Top 10 countries with best residence-by-investment schemes

The UAE ranked 15th in an index rating countries’ residency-in-return-for-investment programmes

Saudi central bank May net foreign reserves drop 1% to $672bn

Assets dropped by 8.1 per cent from a year earlier to their lowest level since April 2013, central bank data showed

Abu Dhabi finance zone gears up to open with draft rules

The drafts will be available for public comment over a six-week period, and the zone plans to accept its first applications for financial service operating licences by the end of this year

Saudi regulator maintains Mobily shares halt until restated financials disclosed

Mobily shares have been suspended since June, when the market regulator halted trading until the operator disclosed the financial impact of an investigation into its accounts.

Mubadala buys into Trafigura’s Spanish mines as part of new venture

For Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, the purchase is part of a push to invest in assets other than oil.

Dubai’s Limitless to pay $564m to creditors, nears debt plan assent

The cash payment will be funded by the sale of part of its land bank in Saudi Arabia, the company said

Stock news: Gulf markets fall on Greece turmoil

Dubai’s stock index slid 1.3 per cent, heading for a second straight daily close below its 200-day average

Dubai Holding appoints new managing director, CEO

The current CEO Ahmad Bin Byat has been promoted to vice-chairman and managing director while COO Fadel Al Ali will take over as CEO

Saudi’s Almarai gets final $210.6m bakery fire compensation

The Saudi Arabian company had already received SAR 250m from Arabian Shield Cooperative Insurance Co in late March

HSBC Bank Oman agrees to sell Pakistan business to Meezan Bank

The deal is expected to be completed during the second half of 2015, the bank said in a statement

French group to invest at least $150m in Saudi’s Kingdom Holding

Aeroports de Paris, insurer AXA and construction group Eiffage are among the companies in the consortium led by France’s Caisse des Depots (CDC).

France, Saudi Arabia seeking to sign deals worth $12bn

The countries set up a joint committee in May to finalise some 20 projects across sectors ranging from defence to transport infrastructure

Al Masah Capital’s F&B unit buys Johnny Rockets franchisee

The private equity firm acquired Al Faris Restaurant, which operates the Johnny Rockets franchise in the UAE and Oman.

UAE bank NBF expects market-leading loan growth this year

The bank is expecting to see a double-digit growth in loans this year, the CEO said.

Oman central bank approves Ominvest, ONIC Holding merger

The assent was granted at a board of governors’ meeting on Monday, a statement said.

ABN Amro says Dubai employee dismissed for misconduct

The bank said the employee had received about $100,000 from a client and transferred it through his personal account to a third account

UAE’s Etisalat says will allow foreign share ownership

The telecoms firm is lifting a ban on foreign ownership of its shares, with a new cap set at 20 per cent of its stock

Abu Dhabi’s crown prince is new chairman of investment fund ADIC

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan replaces President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan at the head of the fund

Kuwait’s Investment Dar loses appeal against lifting of legal protection

The company is seeking to agree a $2.69bn debt restructuring plan with investors

Dubai records highest inflation rate since 2009 in May

Housing and utility costs, which made up 44 per cent of all expenses, rose 7.8 per cent year-on-year

Oman, Japan ink deal to promote joint investments

The deal is expected to increase Japanese investments in Oman

Saudis say to jointly invest up to $10bn with Russian fund

No details have been disclosed as yet about where or when the joint investments would be made

UAE, US sign tax agreement

As per the law, all financial institutions in the UAE are now required to disclose information about financial accounts held by US citizens

France’s Natixis to make Dubai capital markets hub for Mideast, Africa

In the past two years, Natixis has increased staffing levels in Dubai by around 50 per cent to 45 people

UAE launches new state bank to push housing, job creation policies

Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Development Bank has been created by the merger of Emirates Industrial Bank and Emirates Real Estate Bank

Dubai among world’s top 25 most expensive cities

Dubai and Abu Dhabi were also ranked most expensive cities for expats in the Middle East, according to a new survey

Private wealth in the UAE to grow by 10.7% in five years

Private wealth in the UAE is estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2019, boosted by buoyant equity markets and a growing economy, a new study shows.

UAE’s Gulf Finance Corp to raise up to Dhs 600m syndicated loan

Gulf Finance, part of Dubai’s Shuaa Capital, provides finance to small and mid-sized firms in the UAE.

Qatar’s secretive sovereign fund to restructure, say sources

The restructuring comes as the drop in oil prices crimped available funds as competition for assets grows

Saudi bourse CEO sees flurry of foreign investor licenses soon

Saudi’s market regulator has said foreign institutions can buy stocks directly from June 15, but it has not so far announced the award of any licences