Former Abraaj executive pleads guilty to US charges

Former managing partner Mustafa Abdel-Wadood was arrested in New York in April and released on bail

Sharjah Islamic Bank raises $500m from AT1 Sukuk

The Sukuk was oversubscribed by 10 times, receiving orders of $4.8bn

Abu Dhabi Financial Group and Shuaa Capital agree on merger

The combined entity will remain listed on the Dubai stock exchange

Kuwaiti equities to be in main MSCI emerging markets index from 2020

The Kuwaiti market has outperformed markets in the Middle East this year in anticipation of the MSCI move

Abu Dhabi’s ADSS CEO to leave brokerage

Philippe Ghanem will be leaving the firm shortly to pursue new opportunities

Saudi’s stock market falls for a fourth day on geopolitical concerns

Saudi’s index fell 0.8 per cent with nearly all its banks slipping

UAE central bank focuses on real estate in anti-money laundering efforts

The bank will use a new anti-money laundering reporting platform starting from the end of June to identify illicit transactions

Sharjah Islamic Bank eyes double-digit loan growth, up to $500m bonds

SIB had total assets of Dhs44.7bn as of the end of last year

Mitigating financial crime risk in the UAE

Banks can build more robust anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance frameworks through the effective use of technology

Dubai financial regulator DFSA suspends firm for non-compliance

The licence of Rasan Capital Limited has been suspended for 12 months

UAE’s biggest lender FAB to shut Qatar operations amid row with Doha

The move came after a Qatari regulator earlier this month placed more business restrictions on First Abu Dhabi Bank

Oman offers tax breaks on tourism investments in Musandam

Investors will be exempt from custom duties on building materials, tools and equipment needed to build tourism projects

Saudi insurers Walaa, Metlife AIG ANB consider merger

Saudi Arabia’s crowded insurance sector is ripe for consolidation

RBS says Saudi bank merger boosts its core capital

The merger between Alawwal bank and Saudi British Bank has been completed

Saudi Arabia hires Goldman, SocGen for bond meetings in Europe

The kingdom is considering issuing its first euro-denominated bonds this year

Dubai-based Emirates Investment Bank appoints interim CEO

Former CEO Khaled Sifri resigned from his role in May

Dubai’s DIFC enacts new employment law, introduces paternity leave

Penalties have also been introduced to ensure adherence to basic conditions of employment, visa and residency sponsorship

Dubai’s property developer The First Group in talks for financing

The firm is looking at potentially issuing US dollar-denominated sukuk

Abu Dhabi sovereign fund ADIA buys full ownership of New York office block

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority bought a 25 per cent stake in 330 Madison Avenue from Vornado Realty Trust

New insolvency law enacted by Dubai’s DIFC, lawyers say move will boost confidence

The new law is hoped to facilitate a more “efficient and effective” bankruptcy restructuring regime

Saudi stocks rise for the fourth day, UAE markets retreat

The Saudi index has gained over 13 per cent year-to-date, outperforming other major Gulf peers

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital parts way with CEO, names board member as MD

The senior management shake up comes as Waha is coping with changes and challenging market conditions

Dubai Islamic Bank board approves plan to acquire Noor Bank

The deal is expected to create “one of the largest Islamic banks in the world” with combined assets of nearly Dhs275bn

Emirates NBD hires Japan’s Mizuho to arrange $200m syndicated loan

The loan has tranches with three- and five-year maturities and a $200m greenshoe option

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital CEO leaves

Michael Raynes was appointed to lead the company in late March 2018

Bahrain’s Investcorp acquires 11 US properties for $370m

The deal marks Investcorp’s largest US real estate portfolio acquired in the past decade

Oman to levy 100% tax on tobacco, alcohol, energy drinks from June 15

The sultanate expects the selective tax to generate around OMR100m a year

IMF expects global financial turnout at US-led Palestinian conference

The efficacy of the June 25-26 meeting in Bahrain has been in doubt

Bahrain, Manama, Cityscape view of Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbor

Bahrain wealth fund Mumtalakat’s 2018 profit falls 73.5%

Mumtalakat’s revenue totalled $5.5bn in 2018, up 38 per cent over the previous year

Abraaj founder Naqvi released on bail from UK court

Naqvi was released after paying the 15m pound conditional bail – the largest ever ordered by a court in the UK