Qatar Spending Jumps 33% In First Half Of 2013/14 Fiscal Year

Expenditure in April-September accounts for a little over 44 per cent of the record 210.6 billion riyals Qatar plans to spend in the 2013/14 fiscal year.

Kuwait Regulator May Delay Enforcement Of Governance Rules

The Capital Markets Authority issued the regulations in June 2013, giving companies until the end of 2014 to implement them.

Growth Of Qatar’s Islamic Banks Falls Near Conventional Peers

Islamic banking assets grew 12.2 per cent in 2013, compared to the 11.2 per cent growth posted by conventional banks last year.

Dubai DP World Blames Tough Market As Annual Revenue Falls

The world’s fourth-largest port operator posted annual revenues of $3.07 billion for 2013, down 1.5 per cent on 2012.

Most Dubai Firms Will Not Hike School Allowances In 2014 – Survey

Only a quarter of Dubai firms will increase schooling allowance for employees this year, says a Mercer study.

Dubai Mulls New Islamic Export-Import Bank To Boost Trade

The Dubai Department of Economic Development is currently conducting a feasibility study along with Noor Investment Group.

Two Abu Dhabi Banks Vie For Barclays UAE Retail Ops – Sources

The lenders – Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – are now the frontrunners to acquire the business.

Dubai Silicon Oasis Profit Rises 23.5% in 2013

The number of firms operating under DSOA grew to reach 929, the company said.

Bahrain’s GFH Eyes Share Capital Reduction, Convertible Sukuk

The Islamic investment firm’s unit is in the process of selling a majority stake in English soccer club Leeds United.

Emirates Steel Cuts Banks, Pricing As Loan Oversubscribed

The loan, which refinances an existing $1.1 billion facility, attracted commitments from lenders worth more than $5 billion.

Bahrain Fund Mumtalakat Plans No Bonds In 2014, To Pay Off Small Loan

Mumtalakat had $7.1 billion of assets under management at the end of September and holds stake in 40 firms in Bahrain’s non-oil sector.

GCC’s Uber Wealthy On An Investment Spree – Survey

Around 90 per cent of the GCC’s high net worth individuals are more focused on wealth generation than preservation.

Mohamed Alabbar to acquire stake in YNAP from Richemont

Emaar Plans Dubai, London Listing For Retail Unit

Dubai’s largest listed property developer has said it would list 25 per cent of its shopping malls and retail unit.

Kuwait’s Gulf Bank Names Cesar Gonzalez-Bueno New CEO

Bueno replaces Michel Accad who resigned in October last year.

Middle Eastern Property Investors Turn West As Regional Instability Continues

London remained the favourite Western destination for regional real estate investors.

Coutts Exec Dugan Resigns To Join NBAD As CIO -Sources

Prior to joining Coutts, Dugan was CIO of Dubai’s Emirates NBD.

Pakistan Central Bank Blocks Kuwait’s Noor From Selling Meezan Bank Stake

Pakistan’s central bank stated the prospective buyer had not met its standards for suitability.

Saudi Arabia’s Food Inflation Rate Drops To 4.6% In February

Saudi Arabia’s food inflation rate in February was the lowest since November 2012.

Saudi C.Bank: China Yuan Good Diversifier, But Far From Reserve Currency

Saudi Arabia’s central bank reserves, the vast majority of which are believed to be in U.S. dollars, grew to a record $718 billion in January.

UAE, Abu Dhabi Extend $20bn Of Dubai Debt

The debt is being rolled over for five years at a one per cent annual interest rate, WAM said in an official statement.

Majority Of UAE Firms To Hire 10 Staff Over Next Three Months

Receptionists, accountants and human resource professionals are the most sought after groups among the employers in the UAE.

Saudi C.Bank Gov Says Rates Reasonable, No Impact From Fed

Saudi Arabia, which pegs its riyal currency to the U.S. dollar, has kept its repo rate at 2.0 per cent since January 2009.

Saudi 2014 Economic Growth Of 4.4% Achievable – Central Bank Governor

Saudi Arabia’s central bank governor said that he expected the private sector to drive growth in the Kingdom.

Emaar Plans $2.5bn Listing Of Shopping Mall Unit

The proceeds “will be primarily distributed as dividend” to Emaar shareholders, the firm said.

New York Takes London’s Crown As World’s Top Financial Centre

Qatar, Dubai and Riyadh ranked 26, 29 and 31 respectively on the Global Financial Centres Index.

UAE’s ADCB To Buy Back Further Shares In 2014 – CEO

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank bought back seven per cent of its shares last year after it secured approval for a 10 per cent buyback.

Oman Central Bank Says No Quick Introduction Of Islamic Instruments

The need for Islamic interbank tools is relatively acute in Oman because its Islamic banking regulations prohibit the use of commodity murabaha.

Kuwait Central Bank Sees GDP Growth Of Up To 3.5% In 2014

Kuwait also expects its ratio of non-performing loans to decline in 2014.

Sharjah Ruler Approves 7% Rise In Government Spending In 2014

Public sector wages and operating costs have driven up Sharjah’s government spending in 2014.

Gulf Arab Rift Has No Effect On Central Bankers Meet -Kuwait

Kuwait’s central bank governor said the dispute had not marred relations between his counterparts from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).