#Economy

Central Bank of the UAE

UAE Central Bank extends Targeted Economic Support Scheme until June 2021

The TESS loan deferral programme has already benefited over 310,000 retail customers, nearly 10,000 SMEs and more than 1,500 private sector companies

Sharjah UAE

Sharjah real estate transactions total Dhs4.6bn in Q3 2020, up 10% y-on-y

There were a total of 14,854 real estate transactions completed in Q3 this year

Dr B.R. Shetty, Founder and Co-Chairman of Finablr, at the London Stock Exchange[2] copy

BR Shetty plans ‘imminent’ return to the UAE to support investigation into NMC

The NMC Health founder denies wrongdoing and says he has “complete faith in the justice system of the UAE”

UAE non-oil trade

UAE non-oil trade reaches Dhs658.3bn in H1 2020

The five biggest trading partners of the UAE were China, Saudi Arabia, India, the US and Switzerland

Exclusive: Dubai Chamber’s CEO on the emirate’s recovery from the pandemic and increasing focus on startups

Companies are reinventing their business models and fast-tracking digital strategies as they prepare for a post-pandemic recovery, opines Hamad Buamim

UAE-HEALTH-VIRUS Dubai

UAE plans for ‘final stage of recovery’ from the Covid crisis – officials

Officials urge the public to adhere to precautionary measures to ensure the UAE reaches the recovery stage

Abu-Dhabi

UAE to establish new court to combat money laundering and tax crimes

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department will organise training courses for judges and prosecutors specialising in money laundering and tax evasion

Bahrain

Bahrain boosts access to funding for SMEs, startups

Changes in law allows small enterprises to fundraise via convertible notes and employee shares schemes

Saudi VAT increase: What are the long-term implications?

The kingdom hiked its value added tax (VAT) from 5 per cent to 15 per cent in July

SME Revival: The 20 beneficiaries revealed

Motivate Media Group, along with an expert panel, has selected 20 SMEs as the beneficiaries of the $1m initiative

Commercial Bank of Dubai

Commercial Bank of Dubai lists $600m bond on Nasdaq Dubai

The six-year bond with a 6 per cent interest rate was 2.1 times subscribed

Kuwait’s $124bn pension fund had record first-half profit

A new management team was brought into the fund in 2017 to transform the state-owned institution

oil-big7

US elections: Gold drops, oil rises as results show tight race

Markets have been volatile during the final weeks of the campaign as investors fretted over the potential for a contested outcome

Sharjah

Sharjah announces new Dhs512m economic stimulus package

The package was approved by the Crown Prince of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, on Tuesday

Saudi Binladin considers joint ventures and asset sales amid revamp

The company has put thousands of employees on indefinite leave in recent months

USA flag and contemporary glass skyscrapers in New York

How the outcome of the US elections could affect the global stock market

The 2020 elections will show what matters the most to American voters: the stock market performance, or the real economy

Saudi non-oil private sector business activity improves to highest in 8 months

However, employment numbers dropped at the fastest rate since June

Oman

Oman plans to levy income tax on wealthy individuals starting 2022

The International Monetary Fund sees Oman’s economy shrinking 10 per cent this year

Nasdaq Dubai

Private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank, ICD, lists $600m sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

The five-year sukuk was oversubscribed nearly three times

Saeed Hamad Obaid Al Dhaheri

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange appoints new CEO

He was formerly appointed as CEO of Abu Dhabi National Energy (TAQA)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

UAE cabinet approves Dhs58bn budget for 2021

The new federal budget is 5.2 per cent lower than the 2020 figure of Dhs61.35bn

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank ADCB

UAE’s ADCB posts Q3 2020 net profit of Dhs1.3bn; down 3% y-on-y

It reported a nine-month net profit from January-September 2020 of Dhs2.802bn, down 33 per cent compared to Dhs4.196bn in the corresponding period last year

Oman

Oman planning its biggest property trust IPO

Oman REIT Fund is planning an initial public offering that could raise about $100m

Nasdaq Dubai Growth Market

Dubai launches new stock market for SMEs

The Nasdaq Dubai Growth Market will be operational by early 2021

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan unveils new Dhs500m stimulus package for Dubai

The overall value of economic support provided by the emirate in 2020 has risen to Dhs6.8bn

Tabreed

UAE’s Tabreed issues new $500m 7-year bond

The bond has been rated Baa3 by Moody’s and BBB by Fitch

Kuwait parliament assembly

Kuwait’s parliament passes law to cut expat numbers

The law does not include the previously proposed quota system for expat nationalities

UAE Israel

UAE delegation led by Obaid Humaid Al Tayer signs landmark agreements with Israel

The UAE, US and Israel also established a $3bn Abraham Fund to help stimulate private sector-led investments across the region

Dubai DEWA

Dubai’s DEWA repays $1.5bn bond, turns debt-free

New projects worth over Dhs80bn are either ongoing or envisaged for completion over the next five years

Dubai

Dubai records Dhs551bn non-oil external trade in H1 2020

China remained Dubai’s largest trading partner with Dhs66.4bn worth of trade