Commercial Bank of Dubai responds to reports of merger

The bank said there are no discussions concerning “mergers, acquisitions or activities of a similar nature”

UAE’s Gulf Capital eyes acquisitions, plans new fund

The private equity firm bought a 70 per cent stake in health aesthetics firm Medica

Saudi index falls on profit taking, other markets mixed

Saudi’s stock market fell 8.6 per cent from the beginning of May until Thursday’s close

Indonesia lists two green sukuk valued at $2bn on Nasdaq Dubai

Sukuk listings in Dubai now total $61.5bn, the largest amount of any listing centre in the world

UAE’s tax authority to start penalising violators of tobacco scheme

Penalties have been set for nine types of violations, with fines reaching up to Dhs50,000

Most GCC stock markets fall as banking shares drop

Dubai’s index is down 7.4 per cent this month, though still up 1.3 per cent year-to-date

gavel

Saudi court accepts AHAB’s bankruptcy filing, rejects liquidation

The bankruptcy filing was seen as a key test of Saudi Arabia’s new law for handling insolvency disputes

UAE investors are among the world’s most optimistic – survey

UAE investors were found to be extremely bullish on equities, according to the survey by UBS

Saudi mall operator Arabian Centres falls below IPO price in first trading

Arabian Centres’ share sale was the kingdom’s third biggest since Saudi lender NCB raised $6bn in 2014

Developer Arada gets $1bn loan for two major Sharjah projects

The two Islamic facilities will be used to finance the Aljada and Nasma Residences projects

Property props up Dubai stock market

The index has risen only 0.3 per cent this year, while it has lost 7.7 per cent since the beginning of May

Saudi fines 16 banks, including Dubai lender for ‘violations of responsible finance’

The violations related to the percentage of debt that individuals had to bear in proportion to their monthly income

Saudi imposes tax on e-cigarettes and sugary drinks

The kingdom will levy a 100 per cent tax on electronic cigarettes and products used in them, and a 50 per cent tax on sugared drinks

Finding investment opportunities in the education sector

At an exclusive event hosted by Gulf Business and Allied Investment Partners, leading experts discussed investment within the education sector

IMF urges Saudi to consider raising VAT rate

The IMF said the introduction of a value-added tax has been very successful, but the rate is low by global standards

Goldman Sachs bought Commerzbank’s claim in Saudi’s biggest debt saga

The US investment bank bought $100m of Bahraini bank International Bank Corporation’s debt

MSCI adds Saudi Arabia to emerging markets index

A total of 30 Saudi Arabian securities would be added to the index

UAE’s Finablr extends IPO closing by a day to May 14

The company has been seeking to raise $200m from the sale of new stock ahead of a flotation on the London Stock Exchange

Saudi, Dubai stock markets drop after tanker attacks

Two Saudi oil tankers were among vessels targeted by a “sabotage attack” off the coast of the UAE

Kuwait assembly urged to debate expat remittance tax bill

The bill states that foreign workers would be taxed by up to 5 per cent on their money transfers abroad

Abraaj founder given more time to raise bail

Naqvi was arrested in the UK last month and has been awaiting possible extradition to the US where he faces charges of fraud

Dubai’s Emirates Investment Bank CEO resigns

Khaled Sifri joined the bank in 2008

Abu Dhabi’s Gulf Capital, Waha Capital have held early merger talks

The talks have taken place over the last few months and may or may not lead to a deal

Saudi’s Arabian Centres prices IPO at lower end, books covered

Arabian Centres owns 19 malls, making it the leading owner and operator of shopping malls in Saudi

Abraaj founder does not post $20m bail, remains in jail

Arif Naqvi was granted bail on Friday by the UK court

UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim to raise up to $650m in green sukuk

The proceeds of the sukuk will back environmentally-friendly projects

Abu Dhabi’s ADCB’s Q1 profit falls 5%, sees cost synergies from three-way merger

ADCB finalised the bank’s integration with Union National Bank and Al Hilal Bank last week

Saudi stock market plunges to nearly eight-month low

Oil prices weighed on Saudi’s financial and petrochemical shares

Saudi Telecom issues $1.25bn debut sukuk

Saudi Telecom’s new bonds will be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange

Abraaj founder wins bail appeal in London

He is accused of defrauding US investors by inflating positions held by Abraaj in order to attract greater funds from them