Saudi British Bank picks Goldman for Alawwal merger

SABB and Alawwal are mulling a merger that could create the kingdom’s third biggest bank with assets of nearly $80bn

Bahrain, Manama, Cityscape view of Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbor

Bahrain’s GFH receives $2.5m as legal settlement from Prescott Energy

GFH won a legal case filed in 2013 against against Prescott Energy

Dubai real estate fund ENBD Reit buys student housing for Dhs120m

The acquisition is the fund’s first since its listing on Nasdaq Dubai in March

Dubai to raise around $500m in first funding phase for metro extension

The loan proceeds would be used to start the 15km extension of the Dubai metro to the World Expo site

Saudi foreign assets reach their lowest level since 2011

The kingdom’s foreign assets kept falling in April amid heavy overseas borrowing

Saudi’s Alawwal Bank picks JPMorgan to advise on merger with SABB

SABB and Alawwal said on April 25 they had agreed to start talks on a merger

Revealed: Top 50 GCC banks

Gulf Business reveals the 50 biggest banks in the GCC as ranked by total assets

Dubai reduces regulation for fintech firms with new licence

Companies will be able to temporarily operate in DIFC with less strict regulatory requirements

Dubai bank Emirates NBD launches e-commerce platform

SkyShopper is intended to encourage online shopping and build customer loyalty

Dubai-based comparison site compareit4me raises $3.5m in funding

The company said STC Ventures and Wamda Capital provided the majority of the funds

Revealed: Qatar’s biggest banks

The GCC state’s top listed banks, as ranked by total asset size

UAE insurance start-up Bayzat raises $3m

The investment follows a $3.5m funding round in November

GCC value added and selective taxes come into force

The taxes have come into force after ratification by the UAE

Revealed: Top 10 banks in Saudi Arabia

The kingdom’s biggest listed banks, as ranked by total asset size

Revealed: Top 10 banks in the UAE

The country’s biggest listed banks, as ranked by total asset size

Saudi/Abu Dhabi-backed SoftBank fund closes with $93bn of capital

Gulf sovereign investors are key backers of the fund

US, Saudi firms sign multi-billion dollar deals during Trump visit

Energy minister Khalid al-Falih said deals involving all companies totalled over $200bn

Dubai’s Alabbar acquires ‘large’ stake in regional VC fund MEVP

MEVP is one of the largest venture capital firms in the MENA region

UAE Exchange Group targets up to $300m in acquisitions

The group aims to increase its share of the $575bn global remittance industry to more than 10 per cent by 2020

Oman appoints banks ahead of debut public dollar sukuk

The planned sale is expected to raise around $2bn

Dubai-based delivery app Fetchr closes $41m funding round

Investors in the round included malls operator Majid Al Futtaim

UAE businesses found unprepared for VAT introduction

Survey reveals most UAE businesses have no VAT strategy or budget in place

Dubai firm GGICO aims to complete debt restructuring by June

The firms is expected to complete a restructuring of around Dhs2.36bn in loans

JPMorgan to increase bankers in Saudi in line with market growth

The bank expects increased activity in the equity market

Saudi says deficit financed from current account in Q1

Saudi Arabia’s fiscal deficit had fallen 71 per cent in the first quarter

New York Stock Exchange to woo Aramco IPO in upcoming Saudi visit

Saudi officials have said the IPO, planned for 2018, will be worth about $100bn

Dubai’s Mashreq to launch new digital bank, CEO says more UAE bank mergers likely

Mashreq will launch the new bank in July this year

Saudi’s inclusion in MSCI’s emerging markets index could signal large inflows

MSCI could include the Tadawul in its emerging markets in June

London bourse reveals new listing structure in a bid to attract Saudi Aramco IPO

Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering is expected to be the largest in history

Blackstone, CVC consider bid for Emaar’s entertainment unit – report

Emaar’s entertainment unit operates the Dubai Aquarium and Ice Rink at Dubai Mall as well as the Reel Cinemas chain