Zand gets license from the Central Bank of UAE

Digital lender Zand receives licence from UAE Central Bank

Zand is now authorised and regulated to operate as a fully independent commercial bank

Bitcoin

Bitcoin hints at a bottom, but it may be different this time

Assets under management for crypto investment products in June reached a record low

DAr Al Takaful trades on Dubai Financial market

Dar Al Takaful and Watania complete merger, announce total share capital of Dhs260m

The merged company started trading on the Dubai Financial Market from July 4

The increased presence of women in stock market trading

Do women trade differently than men?

UAE, Indonesia sign agreement

UAE, Indonesia sign comprehensive economic partnership agreement

The pact will help increase annual bilateral trade to $10bn within five years by removing trade barriers on a range of goods and services

Zand gets license from the Central Bank of UAE

Digital bank Zand announces board of directors

Zand’s backers include Franklin Templeton, Aditya Birla Group, Al Hail Holding, Global Development Group and Yusuff Ali of Lulu Group

UAE investors sign $2.76bn worth of investment with Odisha, India

CM Naveen Patnaik met key UAE business groups as part of an investment roadshow to promote investment in the state’s industrial sector

Bitcoin

Bitcoin struggles just above $20,000 fueling concerns

Bitcoin has been sinking along with riskier assets in recent months

DIFC launches Open Finance lab

Dubai’s DIFC launches region’s first open finance lab

The lab will run business and technical deep-dive workshops, facilitate industry and regulatory forums on important issues such as API standards and consumer consent management

Saudi Exchange announces intent to launch single stock futures contracts in July

The new contracts mark the second derivatives product to be introduced in the exchange

Ether leads crypto market surge after CPI report release

Ether recovery helps crypto revisit $1tn market cap level

It appears to have found support around its 200-week moving average, which currently sits near $1,200

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE

UAE to issue dollar-denominated dual-tranche sovereign bonds

The bonds will be issued with a 10-year tranche and a 30-year Formosa tranche

World Cup host Qatar demurs on VAT, will wait for ‘right time’

“We will look to the right time to apply such taxes” – Finance Minister Ali Al Kuwari

bu Dhabi Securities Exchange lists $8.25 billion of TAQA bonds

Abu Dhabi’s ADX lists Taqa bonds valued at $8.25bn

The bonds were largely issued as part of TAQA’s Global Medium Term Note Programme and are listed on the London Stock Exchange

ADIB_visa partnership

UAE’s ADIB, Visa partner to boost adoption of digital payments

ADIB and Visa’s partnership will drive the growth of digital payments through data-led solutions and deliver differentiated products in the market

Saudi Crown Prince and King of Jordan

Saudi investments in Jordan amount to $14bn: Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry

The figures were cited in an economic report issued by the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Jordan

ASIF ADIA ADQ

UAE’s ADIA, ADQ sign Rabat Declaration, support first Africa Sovereign Investors Forum

In addition to ADIA and ADQ, Kuwait Investment Authority and Qatar Investment Authority were among the GCC entities present at the forum

food Security _ ACG

Arab Coordination Group announces $10bn package to support food security goals

The funds from the group will be deployed over the next three years to cover the import costs of seeds, grains and fertilisers and alleviate food supply challenges

ADX launches FADX 15 Futures

UAE’s ADX launches FADX 15 Futures, the exchange’s first index derivatives  

FADX 15 futures are cash-settled contracts that will replicate the price performance of the benchmark FADX 15 index

Apicorp Khalid Ali Al-Ruwaigh

APICORP leverages preferred creditor status to launch A/B loan programme

The A/B loan structure will help support APICORP’s less developed member countries and encourage private sector participation

Carlyle seeks $325m from Gulf Domino’s Pizza operator IPO

Carlyle is selling a 41.7 per cent stake in Alamar, or 10.6 million shares, to institutional and retail investors

UAE: Ministry of Finance announces second auction of federal treasury bonds

Bonds amounting to Dhs750m will be offered for a two-year tranche, and Dhs750m for a three years tranche

Karim Awad - valu to sell minority stake to Alkohair

Egypt’s largest BNPL platform, valU to sell minority stake to Alhokair family

Alhokair family has acquired a 4.99 per cent stake in valU through a capital injection of $12.4m, signifying a valuation of $247.4m for the company

Ajman finance department

Ajman’s finance department selects Oracle Cloud to bolster emirate’s economy

It will enable the department to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve controls and optimise its supply chain management

Bitcoin

Bitcoin hovers around the $20,000 level after a volatile weekend

Bitcoin is down about 57 per cent since the start of the year

Sohar International eyes merger with HSBC Bank Oman

Sohar International recorded a 41.6 per cent increase in net profit to OMR28.3m for the year ended December 31, 2021

Mastercard NymCard tie-up

Mastercard certifies NymCard as a principal issuer

Fintechs, startups and financial institutions can now plug and play into NymCard’s modern BaaS infrastructure to issue their own Mastercard cards

Dubai-Internet-City Tecom Group

Dubai’s Tecom Group sets IPO price range at Dhs2.46-2.67

The final offer price is expected to be announced on June 27, 2022

central bank

UAE Central Bank raises base rate by 75 basis points

Central banks across the GCC have also raised their interest rates

Bahrain’s BBK appoints seven women to boards of group firms

The Bahraini women are among a growing number of females taking on leadership roles across the Gulf region