Kuwait posts record $36bn deficit on oil price drop, virus

Salaries and subsidies in the 2020-21 fiscal year accounted for 73 per cent of spending

Bitcoin and Ether hit highest since mid-May as sentiment warms

Other tokens like Binance Coin, Cardano, XRP and Dogecoin are also rallying

Kuwait names new wealth fund board after three-month delay

The board always includes the finance and oil ministers, as well as the central bank governor and finance ministry undersecretary

Renewable energy investment rose to a record in first half

Investment in solar projects was up 9 per cent to a record $78.9bn in the first half

Islamic Development Bank, Bloomberg LP launch financial education programme across 9 countries

Participating universities will be announced over the coming months

Saudi wealth fund is said to hire ex-HSBC executive as director

Since 2015, the PIF’s assets under management have risen to $430bn from about $150bn

Buy-now-pay-later provider tabby secures $50m in Series B round

The funding will be used to expand tabby’s product portfolio and launch in new markets

Abu Dhabi’s Ma’an opens applications to its 2021 grants programme

Via the programme, the authority will grant eligible not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises funding of up to Dhs200,000

First Abu Dhabi Bank partners with Al-Futtaim IKEA on home furnishing loans

The programme is run by the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority

Bitcoin drops after posting biggest weekly gain in three months

The declines put Bitcoin back in the top end of a $30,000 to $40,000 trading range

currency dirham money

Those working in Dubai have among the world’s highest take-home salaries

PwC based its results after deducting tax and social security obligations

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi reduces requirements for starting new commercial businesses

It follows the establishment of a task force led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development which coordinated its efforts with over 20 government entities

HSBC pays dividend after quarterly profit beats estimates

The improved credit outlook prompted the bank to pay an interim dividend of 7 cents a share

Bitcoin rallies past key $40,000 level to highest since mid-May

The cryptocurrency has, this week, risen back above its 50- and 100-day moving averages

Saudi Arabia’s net foreign assets rose in June

The price of Brent crude averaged over $73 a barrel in June

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank net profit at Dhs1.1bn in H1 2021, up 89% y-on-y

Its total revenue grew 3.4 per cent to Dhs2.644bn compared to Dhs2.557bn in H1 2020

Emirates NBD

Dubai’s Emirates NBD reports 17% year-on-year rise in net profit for H1 2021

Total income declined 9 per cent year-on-year to Dhs11.54bn

Manama Bahrain

IMF says Bahrain needs ‘urgent fiscal adjustment’ after virus

The fund projects Bahrain’s economy will grow 3.3 per cent this year

Bitcoin surges amid short covering, speculation over Amazon plan

Bitcoin remains some $27,000 off its mid-April high of almost $65,000

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi slashes private sector business setup fees by over 90%

Business setup and licence renewal fees have been reduced to Dhs1,000

Cover story: Mastercard’s regional head on developing a financially equitable future

In this exclusive interview, Raghu Malhotra, president of Mastercard Middle East and Africa speaks of the importance of financial inclusion, of leveraging key technologies and offers advice to leaders on handling a crisis

Bitcoin

Bitcoin hovers around $32,000 after boost from Musk

Musk said Bitcoin mining is “shifting towards renewable energy” and his company will likely resume accepting it as payment for electric cars

Bitcoin slides below $30,000 for the first time in a month

Narratives that had propelled Bitcoin to a mid-April record of almost $65,000 are now being questioned

McLaren gets $760m from investors including Saudi wealth fund PIF

McLaren, controlled by Bahrain’s Mumtalakat, has been hit by the pandemic

Mubadala seeks over $20bn value for EGA in IPO

EGA is the Middle East’s biggest aluminium producer and is equally owned by Mubadala and Investment Corporation of Dubai

Here’s why economic growth must be consistent with sustainable investing

For the private or state investor, there are three ways to make a deeper ESG impact

Qatar wealth fund builds regional hub in Singapore to diversify

The fund has vowed to invest more in Asia and the US as it pursues growth and diversification after years of substantial investment in Europe

Dubai regulator DFSA hits ex-Abraaj finance chief with record $1.7m fine

Abraaj, which was headed by financier Arif Naqvi, went into liquidation in 2018

Mubadala satellite operator Yahsat jumps on debut, boosting Abu Dhabi IPO push

Mubadala sold 975.9 million Yahsat shares, representing a 40 per cent stake, for Dhs2.75 each

Saudi automotive startup Speero closes $1.8m pre-series A funding round

Launched in 2017, Speero is a digital platform for automotive after-sales