Abu Dhabi Global Market to open arbitration centre next year

The centre will house the Middle East representative office of the International Court of Arbitration

Emirates NBD to stay profitable despite competition from new, bigger rival – Moody’s

The UAE’s largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank was created this year following the merger of National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank

Saudi hires Goldman for Riyadh airport’s stake sale

Saudi Civil Aviation Holding plans to sell a minority stake in Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport

GCC economic growth forecast to be less than 1% in 2017

A contraction in the oil sector is expected to offset non-oil growth, according to Oxford Economics

Saudi raises SAR17bn in first domestic sukuk

Saudi Arabia’s government auctioned sukuk with maturities of five, seven and 10 years

UAE’s Adnoc in talks with banks for big syndicated loan

The loan is expected to be in a range of $4bn to $5bn, a source said

Demand for business credit, personal loans up slightly in UAE

Credit demand is expected to continue rising slowly in the current quarter

FinTech trends in GCC banking

The key aspects of FinTech that the region’s banks must consider in the coming months

Investment Corporation of Dubai announces 21.4% dip in 2016 net profit

The company said the decrease was due to pressure on yields in its transport segment, which includes Dubai airline Emirates

Dubai Islamic Bank Q2 profit up almost 14%

The lender’s profit growth came on the back of strong income from Islamic financing

Dubai’s Emirates NBD posts 6% rise in Q2 profit

The DUbai-based lender made a net profit of Dhs2.02bn in the second quarter

Saudi finance ministry says 13 banks qualify for domestic sukuk programme

A senior finance ministry official estimated in May that local debt issues would cover 25 to 35 per cent of the 2017 deficit

Kuwait Finance House eyes merger with Ahli United Bank

The Gulf’s banking sector is consolidating as three years of low oil prices squeeze deposits

Doha mall denies report that loan refinancing has been frozen due to GCC rift

A media report quoted sources as saying that the diplomatic crisis was “the main reason for the deal being postponed”

Qatar mall’s $1bn-plus loan refinancing frozen amid GCC rift -sources

The refinancing of the $1bn loan by Doha Festival City was being coordinated by investment bank QInvest

Different Arab money

Almost half of GCC businesses not ready for VAT- survey

Officials say lack of necessary preparation is cause for concern

UK woos Saudi Aramco with new IPO rules

London is seen as one of the frontrunners for what is expected to be the world’s largest IPO

Bahrain’s Investcorp sells Spanish firm Esmalglass for $693m

Investcorp had bought Esmalglass in July 2012

Goldman, JPMorgan, HSBC vie for lead roles on ADNOC retail unit IPO

The listing of ADNOC’s distribution business is planned before the end of the year

Middle Eastern debt issuance up 53% in H1

Despite the increase, banking fees fell 15 per cent during the period

National Bank of Kuwait Q2 net profit up 10.7%

The bank’s net profit for the first half of the year rose 9.3 per cent due to higher net interest income

Qatar says has $340bn in reserves, can weather Arab sanctions

The Qatar central bank claims to have $40bn in reserves plus gold, while the QIA has $300bn in reserves

Dubai Financial Market expects two listings this year – report

The stock market has met with six or seven firms to discuss potential listings, an official has said

How to measure the greenness of finance

Green bonds are gaining traction in the Middle East

Three ways Fintech is transforming everyday life

FinTech comes to the fore in the GCC

With advances in financial technology developing at pace, we look at how the GCC fits into the global picture

Abu Dhabi fund ADIA eyes direct private equity investments

ADIA last year broadened its focus in Asian private equity markets, particularly China and India

Expat dependent fee takes effect in Saudi Arabia

Residence permits will not be renewed and exit/re-entry visas will not be issued for expatriates unless the fees are paid

UAE’s Abraaj to fully acquire African coffee chain Java House

The acquisition was made from private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners

Qatar stock index sinks 3.1% ahead of deadline in GCC diplomatic crisis

Stocks tumbled across the board on Sunday, with 41 lower and only one higher

Saudi GDP falls for first time since financial crisis

GDP, adjusted for inflation, shrank 0.5 per cent year-on-year between January and March, its first fall since 2009