Network International: Navigating the future of digital payments

Network International: Navigating the future of digital payments

Jamal Al Nassai, group managing director for Merchant Services at Network International shares his insights on the company’s strategic direction, innovative solutions for merchants, and the future of digital payments in the region

TAX

The newest VAT exemptions for UAE crypto, investment firms

The UAE’s new VAT updates will impact several sectors, with investment fund management and virtual assets receiving key exemptions

TAQA prices $1.75bn dual-tranche bond offering, includes green bond

TAQA prices $1.75bn dual-tranche bond offering, includes green bond

The company has now secured a total of $1.85bn in green financing since 2023, supporting its ongoing decarbonisation efforts and expansion of its low-carbon energy portfolio

UAE insurance sector reports profits of Dhs2.5bn in 2023: CBUAE

UAE insurance sector reports Dhs2.5bn in profits in 2023: CBUAE

According to CBUAE, the insurance sector’s growth was driven by increased policy activity, investment returns, and a rising demand for coverage in key areas such as property and employment

Saudi's ROSHN secures $2.4bn syndicated loan to drive growth

Saudi’s ROSHN secures $2.4bn syndicated loan to drive growth

The credit facility is expected to provide ROSHN with the financial flexibility needed to pursue new opportunities and strengthen its position

RAKBANK, Magnati launch new merchant financing platform

RAKBANK, Magnati launch new merchant financing platform

In addition to loans, the platform offers a range of financial services, including invoice, POS and receivables financing, and insurance

Abu Dhabi’s ADNH Catering plans to list 40% on local bourse

Abu Dhabi’s ADNH Catering plans to list 40% on local bourse

The catering firm is offering 9 billion shares, representing 40 per cent of the company’s total issued share capital

FTA extends corporate tax filing deadline for some businesses to Dec 2024 Image-by-WAM

Corporate tax: FTA extends filing deadline for some businesses

Taxable persons incorporated on or after June 1, 2023, with tax periods ending on or before February 29, 2024, now have until December 31 to fulfill their corporate tax obligations

Abu Dhabi, Dubai CDS drops; reflects fiscal resilience: CBUAE

Abu Dhabi, Dubai CDS drop; reflects fiscal resilience, says CBUAE

These developments reflect a robust economic landscape in the UAE, characterised by a solid banking sector and increasing investor confidence

Investec expands global reach with Dubai office

South African lender Investec opens office in Dubai’s financial centre

The DIFC has been luring global banks, asset and wealth managers, and hedge funds, and it is now seeing rising interest from South African entities

Arada concludes $150m sukuk tap; 3.2 times oversubscribed

Arada successfully concludes $150m sukuk tap

The tap was priced at $102.54, yielding 7.35 per cent, a 15 basis points tightening from initial pricing thoughts

General Atlantic plans Abu Dhabi office by year-end

General Atlantic plans Abu Dhabi office by year-end

The New York-based private equity firm received preliminary approval for a license to operate out of the Abu Dhabi Global Market

Arcapita, Dgpays consortium acquires majority stake in Mashreq's Neopay

Arcapita, Dgpays consortium acquires majority stake in Mashreq’s Neopay

Neopay, originally established as a strategic division within Mashreq, has expanded rapidly, becoming a key player in the UAE’s digital payments sector

OQ Exploration and Production seeks to raise $2bn from IPO

OQ Exploration and Production seeks to raise $2bn from IPO

The IPO attracted six cornerstone investors, including Al-Hosn Investment Company, Bank Dhofar and Tanmia, which agreed to subscribe for shares worth as much as OMR156m

Egypt to sell United Bank stake in IPO on local bourse

Egypt to sell United Bank stake in IPO on local bourse

The Central Bank of Egypt is currently pursuing approval from the Financial Regulatory Authority and the Egyptian Stock Exchange

UAE treasury bonds, sukuk programmes achieve Dhs25bn in issuances

UAE treasury bonds, sukuk programmes achieve Dhs25bn in issuances

The ministry’s efforts to strengthen the local currency bond market and diversify funding sources are crucial in fostering a stable financial landscape

World Bank climate finance reaches record $42.6bn in fiscal 2024

World Bank climate finance reaches record $42.6bn in fiscal 2024

The $4bn increase shows progress but is well short of the trillions of dollars in additional resources needed annually to finance the clean energy transition

Riyadh Air, Sutherland to develop digitally native financial operations

Riyadh Air, Sutherland to develop digitally native financial operations

This partnership supports Riyadh Air’s goal of becoming the world’s first fully digital airline as it prepares to expand to over 100 destinations by 2030

Central bank body BIS urges cenbanks not to squander interest rate buffers

Central bank body BIS urges cenbanks not to squander interest rate buffers

The recommendation from the BIS was made prior to the US Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut in four years

AD Ports Group refinances $Dhs2.5bn debt -Image-WAM

AD Ports Group refinances $2.25bn debt, cuts borrowing costs

The new facilities will give the group the flexibility to time its return to the debt capital markets in line with its stated strategy to utilise bonds as the predominant long-term funding vehicle

Qatar wealth fund expands into Australia, Korea and Southeast Asia

Qatar wealth fund expands into Australia, Korea and Southeast Asia

The Asian expansion comes as the fund has been diversifying its investments from core European and US markets

Polus Capital Management wins ADIA investment

Polus Capital Management secures ADIA investment

The investment follows the US Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut in four years, which is expected to boost companies with balance sheet concerns

Botim Transforms Remittances with MENA’s First-Ever 'Send Now, Pay Later' Service

Botim unveils region’s first ‘Send Now, Pay Later’ remittance service

Catering primarily to the UAE’s large expatriate population, the SNPL feature offers financial flexibility, allowing users to send money abroad and pay in installments

PJT Partners to acquire Dubai-based deNovo Partners

US investment bank PJT Partners to acquire Dubai-based deNovo Partners

The deal will help PJT Partners expand its presence in the Middle East, giving it access to a diverse client base

Here’s how GCC central banks are reacting to the US Fed’s rate cut

The Gulf region’s oil and gas exporters tend to follow the Fed’s lead on rate moves as most regional currencies are pegged to the US dollar

DP World, Nedbank partner to finance Africa trade

DP World partners with Nedbank to finance more Africa trade

Trade finance solutions will enable businesses to move their goods faster and improve their working capital while enabling the flow of trade

UAE banking sector's liquid assets surpass Dhs800bn in Q2 2024

UAE banking sector’s liquid assets exceed Dhs800bn in Q2 2024

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, liquid assets rose by 2  per cent, or Dhs14.9bn, compared to Dhs786.6bn at the end of Q1 2023

Saudi Arabia debuts ETF tracking Hong Kong stocks

Saudi Arabia approves first ETFs tracking Hong Kong-listed equities

Saudi Arabia’s markets regulator approved AlBilad Investment Company’s request to offer “Albilad CSOP MSCI Hong Kong China Equity ETF

Emirates NBD launches zero-fee UAE equity trading

Emirates NBD launches zero-fee UAE equity trading

The move is part of the bank’s broader strategy to support the growth of domestic stocks and drive economic expansion in the UAE

UAE central bank fines local bank with Dhs5m

UAE fines foreign bank Dhs5m for money laundering breaches

The central bank directed the foreign bank to present the regulator’s action to its board of directors