Dubai regulator fines ABN AMRO $640,000 over money laundering rules

The Amsterdam-based lender was penalised after some of its staff were found to have engaged in practices that breached rules set by the regulator

Standard Chartered appoints Wynter as UAE head

Julian Wynter was group head of internal audit for the lender and has also held country head roles in Malaysia and Japan.

NCB Capital funds buy majority stake in major Saudi publisher

The new investors do not plan any changes to the overall “strategy of the company and have no plans to buy rest of the outstanding shares,” a statement said

Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding to sell Asharq al-Awsat publisher for $223.3m

Kingdom Holding did not disclose the identity of the buyer

Saudi deficit this year is “manageable” says foreign minister

The statement comes as Standard & Poors cut its ratings for Saudi Arabia’s long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit by one notch to ‘A-plus/A-1’

Saudi Arabia slams S&P decision to downgrade its debt

Standard & Poor’s cut its ratings for Saudi Arabia’s long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit

Middle East funds turn negative on equities

Low oil prices, instability in the global economy and the prospect of monetary tightening have hurt sentiment

Saudi advisory council to discuss land tax, MSCI inclusion

The Shura Council advises the government on legislation

Auditors, HR professionals in UAE to see highest salary rises in 2016

Average salaries for professional occupations are set to rise by 1.7 per cent next year, finds Robert Half report

Saudi foreign assets fall to their lowest since 2012

Net foreign assets at Saudi Arabia’s central bank fell 1.2 per cent from the previous month in September

Saudi public spending slowdown will impact banks – Moody’s

Moderation in government spending will slow credit growth, tighten funding and weaken asset quality

Qatar Investment Authority backs $8.6bn New York development

The Qatari fund has acquired a 44 per cent stake in the Manhattan West project from Brookfield Property Partners

Emirates Global Aluminium in talks for $5bn loan to refinance debt – sources

The company is seeking funds to refinance loans taken for the Emal projects, sources said

Tight liquidity may force UAE bank NBAD to raise borrowing rates -CEO

Rising rates might also impact the bank’s third quarter earnings, the lender’s chief executive said

Dubai’s Emaar Malls Q3 net profit rises 17%

Emaar Malls made a net profit of Dhs 376m in the three months to Sept. 30

RAKBank launches Elite tier

The new premium banking offering will provide customers with a dedicated relationship manager available 24/7

Bulgaria calls Omani claim over bank collapse ‘groundless’

Oman’s State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) has taken Bulgaria to arbitration at the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes

Sheikh Mohammed says UAE to be a ‘beacon of stability’ in Middle East

The UAE will look towards realising the goals of its Vision 2021, the Dubai ruler said

Higher net interest income helps Emirates NBD’s Q3 net profit rise 7%

The lender made a net profit of Dhs 1.67bn ($454.71m) in the three months to Sept. 30, compared to Dhs 1.56bn in the same period in 2014

Planned stock market listings in Abu Dhabi held back by conditions

Low oil prices and regional turmoil are keeping volumes low on Abu Dhabi’s stock market

Oman, Japan to form $400m fund to invest in food sector

The fund will facilitate direct investment in GCC states by Japanese food and agribusiness firms

UAE cabinet approves slightly smaller federal budget for 2016

Next year’s budget has been set at Dhs 48.56bn with a zero deficit

Oil at $80 seen as ideal in next phase -UAE economy minister

The minister said the world could not afford to let oil stay at its current level, which is roughly $50 a barrel for Brent crude

UAE SMEs lower growth outlook as economy slows

Small and medium enterprises have reported difficulties in collecting payments and raising finance, both signs of tightening liquidity

Dubai’s Mashreq Q3 net profit slips 7.6% as fee incomes fall

A rise in expenses meant net fee and commission income dropped by 4 per cent in the third quarter

Abu Dhabi’s new financial freezone begins operations

Abu Dhabi Global Market will initially focus on sectors such as wealth management, asset management and private banking

Revealed: Top 10 countries with the most number of millionaires

The United States tops the list while the UAE and Saudi Arabia feature among the top 15

Saudi Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding reports 10% increase in Q3 net profit

Kingdom Holding made a net profit of SAR 291.55m in the third quarter of 2015, up from SAR 265m in the same period a year earlier

Saudis looking at wide range of fiscal reforms -IMF official

The IMF estimates Riyadh faces a record budget deficit of well over $100bn this year, amounting to 21.6 per cent of gross domestic product

PineBridge Investments to close Middle East business -sources

The company’s Middle East headquarters in Bahrain will close and a process is underway to wind down the business, the sources said