Nasdaq Dubai to launch MSCI UAE futures trading from mid-January

The benchmark index currently comprises 11 UAE companies including some of the largest ones

UAE lenders unaffected by troubles at Sharjah’s Invest Bank

The loss-making Sharjah bank has been hit by exposure to the UAE’s troubled real estate and construction markets.

UAE Central Bank says ready to provide liquidity to Sharjah’s Invest Bank

Invest Bank has approved a capital injection by the government of Sharjah

Kuwait allows foreign investors to own and trade in local banks’ shares

The ownership of a foreign investor shall not exceed 5 per cent in any Kuwaiti bank

Sharjah government to take stake in struggling Invest Bank

Invest has been hit by recent high levels of bad loans

Finablr’s UAE Exchange, Ripple to begin blockchain payments by Q1

UAE Exchange and Ripple announced a partnership to process cross-border payments in February

Binance

UAE, Saudi Arabia to test digital currency for cross-border settlements

The UAE’s central bank governor said fintech could play a major role in improving financial inclusion

Abu Dhabi’s Goldilocks acquires 29.49% stake in insurer Takaful Emarat

The deal marks the fund’s third major Dubai stake buy in recent days

UAE clears $6.5bn in yuan transactions

President Xi Jinping in July made the first visit by a Chinese leader to the UAE in 29 years

Saudi banks close to deal with authorities on Islamic tax

Banks have been at loggerheads with authorities over additional payments of zakat going back as far as 2002

Abu Dhabi’s Goldilocks fund acquires 18% stake in Dubai-listed Gulf Nav

Goldilocks was launched in 2015 with the goal of becoming an activist investor in listed equities

Standard Chartered cuts jobs in UAE retail bank

The bank has also reduced headcount within other sectors, according to sources

Saudi’s AHAB turns to new bankruptcy law to settle with creditors

AHAB and Saad Group defaulted on about $22bn of debt in 2009

Founder of UAE’s Abraaj pitches last-ditch rescue bid to investors

Abraaj Holdings filed for provisional liquidation in the Cayman Islands in June

Singapore bank DBS to ‘almost double’ Dubai private banking staff by 2023

The Singapore bank is joining Citibank and other global lenders expanding wealth management operations in the region

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

Bahrain central bank considers new guidance for Islamic banks

The Bahraini regulator already requires Islamic banks to undergo independent external audits

UAE’s Al Hilal Bank executes ‘world’s first’ sukuk transaction using blockchain

The size of the deal was $1m, sold by Al Hilal to a private investor

UAE’s Finablr hires banks for IPO, listing in London

The payments and foreign exchange company plans to sell at least 30 per cent of its shares to the public

Abu Dhabi’s IPIC files lawsuit against Goldman Sachs, others over 1MDB case

IPIC has also filed a criminal complaint in the UAE against two former executives for allegedly accepting bribes

Dubai’s Majid Al Futtaim acquires UAE mobile wallet app Beam

Beam will be expanded across all Majid Al Futtaim retail stores by next year

UAE, Jordan sign $100m agreement to fund SMEs in the kingdom

The agreement will see around 22,000 projects funded over five years with 28,000 jobs created for Jordanian youth

UAE residents can now access credit reports via an app

Previously, the credit report and score could only be purchased at the AECB customer happiness centres in Abu Dhabi or Dubai

Three ways Fintech is transforming everyday life

Gulf-based fintech start-ups to raise $2bn over next decade

Interest in digital solutions from banks and government fintech accelerators are expected to support the market

Dubai lender Emirates NBD opens second branch in Riyadh

The bank now operates four full-fledged branches across three cities in the kingdom

Saudi stocks hit one-month low on Khashoggi reports

Stock market data showed that qualified foreign investors were net sellers in the week to November 15

Google Pay launches in the UAE

Several UAE banks are now supporting the payment method

Over 4,500 retailers sign up for UAE’s tourist VAT refund scheme

The scheme will be implemented from Sunday, November 18, 2018, at the Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah International Airports

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank picks Barclays to advise on Union, Al Hilal merger

If it goes ahead, the mergercould create an entity with around $113bn in assets

Tourists will be charged a fee for VAT refund, clarifies UAE’s FTA

The maximum cash amount that can be returned to a tourist for a 24-hour period is Dhs10,000

Oman’s National Gas Company terminates CEO

Oman property developer Tilal plans $137m sukuk

Unlisted Tilal sold the country’s first sukuk in 2013 through a private placement