Dubai To Challenge London With Islamic Financing Platform

The NASDAQ Dubai bourse now hopes to grab some of that business with its own murabaha trading system.

Dubai’s DAMAC Launches Sukuk At Tight End Of Guidance

The size of the issue was expanded to $650 million from the originally planned $500 million.

Bahrain Batelco’s Bond Buy-Back Ends, $131m Purchased

Debt holders tendered $136.1 million of bonds and Batelco agreed to buy back $131.4 million of them, a statement said.

Bahrain Eyes New Rules For Islamic Financing Contracts

The move comes as part of a broader push to revamp Bahrain’s efforts in Islamic finance.

UAE Exchange Remittances Up 6% In 2013

UAE Exchange estimates that robust economic growth in the UAE will lead to a hike in remittances from the region in 2014.

Gulf States To Invest Over $730m In Tourism Infrastructure In Morocco

The states will use their Wessal Capital joint venture to make the investment.

Oman Central Bank Sets Foreign Exposure Caps For Banks

Aggregate funded credit exposures to non-resident borrowers other than banks are capped at 20 per cent of the bank’s local net worth.

Dubai’s DAMAC Tightens Guidance On Sukuk Issue

The sukuk is expected to launch and price on Wednesday.

UAE’s MAF Reports 11% Growth In Pre-Tax Profits

The company reported that its EBITDA grew 11 per cent to reach Dhs3.3 billion in 2013.

Saudi Arabia’s NCB Plans Capital Hike Before IPO

The government said it planned to float 15 per cent of the bank on the stock exchange later this year in an initial public offer.

Saudi’s Algosaibi Estimates Assets At A Fraction Of Claims Against It

The company has invited more than 70 financial institutions to a meeting in Dubai to propose “a comprehensive settlement” with creditors.

National Bank of Fujairah May Tap Capital Markets In Medium Term – CEO

The Abu Dhabi-listed bank received investment grade ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

Slowdown In Asian Markets Might Hamper GCC Growth

A sharp slowdown in major emerging economies will affect GCC countries through falling oil market prices, a report says.

Dubai’s Damac Sets Price Thoughts For USD Sukuk

The proceeds will be used for Damac’s general corporate purposes.

HSBC Bank Oman Appoints Andrew Long As CEO

Long joins from HSBC Bank Egypt and replaces Ewan Stirling.

Dubai World Sees More Early Debt Payments

Dubai World would be able to meet a $4.4 billion loan maturity in May 2015 and to make some other repayments early, a senior official said.

Bahrain Banks Get Clean Bill Of Health, But Statistics Go Missing

Bahrain has weathered the most recent bout of volatility in global financial markets, the IMF said last week.

Saudi Arabia’s Algosaibi Calls May Creditor Meeting -Bankers

The 2009 collapse of Algosaibi’s Bahrain unit, The International Banking Corp, and Awal Bank, owned by Saad Group, left an estimated $22 billion bank debt.

Abu Dhabi’s Hilal Bank Considers Capital Hike To Fuel Growth -CEO

The Islamic lender plans to expand its retail and wholesale banking business locally and internationally over the next five years.

Kuwait’s Burgan Bank Says To Raise Capital This Year To Comply With Basel III

The increase, which may happen this year, could be “pure capital” or perpetual bonds or both, its chief executive said.

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital Secures $750m Credit Facility

The facility replaces the previous $505 million facility secured in 2011.

Dubai Bourse To Hold Roadshow In London

Executives from 13 companies listed on the DFM and NASDAQ Dubai will meet investors on April 28 and 29 in London.

M&A Deal Activity Rises In Middle East, Africa As Global Volumes Fall

African countries are catching the eye of international investors as growth decelerates in India, China and Brazil.

UAE’s Al Etihad Credit Bureau Says It’s Operationally Ready

The federal credit bureau will help financial institutions in the UAE check the creditworthiness of consumers.

Oman Air To Raise Capital By $519m As Annual Loss Widens

The carrier’s annual loss widened by 16 per cent to OMR113.34 million in 2013.

Qatar Spending To Rise 3.7% To $60bn In 2014/15

The budget is “the largest in the history of the state of Qatar,” Finance Minister Ali Sherif al-Emadi said.

Dubai’s Able Logistics Picks Shuaa To Lead Manage IPO

Buyout firm GrowthGate Capital plans to take Able Logistics Group public on the Dubai Financial Market around the end of 2014.

Kuwait’s Oil Exports Fall 3% In 2013

Kuwait’s declining oil export receipts were due to modest global demand and lower oil prices in 2013, a new report says.

Dubai Holding Unit Says 2013 Net Profit Up 178%

Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group reported a 2013 net profit of Dhs3.3 billion.

HSBC Appoints New Head Of MENA Retail And Wealth Management

Khalid Elgibaly, formerly the chief executive of Standard Chartered in Pakistan, will take on the role.