Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank CEO Manna resigns after a year on job

The bank’s chief operating officer, Sandeep Chouhan, has been appointed acting CEO

Samsung Money

Samsung Money debit card readies for summer launch

Reward points can be exchanged for cash which will be deposited into the customer’s Samsung Money by SoFi account

Saudi moved $40bn in reserves to sovereign wealth fund PIF

The sovereign fund has spent billions of dollars this year buying equities, including stakes in BP, Boeing, Citigroup and Facebook

Millennials prefer robot bankers to humans – Nordic data

Banks are trying to find ways to accommodate growing investment demands from cash-rich clients

UAE Exchange starts issuing refunds – report

UAE Exchange, which operates more than 100 branches across the country, stopped all transactions in March

Saudi suspends two mortgage-support programmes amid crisis

An interest-free loan programme for military personnel which covers 20 per cent of a property will be suspended from May 31

Abu Dhabi wealth fund sees U-shaped global rebound next year

As the pandemic forced factories all over the world to shutter and people to stay home, the global economy has plummeted and oil prices have dropped by almost half since the start of the year

Dubai’s ICD reports 16.9% rise in 2019 profits

Its 2019 revenues dipped 1.9 per cent to Dhs228bn

Global downturn risks becoming prolonged recession – WEF

High unemployment, lack of progress in reducing carbon emissions and exacerbated inequalities are all possible side effects of the pandemic

Abu Dhabi City United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi offers more bonds to stockpile cash

The fall in oil prices has put a strain on the finances of Middle Eastern energy-producing countries

Saudi wealth fund said to be seeking $10bn margin loan

PIF is in need of capital as it embarks on an investment spree that has seen it build stakes in some of the world’s largest companies since the start of the coronavirus pandemic

Saudi wealth fund PIF buys Boeing, Citi, Facebook, Disney stakes

The PIF is looking into “any opportunity” arising from the economic wreckage of the crisis, its governor said in April

What role do GCC banks play in the current economic crisis?

Although the Covid-19 situation is straining financial institutions, banks have a major role to play in keeping economies buoyant during the current crisis and beyond

Saudi Aramco seeks to restructure $69.1bn SABIC deal

Aramco is weighing pushing out payments for the 70 per cent holding in SABIC and reducing the size of the initial installment to PIF

UAE’s ADCB posts 82% drop in Q1 net profit on NMC impairment charges

Its net loans stood at Dhs247bn and customer deposits at Dhs263bn as of the end of Q1 2020

Kuwait leader urges curbing oil reliance to strengthen economy

Kuwait imposed a 24-hour curfew on Friday for the next 20 days to contain the spread of the pandemic

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ to buy Jordanian firm from founders, Carlyle

Last week, the company acquired 30 per cent of shares in National Petroleum Construction Co. it didn’t already own

UAE’s yallacompare raises $4.25m in new funding round

The comparison website accounts for more than 75 per cent of online insurance transactions in the UAE

Virus may force Kuwait Finance and Bahrain’s AUB to reassess merger

Last year, Kuwait Finance House offered to buy Ahli United Bank in an all-share deal that was valued at about $8.8bn

Saudi Arabia wealth fund builds team to hunt for global bargains

The PIF is looking into “any opportunity” arising from the economic wreckage of the crisis

saudi arabia riyadh

Saudi bank earmarks $2.4bn to help small businesses

The funds will be used to support 6,000 businesses in their financing needs

Finablr uncovers $1bn in hidden debt as UAE’s NMC Health scandal widens

The London-listed company, Finablr, had a market value of GBP77m when it was halted from trading in March, down from a peak of GBP1.5bn in December

Webinar: Investing during the current Covid-19 crisis – Century Financial Dubai

While there remain pockets of opportunity, investors should ensure they have sufficient liquidity right now, stresses Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial  

Abu Dhabi shelves sale of $2bn private equity book due to coronavirus

The sovereign wealth fund is estimated to have about $580bn under management

Abu Dhabi’s Waha to invest bulk of $200m in US stocks

Waha Capital posted a loss of Dhs616m for 2019

Abu Dhabi City United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ acquires 100% ownership of National Petroleum Construction Company

ADQ assumed complete ownership of NPCC after acquiring 30 per cent shares previously held by Consolidated Contractors International Company

Saudi banks act in unison to reassure investors on oil and virus

Lenders warned that it’s still too early “to determine the size and extent of the financial impact at this stage”

First Abu Dhabi Bank

First Abu Dhabi Bank reports 22% decrease in year-on-year Q1 2020 net profit

Meanwhile, the value of total assets of the UAE’s largest bank rose 14 per cent to Dhs835bn

British Business Group

British Business Group in the UAE launches new website to support companies

Nearly 65 per cent of British Business Group members say they need more clarity on the UAE government schemes available to them

Dubai to raise bonds privately to bolster finances

The emirate raised Dhs1bn through a private placement of eight-year Islamic bonds at a rate of 4.71 per cent earlier this month