MEA M&A Deal Values Up 26.9% In 2013

The 2013 deal value saw the highest rise in the last six years with all the quarters posting values above $12 billion, the report found.

UAE Bourse Regulator To Crack Down On Unlicensed Lending

Firms must abide by the new regulations or face fines of Dhs100,000.

Saudi Electricity Co To Sell Local Currency Sukuk, Names Arrangers

The Kingdom’s monopoly utility said it would offer the sukuk to investors between Jan. 9 and Feb. 27.

EFG Hermes Appoints Khalid Ellaicy As CFO

EFG said Ellaicy would assume his duties immediately having served at Orascom Telecom as CFO for two years.

Bahrain Hikes Salaries For Government Workers

The benefits are estimated to cost the government BD6 million annually.

Oman Government Plans To Borrow $1bn In 2014

The government plans to borrow half of that amount overseas from commercial banks and “strategic partners”.

Oman Budget Sees Slowdown In Spending Growth

Spending this year is projected at $35.1 billion, up five per cent from the original expenditure plan in the 2013 budget.

Gulf Stocks To Start 2014 On Strong Note

Regional stock markets are projected to reflect expectations for solid global economic growth this year.

Middle East Funds Most Bullish About Egypt Equities – Survey

The Reuters survey found that 47 per cent of managers were likely to put more money into Egyptian equities, up from 33 per cent in November.

Shuaa Capital CEO Macdonald To Leave Company

The company has not yet named a replacement for the CEO, but has announced other management changes.

Prince Alwaleed’s Twitter Stake Value Jumps To $1.2bn

Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding bought a $300 million stake in Twitter in December 2011.

Dubai’s Index Falls For The First Time In 5 Days

The DFM General Index fell as investors sought to take advantage of a four-day rally to pocket gains.

Al Habtoor Group Announces Major Board Reshuffle

The group has said that its hotels division board has been carefully planned with a mix of expertise to cope with growing business demands.

Qatar Signs Aid Deal Worth $1.25bn For Morocco

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE agreed in 2012 to provide aid worth a total $5 billion to Morocco in the period 2012-2017.

Dubai’s DIB Approves Foreign Ownership Increase To 25%

The lender said that the decision was taken to address the huge demand from large foreign institutional investors.

Dana Jumps Most In 8 Years After Egypt Payment

The company received $53 million in dues from the Egyptian government.

Different Arab money

Soaring Compliance Costs Clip Wings Of Mideast, African Banks

Compliance teams face an increasing array of rules due to failings exposed by the financial crisis.

Top Sukuk Manager Sees New Issuers Aiding Sales

Governments from Dubai to Malaysia are seeking to promote Shariah-compliant bonds and become centers for Islamic finance.

How Did The Gulf Fare In 2013?

A look at the GCC’s performance this year and expectations coming into 2014.

Emaar Rises To 5-Year High As Property Stocks Gain

The Dubai developer gained three per cent to reach Dhs7.57 at the close of trading, its highest since September 2008.

Saudi Arabia Needs $85 Brent To Balance 2014 Budget

Brent is forecast to average $104 next year, down from about $110 in 2013, Jadwa said.

Gulf Bond Issuance To Surge In 2014

Experts expect issuances to reach $40-45 billion next year, compared to $28.97 billion in 2013.

Saudi Arabia Sets Modest Spending Rise In 2014 Budget Plan

Next year’s 4.3 per cent rise in planned spending is far smaller than the 19 per cent leap envisaged by the 2013 budget plan.

Abu Dhabi Firm Buys Stake In Australia’s Swala Energy

The deal, valued at $2.9 million, is Hayaat Group’s first investment in East African oil exploration.

Revealed: Top 10 Skills That Led To Hiring In 2013

Technological expertise dominated LinkedIn’s list of skills that were in demand among professionals in 2013.

Abu Dhabi-listed United Arab Bank Signs $250m Loan

The two-year loan facility will be used to fund the lender’s general business.

Banking Highlights In 2013: Mashreq

Digitalisation and regulation took centre stage in GCC banking in 2013, according to Farhad Irani, EVP and head of retail banking at Mashreq.

Qatar Plans First IPO Since 2010

Mesaieed Petrochemical, a unit of Qatar Petroleum, plans to launch an $880 million IPO In January.

UAE Ranks High On Global M&A Attractiveness Index

M&A activity in the UAE has been picking up pace as market conditions improve.

Five Investment Tips For 2014: Coutts

Investors must step up the risk ladder to see gains, says the private bank.