UAE banks set for another year of record growth

UAE banking sector assets hit record Dhs4.1tn in 2023

Total deposits of resident and non-resident customers with UAE banks rose by 13.5 per cent YoY to reach Dhs2.5tn

UN-backed NZBA to report capital markets-related emissions

UN-backed NZBA to report capital markets-related emissions

The guidelines require banks to report capital markets emissions, such as those tied to money raised for companies via bond or share issues

GCC IPO momentum to remain robust in 2024

Here’s why the GCC IPO bonanza is here to stay

The GCC region is set to see more equity capital markets activity in 2024 as more companies are considering public listings amid a global slowdown

Saudi Manpower Solutions Company gets CMA nod to list IPO on Tadawul

Saudi Manpower Solutions Company gets CMA nod to list IPO on Tadawul

The IPO will offer 120,000,000 shares, representing 30 per cent of SMASCO’s total issued share capital

Dubai’s Parkin gets $71bn in orders for $429m IPO

Parkin’s $429m IPO oversubscribed 165 times

Dubai Investment Fund sold 749,700,000 shares, equivalent to 24.99 per cent of Parkin’s paid-up capital

PIF

PIF world’s fifth largest sovereign wealth fund post Aramco stake transfer

The PIF currently ranks number five globally in terms of sovereign wealth funds by asset size

Dubai’s IPO haul hits Dhs34.5bn in three years

Dubai’s IPO haul hits Dhs34.5bn in three years

The emirate’s continued listing activity is being driven by the implementation of various initiatives such as the IPO accelerator programme

Eid al fitr 2024

Eid al Fitr 2024: Saudi banks announce 9-day holiday

Financial institutions as well as academic institutions in the kingdom will shut for an extended period to mark Eid al Fitr

saudi arabia - jada fund of funds

PIF-backed Jada commits $266m in its first venture debt investment

This investment aims to bolster the growth of the Venture Debt ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.

Egypt raises minimum wage by 50% as part of ‘urgent’ package

Egyptians remit more money home after devaluation

The devaluation was part of an $8bn financial support agreement that Egypt last week signed with the International Monetary Fund

Parkin raises share size allocated to UAE retail investors

Parkin IPO: UAE retail offering increased on strong demand

The company increased the allocation of retail investor shares to 89,964,000 ordinary shares from 74,970,000 ordinary shares

Sanjay Shah

Denmark begins court trial against Sanjay Shah in fraud case

Anthony Mark Patterson, who is seen as Shah’s closest accomplice, was in February sentenced to eight years in prison in Denmark’s first criminal cum-ex trial

Cheyne Capital secures investment from Abu Dhabi’s ADIA

Abu Dhabi’s ADIA invests in private credit fund Cheyne Capital

The investment is for the ninth round of the Cheyne Real Estate Credit Holdings programme bringing ADIA’s total commitment to $831.3m

Bitcoin tops $72,000 as demand frenzy intensifies

Bitcoin hits record above $72,000 as demand frenzy intensifies

The world’s most valuable cryptocurrency has been boosted by a flood of cash into new spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds

UAE President receives Egypt President photo Wam

S&P upbeat on Egypt rating after $35bn UAE deal

Moody’s on Thursday affirmed its CAA1 rating but changed its outlook on Egypt to positive citing significant official and bilateral support

EFG HERMES - gcc economy - sector

EFG Hermes reveals five must watch sectors for 2024

Following the theme of its conference, EFG Hermes highlights opportunities available in frontier emerging markets

Mamou Marianna, the head of Advice Beyond Investing at UBS Chief Investment Office, shares the impact of the global gender retirement gap and it its implications for the Middle East.

The global gender retirement gap and its regional impact

Another important consideration regarding pension allocation and savings for retirement is that women face a higher probability of retiring early

Gold

Gold rally hits pause ahead of US inflation data

Gold set a record peak of $2,194.99 for the fourth straight day on Friday after data signalled a cooling US labour market

Aramco

Aramco boosts 2023 dividends 30% with second-highest profit on record

Aramco’s shares were up about 1.7 per cent to SAR32.3 a share, slightly above their 2019 IPO price of SAR32

Financial literacy is the key to uplifting women

Financial literacy empowers women to cultivate a habit of regular savings and investing, and it starts with keeping track of expenses and budgeting

Dubai ruler imposes 20% tax on foreign banks

Sheikh Mohammed issues law imposing 20% tax on foreign banks in Dubai

Foreign banks that violate the law face a stiff penalty of not more than Dhs500,000

ADGM’s assets under management rose by 35% in 2023

ADGM says assets under management rose by 35% in 2023

A total of 102 asset managers, comprising investment firms and hedge funds, who manage 141 funds have set up shop in Abu Dhabi

o boost anti-financial crime efforts GettyImages-927096466

UAE strengthens anti-financial crime efforts with new MoU

The new MoU reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to tackling financial crime through enhanced cooperation, training and innovation in combating these evolving threats

Are you set for retirement? Image Getty Images

Insights: What you should consider when planning your retirement

We explore how private markets can boost your retirement portfolio

Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Bahrain Mumtalakat to boost cooperation, investment

Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Bahrain Mumtalakat to boost cooperation, investment

The agreement aims to expand cooperation between the two parties and enable new and promising investment opportunities in Bahrain

Deloitte

Deloitte ME Growth Leader on Neo Banks, Saudi’s new regional office

We sat down for a chat with Deloitte on the sidelines of LEAP 2024 to know about their focus areas for the year ahead

Investcorp leads Salla’s pre-IPO funding round

Bahrain’s Investcorp leads Salla’s $130m pre-IPO funding round

The fundraising had the participation of Sanabil Investment, a unit of Public Investment Fund, venture capital firm STV, and Salla’s existing shareholders

Bitcoin surges past $68,000, in sight of record high

Bitcoin soars above $68,000 as it nears 2021 all-time high

The cryptocurrency has gained 50 per cent this year amid a surge in inflows into US-listed bitcoin funds

Dubai’s Parkin seeks to raise up to $429m from IPO

Dubai’s Parkin sets IPO price range of up to Dhs2.1 per share

The company will offer around 25 per cent stake, in the emirate’s first privatisation deal this year, giving it an overall valuation of up to Dhs6.3bn

Bitcoin breaches $64,000 as records beckon

Bitcoin bounces beyond $64,000 as records beckon

The cryptocurrency has gained 50 per cent this year and most of the rise come in the last few weeks where trading volume has surged for US-listed bitcoin funds