Dubai Duty Free Named World’s Largest Airport Retailer

Dubai’s airport retailer accounted for 5.19 per cent of global airport duty free business and almost three per cent of the wider duty free and global travel retail business.

Stock News: Markets Extend Pull-Back Amid Global Gloom

Dubai’s index fell 2.7 per cent to 4,370 points as a broad sell-off continued.

Kuwait Moves Toward Cutting Diesel, Kerosene Subsidies In Key Reform

The cabinet “accepted” a report by a committee at the Ministry of Electricity and Water on hiking prices of diesel and kerosene more than threefold, state news agency KUNA reported.

Al Rajhi Bank Posts Fifth Straight Quarterly Profit Drop

The bank said it made SAR1.66 billion ($442.6 million) in the three months ending September 30, compared with SAR1.71 billion in the same period a year earlier.

National Bank Of Kuwait Q3 Net Profit Falls 16%

The decline in third-quarter net profit came despite the bank posting a 7.8 per cent increase in its operating revenue.

UAE Lender First Gulf Bank Sells 45% Stake In Brokerage

FGB, majority-owned by Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, signed an agreement with Integrated Financial Group.

Blackstone, Gulf Investors Buy Stake In UAE’s GEMS Education

Under the transaction, GEMS will be split into two entities, with the investing group buying a stake in the part of the business focussed on MENA and Asia.

UAE’s Amanat To Invest In Six Firms Post IPO

The company is looking to invest in the GCC’s healthcare and education sector, with a focus on the UAE and Saudi markets.

Flydubai Hires Seven Banks For Debut Sukuk – Sources

In February, a Flydubai official said that the firm is looking to raise funds through a bond issue and was considering a sukuk option.

Bahrain To Invest $22bn In Infrastructure Projects

The projects include the upgrade to the country’s international airport, various tourism developments and the expansion of the aluminium smelter at state-owned firm Alba.

UAE’s Amanat Holdings Dubai Share Sale To Open Oct. 20

The offer period for the flotation, in which shares will be priced at Dhs1 each, will run until November 4, the company said in a statement.

Stock News: UAE Markets Rebound, Qatar Weakens

Dubai’s index added 1.2 per cent in a broad rally while Abu Dhabi edged up 0.2 per cent.

Oman’s Bank Dhofar Q3 Net Profit Rises 18%, Misses Estimates

The bank made a net profit of OMR9.8 million ($25.5 million) in the three months to Sept. 30, up from OMR8.3 million in the same period of 2013.

Bank Muscat Q3 Net Profit Rises 2.5%, Misses Estimates

The bank made a quarterly profit of OMR40.39 million ($104.9 million) in the three months to September 30, it said in a statement to the Muscat bourse.

HSBC Bank Oman Q3 Net Profit Rises 9%

The lender made a net profit of OMR3.8 million ($9.87 million) in the three months to September 30, compared with OMR3.5 million in the same period of 2013.

Kuwait Keeps Wide Discount To Saudi Oil In Market Share Battle

Kuwaiti crude for November was priced at a discount of 50 cents per barrel to Saudi Arab Medium, unchanged from a month ago and the widest in 10 years.

Al Noor Hospitals To Spend Up To $200m On Acquisitions In 2015

Al Noor has made three acquisitions in the UAE this year, including a cancer centre, and hopes to add further buys in the coming year, vice-chairman Kassem Alom said.

Saudi’s Riyad Bank Meets Expectations With 7.8% Q3 Net Profit Gain

The bank said it made SAR1.08 billion ($280 million) in the three months ending September 30, compared with SAR998 million in the same period of 2013, according to a bourse filing.

National Bank Of Oman Q3 Profit Rises, Beats Forecasts

The lender made a net profit of OMR14.1 million in the three months to Sept. 30.

Stock News: Gulf Markets Pull Back Again On Weak Global Lead

Dubai’s bourse dropped 1.2 per cent as most stocks pulled back while heavyweights such as Emaar Properties and Arabtec Holding fell slightly.

Oman’s Bank Sohar Scraps Convertible Bond, Plans OMR40m Rights Issue

The lender said that its board had decided against issuing the convertible “due to uncertainty regarding its eligibility as an additional Tier 1 instrument”.

UAE Economy Ministry Says Falling Oil Prices Won’t Hurt 2014 GDP

The official said that the fall in oil prices will not deeply impact UAE’s GDP growth since the country is economically diversified with oil accounting for less than 30 per cent of the GDP.

Saudi Hollandi Bank Meets Expectations With 6.6% Q3 Profit Gain

The lender said it made SAR461.8 million ($123.1 million) in the three months to September 30 compared with SAR433.3 million in the corresponding quarter of 2013.

Oman’s Raysut Cement Posts 17.8% Q3 Net Profit Increase

The company made OMR5.3 million ($13.8 million) in the three months to Sept. 30, compared with OMR4.5 million in the corresponding period of last year.

Oman Cement Q3 Net Profit Drops 39.5%

The cement producer made a net profit after tax of OMR2.3 million ($6.0 million) in the three months to Sept. 30, compared with OMR3.8 million in the corresponding period of 2013.

Banque Saudi Fransi Q3 Net Profit Jumps 35%

The bank said it made SAR926 million ($246.9 million) in the three months ending September 30, compared with SAR685 million in the same period a year earlier.

Commercial Bank Of Kuwait To Sell KD120m Bond

The bond will have a ten-year lifespan, with an option for the issuer to redeem it after the fifth year, and will be priced at 2.25 per cent over the central bank of Kuwait’s discount rate.

IMF Launches Consultations On Islamic Finance

The nine-member external advisory group includes industry bodies such as the Bahrain-based Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions.

UAE Govt Approves Higher Federal Spending For 2015

The projected federal spending of Dhs49.1 billion is up from Dhs46 billion in the original budget for 2014.

Kuwait’s Agility Says Unit Wins $82.5m British Defence Ministry Contract

The contract, secured by Agility Defense and Government Services, will run from October 2014 to April 2016, the company said in a statement.