Amazon_American Express

Amazon payment services partners with American Express in Saudi Arabia

Amex cardholders in Saudi can now shop with their Amex card on merchant and supplier websites that use Amazon Payment Services

UAE stock market regulator, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority agree to support crypto assets trading

DWTCA aims to expand its existing business licenses, services and incentives

Sheikh Hamdan announces restructuring of Dubai Municipality

Dubai forecasts 3.1% economic growth in 2021, 3.4% in 2022

The total cost of the five stimulus packages announced by the emirate’s government since the start of the pandemic amounted to Dhs7.1bn, or 1.6 per cent of Dubai’s GDP

Saudi wealth fund plans green bond, works with BlackRock on ESG

The kingdom is looking to boost its environmental credentials

Emirates Development Bank

UAE’s Emirates Development Bank partners with YAP to launch business banking app for SMEs

The EDB Business Banking app is free to open and has no minimum balance criteria

Gold edges higher as havens rally on growing Evergrande fears

The traditional haven has lost 8 per cent this year

National Bank of Fujairah

UAE’s National Bank of Fujairah launches electronic trading platform

The new platform is available for both conventional and Shariah-compliant banking customers

Saudi internet-services firm sets IPO price at top end of range

Riyadh has been the hottest market for IPOs in the Middle East over the past two years

Saudi conglomerate Algosaibi’s $7.5bn default settled after decade

The plan involves Algosaibi contributing 90 per cent of its assets to paying off debts, with the rest restructured in order to carry on operating

Biggest Saudi IPO since Aramco draws strong investor interest

The $1.2bn IPO by ACWA Power International had initial demand amounting to several billion dollars

DAFZA

UAE’s Mashreq Bank signs MoU with DAFZA to boost SME growth

DAFZA companies will also be given priority access to digital banking services through Mashreq’s NEOBiz platform, where they will be able to open instant accounts

UAE Central Bank

UAE Central Bank issues new guidance on transaction monitoring and sanctions screening

The guidance came into effect on Monday, September 13, with licensed financial institutions being given a month to demonstrate compliance

Emirates NBD Group, Expo 2020 Dubai and Mastercard launch new card programmes

The limited-edition cards are designed to enhance the Expo 2020 Dubai experience for both residents and visitors

Standard Chartered closes transition trade facility

Standard Chartered executes first green trade finance facility in UAE

The bank has executed the facility to support Amplus Energy Solutions

Dubai Financial Market

Dubai Financial Market plans to introduce new equity futures contracts

New contracts will include stocks of Dubai Investments, DFM Company and Shuaa Capital

Dubai Chamber

Dubai Chamber exports, re-exports grew 21.8% to Dhs147bn in January-August 2021

Chamber members’ exports and re-exports to the GCC countries during the first eight months of the year increased 16.4 per cent year-on-year to Dhs79.6bn

Dubai’s DIFC records 59% increase in new company registrations in H1 2021

A total of 492 new companies joined the financial centre in the first half of the year

UAE’s Mashreq opens first representative office in Shanghai

With the new office, Mashreq now operates in 13 countries, including the UAE

Middle East M&A activity scales 59% in H1 2021

Overall deal activity in the region continued its upward trend with 307 deals in the first half of the year

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange to launch derivatives market this year

The exchange plans to launch single stock futures and index futures in the fourth quarter of 2021

UAE’s NMC Healthcare group companies to secure release from administration

A total of 34 NMC group companies will exit administration and transfer to a new NMC group

Dubai Financial Market

Dubai Financial Market scraps minimum trading commission from Sep 1

The directive aims to enable retail investors to avail of its investment opportunities, and promote their participation

Abu Dhabi Exchange cuts trading fees, extends trading hours

The Dubai Financial Market also said Saturday it will extend trading time to five hours daily as of October 3

How private equity is well poised to leverage opportunities

As an asset class, private equity continues to perform robustly, with venture capital seeing a standout year on the back of enthusiasm for technology and healthcare

UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim secures $1.5bn sustainability-linked loan

Standard Chartered Bank acted as sustainability coordinator on the loan

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala part of consortium purchasing Bain’s Hugel stake for $1.5bn

The South Korean company Hugel mainly produces beauty goods

Now is the time to investigate property mortgage options in Dubai

The emirate’s mortgage market has seen significant changes in the past few years, making it more accessible and attractive

Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC Distribution included in FTSE Emerging Markets Index

The inclusion is expected to attract more foreign investors into ADNOC Distribution shares

Bitcoin knocks on door of $50,000 after rising above resistance

Bitcoin has recovered after trading in a range of about $30,000 to $40,000 for many weeks