Dubai’s Damac Picks Banks For Potential Sukuk Issue

The Dubai developer has appointed Barclays, Citigroup, and Deutsche Bank as joint global co-ordinators.

Middle East Funds Bullish On Regional Equity Markets

Survey finds that 47 per cent of the funds expect to raise their equity allocations to the Middle East over the next three months.

Italy Sees Etihad-Alitalia Deal Decided Soon

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways is in talks to acquire 40 per cent of Italy’s struggling flag carrier.

Abu Dhabi’s Hilal Bank Reports 2013 Net Profit Up 42%

The lender attributed the profit rise to growth in assets and improvement in asset quality and liability mix.

Oman Sets Up Committee To Ensure Financial Stability

The committee includes the CEO of the Capital Market Authority and officials from the finance ministry.

Etihad Airways To Raise $2bn For Deliveries In 2014

Etihad will take delivery of 18 aircraft this year that include 10 Airbus aircraft and eight Boeing planes.

QIB In Talks For Bank Asya Stake

The Qatari lender is looking to finalise the transaction in the next few months.

Occidental Middle East Asset Sale Delayed Due To Regional Disputes

The firm said last year that it planned to sell a minority stake in its regional operations as a part of a restructuring program to lift its valuation.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, France’s CDC Launch 300m Euro Investment Fund

The investments will mainly target equity stakes in private companies as well as other asset classes including real estate or infrastructure.

Gulf Capital To Sell Rest Of GMS Within Two Years

Gulf Capital floated approximately 40 per cent of its holding in Gulf Marine Services on the London Stock Exchange earlier this month.

Qatar Regulator Reprimands RBS For Insufficient Staff Training

Qatar Financial Centre said it has accepted an enforceable undertaking from RBS to establish a “remedial action plan.”

Etihad-Air Serbia Deal Gets Regulator’s Nod

Etihad’s chief executive confirmed that the initial loan of $40 billion to Air Serbia will be converted to equity.

Egypt’s Naeem Holding To Cross-List On Abu Dhabi Exchange

The company has given no details of the timing or size of the listing.

PineBridge Buys 50% Stake In Turkish Therapy And Rehab Chain

The stake in Romatem is PineBridge’s second investment in Turkey and its third deal in the Middle East.

North America Impairment Pushes Abu Dhabi’s TAQA Into 2013 Loss

TAQA said that the impairment did not affect the company’s ability to continue operations or service its debt.

Virgin’s Branson Confirms Gulf Funding For Cruise Ship Project

Branson was looking for potential Middle East investors for his $1.7 billion cruise ship project, according to media reports.

Dubai’s Ithmar Eyes Dhs1bn Of Gulf PE Deals

The company is looking at deals in healthcare and education.

Dubai Lender Amlak’s Bourse Suspension To Be Lifted

Trading in shares of Amlak was suspended in November 2008 as credit markets dried up.

First Gulf Bank Names ANZ, HSBC, Nomura For Debut 5-Yr Kangaroo

The five-year deal will be only the fourth Kangaroo transaction from a Middle Eastern bank.

Kuwait’s Agility 2013 Profit Rises 37%

Net profit in 2013 was 46.2 million dinars ($164.1 million) compared to 33.7 million dinars a year earlier.

Bahrain’s Khaleeji Commercial, Bank Al Khair Drop Merger Plans

The non-agreement on the structure and the valuation of the deal were the primary reasons to call off the merger, a statement said.

Saudi Market Recovers, Hits Five-Year High

The Saudi index, which includes several large petrochemical companies, eased throughout last week as oil prices retreated.

Dubai Investments To Lift Foreign Ownership Cap To 35%

Foreign investors now hold 13.7 per cent of Dubai Investments’ shares out of the total 20 per cent allowed, bourse data showed.

Dubai’s Emirates Reit Sets IPO Price Range At $1.36-1.56

The company will issue as many as 110.3 million new shares with an over-allotment option of 16.5 million additional shares.

UK Private Equity Firm CD&R Frontrunner For Dubai-Owned Mauser -Report

If it goes ahead, the sale of Mauser would be one of the largest asset disposals by the emirate since its debt crisis in 2009.

Air Berlin To Be Delisted; Etihad To Lift Stake – Report

Air Berlin needs to remain German so as not to lose its traffic rights outside the European Union, a German weekly reported.

Oman Plans To Privatise One More Company In 2014

Oman’s government has said it would revive its privatisation programme to raise revenue and stimulate the private sector.

Dubai-Based Digital Media Firm Bags $5m Investment

Paris-based Webedia has bought a majority stake in digital media firm Diwanee.

Saudi Investment Bank Picks Riyad To Arrange Sukuk – Sources

The sukuk will enhance the bank’s Tier 2 – or supplementary – capital.

GrowthGate Capital Plans Dubai IPO For Logistics Firm

The share sale is expected to take place on Dubai Financial Market around the end of this year.