Shuaa Capital plays down reports of job cuts

Reports earlier this week indicated the bank had laid off 15 per cent of its workforce

Doha Bank CEO says liquidity ‘much bigger issue’ than 2008

Raghavan Seetharaman said it was a “challenging time” for lenders

Dubai’s Shuaa Capital cuts 15% of staff

Before the lay-offs, the bank had about 70 employees

Former Saudi haj minister appointed IDB’s new head

Bandar Hajjar’s candidacy was endorsed by the Saudi government and the outgoing IDB president Ahmad Mohamed Ali

IMF backs Saudi’s new economic reform plan

Late last month, Saudi announced steps to reduce its dependence on oil exports over the next 15 years

Saudi’s Binladin gets bank loan to ease finance crunch

The amount will reportedly be used to cover redundancy costs for workers it is laying off, back salaries and severance costs

Gulf borrowers turn to private bonds as sales surge

Gulf bond sales have increased by a third so far this year, according to Bloomberg

Oil near $50 may support Gulf bourses

Petrochemical shares have given the greatest boost to Riyadh’s index over the last week

Saudi’s largest bank eyes overseas expansion

The bank plans to grow its Turkey franchise and expand into Malaysia, Indonesia and Egypt, its chairman said

QIA teams up with Brookfield to bid for Australia's Asciano - report

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund creates new $100bn unit

The fund will also abandon the Qatar Holding name, according to reports

Saudi Arabia said to be holding $116.8bn in US debt

The US Treasury Department released information related to its debt for the first time in four decades

UAE sovereign wealth funds hiring in-house to cut costs

Measures are seen as a means of reducing the “huge fees” some funds pay to external managers

Bahrain privately places $435m sukuk

Bahrain is stepping up its borrowing and in late February borrowed $600m

Almost 50% of UAE workers didn’t get a pay hike in 2015

Up to 28 per cent of UAE professionals don’t expect a raise this year, finds new survey

Middle East merger activity to continue despite low oil prices – EY

Distressed assets and changing consumer habits expected to drive deal activity in 2016

Saudi could make MSCI emerging markets index by 2019

Saudi market authorities recently announced an easing of foreign ownership restrictions

Saudi accuses 32 people of spying for Iran

Moody’s cuts Saudi, Oman, Bahrain debt ratings

The ratings agency downgraded Saudi Arabia’s long-term issuer rating by one notch

Kuwait public sector to cut “unnecessary” expats

Kuwait’s Investment Dar seeks creditor backing for new $2.7bn debt plan

Any deal is complicated by legal claims over Investment Dar’s assets

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UAE banks to assess impact of new rules on impairments

Lenders across the world are preparing for a change to international accounting rules

More senior executives at Abu Dhabi bank FGB depart

First Gulf Bank cut close to 100 jobs in November

Cost cutting by UAE banks to continue following job losses

Reductions by local lenders have totalled a combined 1,500 staff in 2016 and 2015, according to some estimates

UAE cabinet approves creation of central Islamic finance authority

The authority will be designed and established by the central bank

Saudi will continue to support banks despite new law – Fitch

​The kingdom’s bank resolution draft law is unlikely to reduce support for lenders

HSBC Middle East appoints new interim CEO

Robin Jones replaces Mohammad al-Tuwaijri, who was appointed Saudi deputy minister of economy and planning

Saudi bourse selects HSBC to advise it on planned 2018 listing

Tadawul is by far the largest stock market in the Middle East

Saudi working on SME bourse rules for early 2017 launch

Tadawul announced last month that it planned to open the new exchange next year in a bid to improve access to capital

Saudi plans stock market reforms to draw foreign money

Reforms announced on Tuesday suggested authorities are now courting foreign money more aggressively

Saudi to loosen foreign ownership limits for stocks

Previously, qualified institutions could only own a maximum of 5 per cent of any listed company

Dubai Financial Market profit jumps 27%

The general index increased by 6.5 per cent during the quarter

Qatar National Bank says customer accounts safe despite data breach

Documents posted online last week included the bank details of journalists, supposed royal family members and government and defence officials