Most UAE residents support the country’s new tax on sugary drinks – survey

The UAE will levy a 50 per cent on sugary drinks from January 1, 2020

GCC insurance market to grow 4.3% to $36.1bn in 2024 – report

The UAE and Saudi’s insurance sectors are anticipated to grow by 4.2 per cent and 5 per cent between 2019 and 2024, respectively

Next stop Abu Dhabi: Aramco in regional push to sell shares

The deal will now rely on local investors and won’t be marketed in the US, Canada and Japan

Saudi Aramco pitches to investors in Dubai to drum up support for IPO

The investor meetings are Aramco’s first outside Saudi Arabia

Dubai’s DIFC partners with global payments provider WorldFirst

It will facilitate currency exchange services and cross-border payment solutions to e-commerce businesses and individuals across the region

Egypt wealth fund seeks GCC partners to lure investments

After launching a $20bn investment platform with the UAE, Egypt’s fund is now setting its sights on Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman

Saudi Central Bank watches banks for excessive lending in rush for Aramco IPO

SAMA wants daily updates on how much credit banks are providing after it eased lending limits for buyers

Bahrain bank, China firm create $50m venture capital fund for Middle East tech market

The fund – MEC Ventures – will invest across sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, and technology ecosystem enablers

Oman’s ‘first’ blockchain trade deal conducted

The transaction involved the shipment of polypropylene to UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Carpet factory

Saudi Aramco sees nearly enough early orders for IPO after 3 days

Fund managers can subscribe to the stock until Dec. 4

Saudi doubles the amount that banks can lend for Aramco IPO

Saudi banks are seeking to cash in on the IPO after years of falling loan growth

Saudi Aramco cancels London leg of planned IPO roadshow

It’s the latest sign that the giant Saudi oil company has scaled back the international ambitions for the IPO

ADIA hosts Africa Investment Summit in Abu Dhabi

The two-day event will include representatives from 22 countries, including seven African nations

Saudi Aramco seeks $1.71 trillion valuation in world’s biggest IPO

Aramco said it is seeking to raise as much as $25.6bn by selling a 1.5 per cent stake

UAE, Egypt to set up $20bn joint investment platform

The investment platform will be run through Egypt’s newly established sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi Development Holding

Most UAE companies do not reserve funds for end-of-service gratuities – report

Of the companies that don’t set aside assets, 78 per cent don’t share such information with employees

Morgan Stanley is latest bank to offer $1 trillion Saudi Aramco spread

Among 16 banks that offered a valuation, the range in estimates ran from $1.1 trillion at the bottom right up to $2.5 trillion

European bank LLB expands operations in Dubai, to hire more staff

Liechtensteinische Landesbank now also offers financial advisory services in the region

Bank of America hires first investment bank head in Saudi

Bank of America is one of more than 20 institutions working on Saudi Aramco’s IPO

Three ways Fintech is transforming everyday life

Wamda invests in UAE-based fintech to offer cash-on-delivery alternative

Up to 62 per cent of the region’s online consumers continue to prefer the cash-on-delivery (COD) option

Aramco taps Saudi billionaires including Olayans, Prince Alwaleed for major IPO orders

Saudi is also leaning on friendly governments to drum up demand for the listing

Kuwait, Saudi stocks climb after MSCI review

Investors were also perusing the prospectus of Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering, which will take place in Riyadh

Lebanon parliament to discuss graft law this week as demanded by protestors

President Michel Aoun said lawmakers will meet November 12 to consider lifting the wide immunity granted to government officials and parliamentarians

Emiratis to secure 40% banking jobs in UAE

Currently, Emiratis constitute 26.1 per cent of the UAE’s banking workforce

Kuwait’s stock exchange IPO will be oversubscribed, says CEO

The sale of half the exchange to local citizens began last month and will end on December 1

UAE economy to gain impetus from Expo 2020, government policies – IMF

IMF hails steps for UAE’s SME strategy, lists sustained growth and diversified economy as key priorities

Dubai’s DFM posts 45% rise in net profit for Q3 2019

Revenues in the third quarter reached Dhs78.1m, compared to Dhs69.5m last year

New York’s Modus Capital launches $75m MENA fund targeting startups, SMEs

The fund will target early and growth stage firms across the region

Saudi Aramco may be worth $1.5 trillion or less, some IPO banks say

The IPO process officially started Sunday, with the company filling a so-called intention to float document

UAE plans to loosen cap on bank lending to property industry

UAE banks can currently lend as much as 20 per cent of customer deposits to the property industry