Iran bans Bitcoin mining, echoing China, after blackouts

The ban is effective immediately and will last until September 22

UAE Central Bank

UAE Central Bank foreign assets reach Dhs392.4bn by end of Q1 2021

The central bank’s foreign assets increased 0.4 per cent year-on-year

Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC Distribution to raise approximately $1.64bn via combined share, bond offering

The transaction is the first combined equity and exchangeable bond offering in the GCC

DIFC

New DIFC Innovation Hub to spur fintech ecosystem in Dubai

Plans have already been approved to expand the size of the Innovation Hub four-fold to cover 315,000 sq ft

Dubai investment firm FIM Partners considers raising SPAC

EFG Hermes agreed to buy a stake in FIM Partners in 2017

Dubai tech startup Zeta raises $250m to accelerate growth

The investment values Zeta at $1.45bn

M&A: How technology can help integrate increasingly complex business models

Driving real value from a merger or an acquisition lies within the integration and orchestration of the IT estate

The future of wealthtech in the GCC

Older generations are also becoming more exposed to technology solutions that commoditise product offerings

EFG Amazon.eg

Egypt’s sovereign fund, EFG Hermes partner to acquire control of Arab Investment Bank

The transaction will be structured as a capital increase that will raise the paid-in capital of the bank to EGP5bn

Cryptocurrency DAFZA

Regulated trading of cryptocurrency assets to begin in Dubai airport freezone

DAFZA signed an agreement with the SCA to support the regulation, offering, issuance, listing and trading of crypto assets within the freezone

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Hamdan unveils new crowdfunding platform in Dubai for youth entrepreneurs

Dubai SME will provide a package of incentives for those who obtain financing via the new platform called Dubai Next

Bitcoin fluctuates around $40,000 as Musk-fuelled rally collapses

The cryptocurrency is now down around 40 per cent from its record of almost $65,000 set in April

Citi appoints Wassim Al-Khatib as Saudi CEO

Al-Khatib will be responsible for Citi’s regulated business in Saudi Arabia

Dubai fintech Mamo raises $8m in pre-series A funding

The funding will be used initially on developing the company’s service offerings

Faris Mesmar Co-founder and managing partner, hatch & boost

The SME Story: Faris Mesmar, co-founder and managing partner of hatch & boost

Hatch & Boost is an Abu Dhabi-based venture builder dedicated to hatching startup ideas and boosting them into scalable ventures in the Middle East

Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC Distribution to join MSCI emerging markets index on May 27

The fuel retailer will now be among nine UAE-listed companies to be part of the index

Dubai shares gain amid property recovery optimism

The Dubai Financial Market General Index jumped 0.8 per cent as Emaar advanced as much as 2.8 per cent

Etisalat Group

UAE’s Etisalat Group issues EUR1bn bonds

The bond issuance which saw demand from local and international investors was six times oversubscribed

Abu Dhabi IHC

Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company to list three subsidiaries on ADX Second Market

They will be listed on the exchange’s Second Market in Q2 2021

Qatari Minister of Finance Ali Sharif Al-Emadi

Qatar orders arrest of finance minister over misuse of funds

Al-Emadi was named finance minister a day after Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani took over leadership of the country in June 2013

Mubadala keeping pace with KKR as $29bn deployed last year

For 2020, Mubadala said its total comprehensive income rose to Dhs72bn

UAE’s Mashreq to use Oracle’s Transaction Banking platform

The platform is expected to help Mashreq respond more efficiently to the funding needs of local businesses and address capital diversification too

The impact of VAT on the Omani economy

GCC states have the discretion to zero rate and exempt certain categories of supplies and Oman has used this discretion

JPMorgan, FAB poised to win roles on IPO of ADNOC drilling unit

ADNOC is looking to sell a minority stake in its drilling unit in a deal that could value the business at up to $10bn

Saudi Arabia names former Aramco dealmaker as economy minister

The new minister, Faisal Alibrahim, had been vice minister of economy and planning since 2018

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank posts 125% rise in Q1 net profit

Its revenue increased 3.3 per cent to Dhs1.33bn

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company TAQA

Abu Dhabi’s TAQA completes $1.5bn dual-tranche bond sale

Net proceeds from the sale of the notes will be used to repay outstanding debt

Oman’s first quarter deficit rises to $2bn

Public revenue was OMR1.82bn at the end of March

How Middle East businesses can rise to the net-zero challenge

Banks and FI’s are in a position to play a key role in accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy

Can GCC banks withstand further shocks due to the pandemic?

GDP growth in the GCC countries will slowly recover from last year’s sharp recession