UAE’s First Gulf Bank Posts 16% Q2 Profit Hike, Matches Estimates

The bank made a net profit of Dhs1.35 billion ($367.6 million) for the three months ending June 30.

Dubai’s RTA Says First Batch Of NOL Cards Issued In 2009 To Expire By Aug

Public transport users can use their expiring NOL cards until they finish their balance amount, RTA said.

UAE Lender NBAD Posts 17.5% Q2 Net Profit Gain, Beating Forecasts

NBAD made a net profit of Dhs1.42 billion ($386.6 million) in the three months to June 30, the bank said in a statement.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Posts 22% Q2 Net Profit Hike

The bank made a net attributable profit of Dhs1.06 billion ($288.6 million) in the three months ending June 30, it said in a statement.

Dubai’s Damac Says New Loretto Project Sells Out In One Night

The Loretto project, which has nearly 300 luxury apartments, is located in Damac’s flagship AKOYA development.

Stock News: Saudi Bourse At 6-Year High On Foreign Investment News

The main index rose 3.2 per cent, its biggest rise since April 2012, to a fresh six-year high of 10,062 points in the first hour of trade.

MSCI Could Add Saudi Arabia As Emerging Market Next Year

Saudi Arabia plans to open its stock market to direct investment by foreign financial institutions in the first half of next year.

Dubai International Airport Resumes Full Operations After Runway Upgrade

The number of flights to the airport surged 31 per cent with the opening of both the runways, Dubai Airports said.

Abu Dhabi’s House Prices Soar 17% In H1 2014

Residential sales prices in the emirate grew seven per cent in the second quarter of 2014, a new report says.

Aldar, Chalhoub To Launch Region’s Largest Department Store In Yas Mall

The new department store, spread across 200,000 sqft, will showcase over 200 global brands.

Stock News: UAE Slips As Arabtec Continues To Drop

Dubai’s main stock index fell 1.4 per cent as builder Arabtec declined by 3.7 per cent.

UAE’s Waha Capital Q2 Net Profit Jumps On AerCap Deal

Waha, whose shareholders include Abu Dhabi government entities, made Dhs1.14 billion in the second quarter of the year.

Qatar’s Masraf Al Rayan Q2 Profit Rises 12.1%

The Islamic lender’s net profit for the three months to June 30 was $129.5 million.

Oman Cement Posts 4.3% H1 Net Profit Hike

Net profit rose despite a drop in sales despite a drop during the first half of the year.

Saudi Arabia Prepares To Open $530bn Stock Market To Foreigners

A statement from the cabinet did not specify a timetable for the market to be opened.

UAE’s Second Tallest Tower Is 80% Complete, Says Developer

The Marina 101 project in Dubai, being developed by Sheffield Holdings, is slated for handover in early 2015.

IMF Raises Saudi Economic Growth Forecast To 4.6% For 2014

In April, the IMF had forecast GDP growth in the Kingdom to reach 4.1 per cent for 2014.

Saudi Telco Mobily Q2 Net Profit Slips 18.6%

The drop was caused by a provision against a scrapped network sharing deal with Atheeb Telecom.

Asian, Western Firms Bid For UAE Oilfields – Sources

A final decision on the winning firms is unlikely before early 2015 as the country decides whether to bring in Asian firms or stick with old partners, sources said.

India’s Tech Mahindra Forms JV To Expand Saudi Operations

The Indian firm will have 51 per cent ownership in the joint venture called Tech Mahindra Arabia while Saudi-based Midad will have a 49 per cent stake.

Kuwaiti Bank KFH Q2 Net Profit Rises 6.4%, Misses Estimates

Net profit rose to KD28.51 million ($101 million) in the three months to June 30 from KD26.8 million in the same period a year ago.

Saudi’s Fawaz Alhokair Q2 Net Profit Up 15.7%, Misses Forecasts

Net profit in the three months to June 30 was SAR191.2 million ($51.0 million), compared to SAR165.2 million in the same period a year earlier.

Saudi Electricity Q2 Profit Jumps 144% On One-Time Gain

The company made SAR3.66 billion during the three months to June 30, compared to SAR1.50 billion during the same period of the previous year.

Dubai Says Will Have Disabled-Friendly Parks By 2016

Dubai Municipality plans to begin restructuring all the major parks in the emirate to make them more accessible for disabled people.

Almost 41% Of UAE Businesses To Base Future Trade In Renminibi – Report

A HSBC survey found that business relationship benefits and competitive pricing were driving UAE businesses to adopt trade in Renminibi.

Saudi Telecom Reports 96% Rise In Q2 Profit, Beating Forecasts

STC changed the valuation of last year’s sale of a majority stake in Indonesia’s Axis from a SAR598 million loss to a SAR41 million gain.

Saudi’s Kingdom Holding Q2 Net Profit Rises 16.8%

The firm, owned by billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, attributed the rise to an increase in gains on investments and dividends income.

Stock News: Arabtec Plunges Again, Drags Dubai Down Further

Arabtec tumbled its 10 per cent daily limit while the Dubai index dropped 3.9 per cent.

Oman Fund Working To Rescue Bulgaria’s Corpbank

A plan is expected to be put together within three months.

Arabtec’s Board To Meet On July 24 To Review Q2 Results

Arabtec shares have been swinging wildly in recent weeks, moving the entire Dubai stock market.