Saudi to convert state real estate fund into bank

After its conversion the Real Estate Development Fund will offer financing in cooperation with the private sector, a statement said

Dubai Holding’s net profit up 24% in H1 2015

The company earned around Dhs 2.6bn in net profits during the first half of this year

UAE’s GDP to grow 3.5% in 2015

The growth in the economy has been attributed to the country’s diversification efforts

Qatar central bank chief cools rate rise talk, says won’t follow U.S.

The official said that liquidity in Qatar’s banking system remained ample and that demand for T-bills was still strong

Mideast funds heavily favour UAE equities in region

Survey finds 53 per cent of fund managers expect to raise equity allocations to the UAE in the next three months

Kuwait to seek private investment in $36bn projects

The Gulf state recently introduced a new law designed to facilitate public-private partnerships

StanChart aims to hire financial crime compliance staff in Middle East

The bank is hiring a head of sanctions for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan

UAE salaries predicted to rise by 5% in 2016

Inflation also expected to fall to around 2.7 per cent, report finds

Qatar Investment Authority commits to $35bn US investment

The fund also announced the opening of its first office in the country

Gulf Related secures Dhs 2.3bn financing for Al Maryah Central

Under the deal, a portion of the mixed-use retail development will be funded by ADCB

UAE August inflation rises to 4.9%, highest since February 2009

UAE consumer inflation rose 4.9 per cent year-on year in August while it rose 0.9 per cent month-on-month

Gulf countries will stick to currency dollar-pegs, Fitch says

Gulf currencies pegged to the US dollar have come under pressure but Fitch said that the decision to remove the pegs will most likely be political

UAE’s Emirates NBD says affiliate mulls IPO

Emirates NBD did not provide any more details of the potential offer

UAE’s DAMAC says unit raises $100m via sukuk certificates

The certificates, rated BB by Standard & Poors, were issued by its unit Damac Real Estate Development Ltd

Dubai property firms can weather current market correction – S&P

The real estate entities rated by S&P have “sufficient headroom in their credit ratios” to handle the slowdown, the agency said

Exclusive: UK subsidiary of Nigeria’s Access Bank to open Dubai office

The bank aims to help facilitate investments from the Gulf region into Africa, primarily Nigeria, says CEO

UAE financial officers fear skills shortage

Financiers are concerned their talent will be lured away by the “attractiveness” of Western markets, survey finds

Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala reports 53.4% drop in first half net profit

Gains from financial investments failed to offset lower income from disposals and higher costs

Saudi Arabia says six credit agencies apply for licences

The kingdom issued new regulations governing credit agencies’ operations in Saudi Arabia last year

Emirates NBD to offer banking services via Twitter

The service will allow customers to tweet the bank for enquiries about their current or savings account and credit cards

Etihad Airways Partners to raise at least $500m via bond

Price guidance for the five-year bond was maintained in the area of 7 per cent

Saudi cabinet grants license to Qatari bank for first time

Qatar National Bank has been granted a license to open a branch inside the kingdom

Swiss authorities helping Oman in oil corruption probe

Swiss authorities are involved because transactions related to the probe involved Swiss financial institutions, a source said

Different Arab money

GCC economies hit by oil price drop, to grow 3.4% in 2015

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have fared better than their GCC counterparts because of economic diversification, says report

UAE bank FGB raises $1bn loan for general purposes

The three-year facility is structured as a bullet loan which means the principal will be repaid at the end of the term

Saudi salaries up 4.5% in 2015 despite falling oil prices – report

Employees in the kingdom are expected to record a 5 per cent salary hike in 2016, the report by Hay Group found.

Commercial Bank of Dubai shareholders reject $750m Tier 1 bond plan

The bank said last month that its board had proposed the Basel III compliant bond, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval

Saudi central bank to appoint KPMG partner as deputy governor for supervision

KPMG Saudi Arabia’s managing partner Tareq al-Sadhan is leaving the company at the end of December

Gulf firms turn to banks to fund big projects as state coffers squeezed – SocGen

A drop in oil prices, which hit a six-and-a-half-year low last month, has pushed some Gulf state budgets into deficit for the first time in years

IMF urges Saudi action on domestic energy prices and wage bill

The Saudi economy is forecast to keep expanding strongly this year, showing little impact from the oil price drop, according to the IMF