Saudi Booms But Closing Deals Is Challenging

While experts say the Kingdom is the best performing market in the region, they also warn investors to be patient while doing deals.

Banque Saudi Fransi sets up $2bn Sukuk

The bank reported a ten per cent year-on-year rise in first quarter profit earlier this year.

Gulf Tablets Set To Soar

Out of all handheld consumer technology, tablets have the most glittering future, say experts.

SABIC Sees Drop In Q1 Profit

Saudi Basic Industries Corp recorded a five per cent year-on-year fall in net profit during the first quarter of the year.

Tamweel Posts 33% Drop In Q1 Profit

The UAE-based mortgage lender recorded a net profit of Dhs18 million during the first quarter of the year.

Nokia Has 46% ME Handset Share

Nokia leads handset sales, but Apple secures top spot for mobile advertising impressions.

Mubadala To Manufacture Parts For Boeing

This is the first time Boeing has signed a direct outsourcing deal for parts production in the Arab region.

World Bank Picks New President

The decision to appoint Jim Yong Kim, an American, to the top post has been criticised by developing nations.

NBK Posts $292m Q1 Net Profit

National Bank of Kuwait reported a 0.3 per cent rise in Q1 profits year-on-year.

Giordano Unveils Expansion Plans, Web Store

Global fashion store will launch 14 more regional stores this year.

Dubai’s Residential Market Back On Track

Property prices in the city are hitting early 2008 levels, and the rental market is also positive, says a new report.

Nakheel Posts 33% Rise In 2011 Profit

The Dubai-based developer reported a net profit of Dhs1.3 billion for 2011.

Bahrain Is “Not Syria” Says Circuit Boss

Formula One teams taking part in the Bahrain Grand Prix will not be at risk, circuit chairman Zayed Al Zayani has said.

Bank Muscat Q1 Net Profit Up 20%

Bank Muscat, Oman’s largest lender by market value, posted a net profit of $86.7 million for the first quarter of the year.

SABIC Approves SR15bn Dividends

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation will be distributing a dividend of SR5 per share to shareholders for 2011.

Saudi’s Al-Tayyar Group Plans 30% IPO

The travel firm had to cancel a similar sale two years ago due to a lack of demand.

Al Ghurair appointed DIFC Authority chairman

Mashreq bank chairman Abdul Azuz Al Ghurair is also vice chairman of DIFC’s higher board of directors.

Experts Slam Buying Facebook ‘Likes’

Digital experts have slammed the practice of hiring fake users to ‘like’ a page.

QNB Buys Stake In Libyan Bank

Qatar National Bank has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Libya’s Bank of Commerce and Development for an undisclosed sum.

Courting Appeal

Dubai’s financial court is revving up efforts to become the home to international dispute hearings.

Saudi Denies Reports of Sweden Arms Plant

The Kingdom stressed that it has not signed any deal with Sweden to help build a weapons factory in Saudi.

UAE Central Bank Posts Dhs3.7bn Net Profit

The bank plans to distribute 55 per cent of its 2011 net profit to the ministry of finance, reported WAM.

Oil Market Fundamentals Easing: IEA

Increasing output from OPEC and slow global demand are easing fundamentals, said the International Energy Agency.

Mubadala Reports $1.1bn Net Loss

The Abu Dhabi-based investment company attributed the loss to negative fluctuations in its financial investments.

Arabtec Nominates Aabar Execs To Board

Dubai-based builder Arabtec has nominated four top Aabar executives to its board.

The Rise Of Social Networking

Never before has social media so dramatically shaped the behaviour of businesses in the Gulf, writes Ryan Harrison.

QIA Plans $10bn Indian Investment

Qatar Investment Authority said it is looking to invest $10 billion in India, but is waiting for policies to change in the country.

Oman May Issue $518m Bonds

Oman plans to issue sovereign bonds worth OR200 million this year, but is waiting for the right time, according to officials.

Saudi Banks Post Rise In Q1 Net Profit

Al Rajhi Bank, SABB, Saudi Hollandi Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi recorded a rise in net profit during the first quarter of the year.

Kuwait To Launch $65.6m Trading System

The new system will help in the trading of financial instruments such as derivatives and Sukuks.