtec quit, new CFO appointed

The changes follow a series of management upheavals at the company since June last year

UAE Central Bank issues braille currency notes for Dhs 500, Dhs 5

The new tactile features will be engraved in bleed-off intaglio printing on the edge of the banknotes’ short sides

UAE collects labour fines worth Dhs 37.5m during grace period

The ministry said that 27,962 companies have resettled fines relating to 58,365 workers registered under their sponsorships

UAE crude oil exports to fall in Q4 on refining boost -sources

The added refining capacity is expected to eat into crude available for exports, Gulf-based oil and trading sources said

Movenpick Hotels & Resorts to open fourth hotel in Jeddah

The new hotel is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019 and will be located on Prince Sultan road in Jeddah

Abraaj Group buys majority stake in Nigerian mattress maker Mouka

The founding family of Mouka who will retain a minority stake in the company, a statement said

UAE cabinet approves draft law on bankruptcy

The draft law reportedly presents “flexible strategies” to bailout businesses that are facing bankruptcy

UAE businessman Abdullah al-Ghurair gives third of assets to charity

Al Ghurair has donated a third of his assets to an educational foundation as part of a charity drive

Kuwait stops issuing visas for expats’ parents

The government has also reformed the validity of family visit visas issued for expats, an official said

Three Saudi brothers arrested over links to Kuwait ISIL bombing

The bombing, which killed 27 people, was Kuwait’s deadliest militant attack

Sheikh Mohammed reaffirms UAE’s focus on gender equality

The UAE set up the Gender Balance Council earlier this year to empower women in the country

Saudi-led air strikes kill nearly 100 in Yemen

The UN has been pushing for a halt to the air strikes and fighting that has killed nearly 3,000 people in Yemen since March

Kuwait detains 26 over deadly ISIL attack on mosque

The suicide bombing on a Shi’ite Muslim mosque last month killed 27 people

Aluminium Bahrain says Q2 production rises 3.1%

The company said second-quarter production stood at 238,904 tonnes against 231,713 tonnes in the same 2014 period

Emirates to launch services to Iranian city of Mashhad

The airline will soon begin a weekly service to Mashhad, its second destination in Iran

Dubai property market unlikely to see drastic correction – survey

The majority of business executives say any losses or gains in the Dubai property market will be within 10 per cent of current values, a new survey showed

GCC smartphone market up 21% in Q1 – IDC

The smartphone market’s share in the region is now just under 77 per cent

UAE bank ADIB targets 2016 acquisitions, eyes Asia, Middle East

The bank is looking for opportunities in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Algeria, Jordan and Morocco, its CEO said

Abraaj Capital sells 13.6% stake in Africa’s UAP Holdings

Abraaj sold its stake in the African insurance firm to London-based banking group Mutual plc

Bahrain passes 2015-16 budget after parliament forces changes

The budget was passed after a six-month delay during which parliament forced changes to the plan

FIFA head Blatter says political pressure behind Qatar World Cup

Blatter alleged that former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany’s Christian Wulff backed Qatar as the host for the 2022 World Cup