Bahrain’s GFH appoints new chairman, to focus on M&A

The company has targeted numerous mergers and acquisitions, including Dubai’s Shuaa Capital

Moody’s lifts Saudi banking system outlook

Measures of stress in the Saudi financial system have fallen sharply

Citigroup CEO meets with Alwaleed, eyes return to Saudi

The banking group is seeking a return to the kingdom to capitalise on financial reforms, according to reports

Bahrain’s GFH says it may merge with Dubai’s Shuaa Capital

A merger of the two firms would form a group with a market capitalisation of about $2.5bn

Investors bet on Shuaa-GFH merger

Shares in both companies have surged since Sunday

Japan’s Abe seeks Saudi support for Aramco listing in Tokyo

New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Toronto, besides Tokyo, are vying for what could be the world’s largest IPO

Dubai’s Shuaa Capital to acquire Integrated Capital and Securities

The deal is expected to close in the coming weeks

UAE’s Union National Bank to open China branch, expand in Egypt

National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Emirates NBD have also set up representative offices in China

Profit at Abu Dhabi's Mubadala climbs 12.4%

SoftBank plans Arm stake sale to secure Abu Dhabi backing for $100bn fund

Mubadala has reportedly requested an Arm stake forms part of SoftBank’s Vision Fund

GCC countries to announce VAT framework within 10 days

Gulf countries are expected to confirm domestic legislation shortly after the framework is released, according to reports

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank considering dollar sukuk issue

The lender could potentially issue in May this year

Dubai Financial Market launches ETF trading platform

The platform launched with one ETF from Afkar Capital

Profit at Abu Dhabi's Mubadala climbs 12.4%

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sells part stake in Advanced Micro Devices

Mubadala sold 45 million shares in AMD for around $613m

Emirates NBD to list Islamic REIT fund on Nasdaq Dubai

The firm will use its proceeds to fund acquisitions of real estate assets

Qatar tells banks to obey new FX limits by April 1

The central bank plans to introduce a ceiling on total foreign currency positions

Millions of Saudi citizens, residents not yet provided medical insurance

Authorities estimate that about 2.5 million Saudi citizens are working in the private sector without medical cover

Saudi sovereign fund PIF eyes stakes in German tech, finance companies

Any stakes would be no greater than 10 per cent

New Saudi SME stock market surges on first day

On their first day of trade, all seven Parallel Market stocks soared 20 per cent

Saudi accuses 32 people of spying for Iran

Saudi’s finance ministry names new head of public debt office

Ayman Alsayari was deputy governor for investment at Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority

Commercial Bank of Qatar posts 99% drop in Q4 profit

The bank has struggled with a rise in bad loans

Saudi Aramco recruits JPMorgan, M.Stanley for IPO, eyes Chinese investors

Up to 5 per cent of the world’s largest oil producer is likely to be listed

Saudi Aramco selects lead underwriters for $100bn IPO

JPMorgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley, and HSBC Holdings have reportedly been selected

Saudi sees first deflation in over a decade

Prices fell 0.4 per cent from a year earlier last month, their first drop since the early 2000s

Saudi issues request for proposals for international sukuk

The sovereign issued a debut $17.5bn bond in October last year

Saudi favours New York for Aramco IPO

Saudi officials expect the IPO to value Aramco at a minimum of $2 trillion

Qatari bank merger will ‘rebalance’ the market – Moody’s

Three Qatari banks – Masraf Al Rayan, Barwa Bank and International Bank of Qatar – are holding merger talks

Saudi’s Samba Financial Group appoints female CEO

Nashar is the first female CEO of a listed Saudi commercial bank

Dubai’s DIFC could have more than 1,000 firms by 2024

The state-owned financial free zone reached 447 financial firms in 2016

Saudi Stock Exchange appoints first female chairperson

Sarah Al-Suhaimi, the CEO of NCB Capital, has been appointed to the role

Saudi’s Tadawul to list seven companies on new SME market Nomu

The new market is set to open on February 26