Kuwait committee to visit London for sovereign fund probe

The Kuwait Investment Authority has come under greater public scrutiny following last year’s plunge of oil prices

Eurozone strikes deal with Greece after all-night haggle

EU officials said Tsipras finally accepted a compromise on German-led demands for the sequestration of Greek state assets to be sold off to pay down debt

Saudi Arabia issues first sovereign bonds since 2007, more to come

The government sold SAR15bn ($4 billion) of bonds to local banks this year, according to a senior official

Saudi bank NCB posts 2.6% drop in net profit, misses forecasts

NCB reported a net profit in the second quarter of 2015 of SAR 2.36bn ($629m)

UAE stock market regulator chief said to be retiring

Abdullah al-Turifi is a founding member of the Securities and Commodities Authority

Dubai’s non-oil businesses see sluggish growth in June

Business confidence in the emirate remained high despite a slower rate of increase in new orders and growth in June

Sheikh Mohammed: Dubai hits first goal of strategy to become Islamic economy hub

Dubai has overtaken Malaysia and London for the listing of Islamic bonds on its exchanges

Qatar National Bank Q2 net profit rises 10%, beats forecasts

QNB, aiming to become the largest bank in the MEA by 2017, said loans and advances rose 9.2 per cent in the first half of the year

Oman takes legal action against Bulgaria over bank collapse

Oman’s biggest sovereign wealth fund owned a 30 per cent stake in Corporate Commercial Bank

Saudi regulator accepting applications from credit rating agencies

Agencies which apply before the end of August will be allowed to operate until they receive a licence

Marka signs Dhs 31m franchise deal for ice cream brand Morelli’s Gelato

Post the deal, Marka plans to open 17 Morelli’s outlets in the MENA region by 2020

UAE Central Bank issues braille currency notes for Dhs 500, Dhs 5

The new tactile features will be engraved in bleed-off intaglio printing on the edge of the banknotes’ short sides

UAE collects labour fines worth Dhs 37.5m during grace period

The ministry said that 27,962 companies have resettled fines relating to 58,365 workers registered under their sponsorships

Abraaj Group buys majority stake in Nigerian mattress maker Mouka

The founding family of Mouka who will retain a minority stake in the company, a statement said

UAE cabinet approves draft law on bankruptcy

The draft law reportedly presents “flexible strategies” to bailout businesses that are facing bankruptcy

Stock news: Oil plunge may depress Gulf; Emaar Misr key for Egypt

Brent crude dived more than 6 per cent on Monday into the $56 a barrel level

UAE bank ADIB targets 2016 acquisitions, eyes Asia, Middle East

The bank is looking for opportunities in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Algeria, Jordan and Morocco, its CEO said

Abraaj Capital sells 13.6% stake in Africa’s UAP Holdings

Abraaj sold its stake in the African insurance firm to London-based banking group Mutual plc

Stock news: Gulf markets fall on oil, Greece

Brent crude dropped below $60 a barrel to its lowest since mid-April after Greeks voted ‘No’ in their bailout referendum

Bahrain passes 2015-16 budget after parliament forces changes

The budget was passed after a six-month delay during which parliament forced changes to the plan

Wamda Capital launches $75m MENA growth stage venture fund

The fund has invested in three companies including News Group International, Jamalon and LittleBits Electronics

Gulf markets steady as investors await Greek referendum

Oil prices also subdued stock markets after Brent crude slid $1.75 to $60.32 a barrel on Friday

DIFC starts work on $205m building in Gate Village

The new building will have a total built-up area of 200,000 square feet and will comprise of retail and F&B units along with office space

UAE to finish drafting corporate tax, VAT laws this quarter

Authorities are still evaluating the social and economic impact of the laws, but drafting was expected to be finished “very soon, an official said

Saudi economy accelerates in Q1, may not be sustained

Gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, grew 2.4 per cent from a year earlier in the first quarter

Dubai’s Drake & Scull increases GCC ownership limit to 100%

Nationals from the UAE currently hold 51.02 per cent of the company’s stock, with the remaining GCC nations owning 5.85 per cent

Abu Dhabi’s TAQA says not holding merger talks

The company “confirms that it is not engaged in merger discussions with any government or other entity”, it said in a statement to the bourse

Kuwait parliament approves budget with $27bn deficit

The budget for the year features spending of KD19.17bn and revenues of KD12.2bn, assuming an average oil price of $45 a barrel

Oman central bank sets up Islamic banking department

The creation of a separate Islamic banking department will clear the way to develop the industry in the country

Saudi’s Alwaleed to give $32bn to charity in coming years

Prince Alwaleed said some of the donated wealth will include his personal stake in his investment firm Kingdom Holding