Saudi leads IPO activity in the MENA region in Q2

Nine IPOs raised $881.5m in the MENA region in the second quarter

UAE denies report of Houthi drone attack on Dubai airport

Houthi-run media said earlier that a Sammad-3 drone had targetted the facility

Strong quake hits northwest Iran killing one and wounding 58

The casualties were in the city of Tazehabad

Sanctions on Iran having effect, but regime change is not US policy – Bolton

The Trump administration re-imposed sanctions on Iran this month

Saudi forces intercept missile headed towards ‘civilian area’ in Jazan

The kingdom has seen an increase in missile attacks in recent weeks

Turkey detains two men over shooting at US embassy in Ankara

Nobody was hurt in the attack

Shots fired at US embassy in Turkish capital, no casualties

Police teams are searching for the assailants, who reportedly fled in a white car after the attack

Iran says no OPEC member can take over its share of oil exports

Iran is the third-largest OPEC oil producer after Saudi Arabia and Iraq

Saudi forces intercept missile fired towards Najran

Houthis have launched 176 missiles so far towards Saudi Arabia, say officials

One killed, 11 injured in Jazan after Saudi intercepts missile fired from Yemen

The missile, fired by the Houthis, was detected by Saudi forces on Wednesday night

Saudi forces intercept missile targeting Najran

The missile, fired by the Houthis on Monday, was detected by the Royal Saudi Air Defence at 8.20pm

US reimposes sanctions on Iran, Rouhani dismisses call for talks

The sanctions target Iranian purchases of US dollars, metals trading, coal, industrial software and its auto sector

Different Arab money

UAE accounts for 59% of MENA start-up investment in H1

The total disclosed funding for start-ups across the MENA region fell 43 per cent to $112m in H1

HSBC appoints global banking head for MENA, Turkey

Gareth Thomas will succeed Matthew Wallace, who was recently appointed as HSBC’s head of global banking for Europe

Saudi suspends oil exports through Red Sea lane after Houthi attack

The kingdom said Houthis had attacked two Saudi Very Large Crude Carriers in the Red Sea on Wednesday morning

Trump to Iran: ‘Never, ever threaten the US again’

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani cautioned Trump about pursuing hostile policies against Tehran

Two earthquakes strike southern Iran

The 4.7 and 5.7 magnitude earthquakes struck Hormozgan province

UAE Armed Forces intercept missile fired towards Mocha

Saudi Arabia and the UAE accuse Iran of providing Yemen’s Houthis with missile components

US, UAE jointly disrupt Iran finance operation

The countries disrupted a currency exchange network that was transferring millions of dollars to Iran

China’s President pledges $20bn in loans to revive Middle East

A consortium of banks from China and Arab nations will also be set up with a dedicated fund of $3bn

Saudi forces intercept missile fired towards Jazan

A five-year-old was injured by a missile in Saudi’s Jazan last week

Regional airlines see almost no passenger traffic growth in May – IATA

The earlier timing of Ramadan this year may have affected growth, says report

French arms sales double in the Middle East

Sales to Saudi Arabia fell slightly, while deals to the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar soared

Uber in talks with Dubai’s Careem to merge in Middle East – report

The companies have reportedly discussed several potential deal structures

Pan-Arab newspaper Al Hayat closes Beirut office

The move comes after the paper shut down its London office in January

Anglo American suspends contract to Bahrain Steel after spills

Bahrain Steel produces iron ore pellets for steelmakers

UAE says it wants Yemen peace deal but Houthis must leave Hodeidah

The Saudi-led coalition launched the biggest assault of the war this month on Hodeidah

Iran says OPEC agreement did not specify oil production increase

OPEC agreed on Friday to raise output from July

Fighting rages in Yemen’s Hodeidah amid talk of UN deal

The coalition has pledged a swift military operation to take over the airport and seaport

Saudi-led coalition seizes Yemen’s Hodeidah airport

The coalition says its aim is to seize the airport and port quickly and avoid street battles in the city centre