IMF warns GCC governments to up deficit reduction measures

The fund said an additional substantial deficit reduction effort is required in the region

Abu Dhabi Financial Group to acquire Shuaa Capital stake

The firm was one of three linked to the acquisition in recent weeks

Al Habtoor Group plays down IPO reports

Yesterday Bloomberg cited the company’s chief executive as saying it had all the necessary documents to go public

Debt warning after 20 Filipinos arrested in transit through GCC

Expats warned that a new passport would not protect debtors from detection

Dubai bank Emirates NBD in Dhs 500m digital push

The lender will the invest the amount in its digital operations over the next three years

Saudi eyes $15bn of bond sales in 2016, post-Ramadan issue

The kingdom is said to have been encouraged by Qatar’s record issue last week

Abu Dhabi, Al Mal and Arqaam among Shuaa stake bidders

The stake is being sold by Dubai Group to meet debt repayments

Saudi Arabia hires HSBC banker for bond sale – report

Fahad Al Saif has become the second HSBC banker to be appointed to a government role in recent months, according to reports

Qatar completes Middle East’s largest ever bond sale

Middle Eastern bond sales this year total almost $30bn

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