MENA IPO Values Down 45% In Q3 2013

The region’s sole IPO in the third quarter of the year raised $138 million, lower than the $252.3 million raised in Q3 2012.

Libyan Prime Minister Zeidan Kidnapped From Hotel By Gunmen

Zeidan, who was staying at a hotel in Tripoli, was forcibly taken by gunmen from a former rebel faction.

Etihad Signs Air Baltic Codeshare And Doubles Jakarta Flights

Etihad expanding east and north as Jakarta flights set to double at the end of October and Latvian trade links to be bolstered by airBaltic’s new flights from December

Etihad Launching Los Angeles Flights Next Summer

Abu Dhabi carrier will compete with Emirates for origin and destination and transfer traffic

Gulf States Ready To Invest In Egypt State Projects – Minister

Egypt’s cabinet has flagged a 120 billion Egyptian pound investment programme for this fiscal year.

Logistics Tariffs Stifling E-Commerce In The Middle East

Aramex warns high tariffs are holding back online retail business in the region.

Low-Cost Filipino Carrier Begins Dubai-Manila Services

The new service will offer the 500,000 Filipino expats in Dubai more travel options during peak periods.

Different Arab money

GCC Markets Grow Due To Economic Diversification

The UAE is expected to grow strongly owing to the recovery of sectors like financial services and construction.

Gold Edges Up As US Shutdown Drags On

The near-week long shutdown has raised fears that the Congress may struggle to raise the debt ceiling by October 17.

US Debt Default Could Affect GCC

A potential US government debt default could lead to dollar depreciation and reduced business confidence.

UAE Financial Heads Woo London’s City Bankers

Despite a lack of local knowledge, UAE financial heads are increasingly looking to recruit top tier talent from the UK.

Saudi Arabia Not Worried About U.S. Debt Limit

Most of Saudi central bank’s net foreign assets are believed to be denominated in U.S. dollars, and much of that amount is in the form of U.S. Treasury bonds.

Banking On Gulf Wealth: Private Banking Special Report

The region’s private wealth industry is enjoying accelerated growth, as nationals bring their cash home to roost and domestic riches grow.

Dr Nasser Saidi: Collective Healing

It’s time to set up an Arab bank for reconstruction and development, writes the founder and president of Nasser Saidi & Associates.

Private Banking Special: Arjuna Mahendran, Emirates NBD

Emirates NBD has lowered its bad debts forecasts and paid back Dhs7.8 billion of crisis-era funding to the Ministry of Finance.

Pearls For Profit: The UAE’s Pearling Industry

Dubai goes back to its roots and targets commodities traders with a local pearl auction.

Iran President’s Phone Call With Obama Stirs Hardline Suspicions

Rouhani, who took office in August, had the supreme leader’s approval for his move to build bridges with Washington.

Private Banking Special: Arnaud Leclercq, Lombard Odier

Lombard Odier plans to increase its assets in the Middle East to 20 per cent of its global business by the end of 2017.

UAE Records Highest M&A Deal Value In The Region

Deal value in the third quarter touched $19.1billion, up 99 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Private Banking Special: Pierre Masclet, Credit Agricole Suisse

Having roughly $54 billion assets under management, private banking contributes to around 70 per cent of the total group’s revenues.

Middle East Airlines’ Passenger Traffic Grows 15% In August

Strong loads for Ramadan, coupled with capacity expansion, kept the region in pole position.

UAE Bucks Trend In Cost Of Global Cybercrime

A report by Symantec has revealed the average cost of cybercrime per person has risen 50 per cent in the rest of the world.

Private Banking Special: Daniel Savary, Julius Baer

Julius Baer’s total client assets amounted to CHF 304 billion ($321 billion) at the end of June 2012, with assets under management accounting CHF 218 billion for ($230 billion).

OPEC Relaxed About Cost-Sensitive Shale Oil

The U.S. shale boom has already altered the landscape of oil trade.

S&P Issues Profitability Warning To Gulf’s Islamic Banks

Banking assets in the GCC now account for around or slightly above a quarter of all banking assets in the region.

Emirates Expands East And West

Carrier starts the new month in top gear by launching services to Clark in the Philippines, a new route between Milan and New York and its first A380 service to Brisbane

Facebook To Cash In On Gulf’s Growing Online Ad Spend

Facebook’s global mobile advertising revenues soared to 41 per cent of overall revenues in Q2 2013.

Etihad Starts Daily Ho Chi Minh Flights

New service to meet strong business and leisure demand and support UAE investments in Vietnam

Egypt In Talks To Extend Oil Product Supplies From Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE are already providing Egypt petroleum products until the end of December

Private Banking Special: Eduardo Leeman, Falcon Private Bank

The Swiss bank has 40 years of wealth management experience and is owned by Abu Dhabi government vehicle Aabar Investments.