#finance

LLB_Headquarters_Vaduz

Here’s how European private bank LLB is looking to grow in the GCC

Gulf Business speaks to Ludovic Pernot, head of Private Banking Middle East at LLB, on the Covid crisis and plans ahead

Nasdaq Dubai Growth Market

Dubai launches new stock market for SMEs

The Nasdaq Dubai Growth Market will be operational by early 2021

Elias Aad mastercard

How payment digitisation can stimulate economic growth in the Middle East

Investing in payment digitisation will drive financial inclusion, economic growth and wellbeing in today’s new reality

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

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

Abu dhabi global market

ICE to launch trading in Murban futures contracts in Abu Dhabi in Q1 2021

ICE had announced plans in November last year to launch the platform in partnership with ADNOC

Dubai Financial Market

Dubai Financial Market announces launch partners for new equity futures platform

The new equity futures platform is slated to launch on October 18

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Investment Office signs bilateral trade agreement with Israel Export Institute

ADIO will help connect Israeli companies with strategic entities and grant them access to resources in Abu Dhabi

Dubai

Dubai repays 10-year $750m bonds certificates

The 10-year Euro Medium Term Note Programme reached maturity on October 5

Emirates Islamic Nasdaq Dubai Sukuk

Emirates Islamic lists $500m sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

The latest listing brings the bank’s current sukuk value on the exchange to $1.5bn

Dubai-based fintech Rise eases remittances with new app

Xare allows users share access to their account and credit card with friends and family

Emirates NBD

Dubai’s Emirates NBD launches new digital supply chain financing platform

The smartSCF platform will provide automated tools to optimise working capital and reduce transaction costs

Shailesh Dash main

Phi Trends: Cloud computing and big data – the way forward

Rising global digitisation due to the pandemic has been a catalyst for companies in the cloud computing and data analytics space, opines entrepreneur and investor Shailesh Dash

Open Banking set to transform finance in the GCC

Gulf Business talks to Wissam Khoury, head of international at Finastra, on the state of Open Banking in the GCC

Dafza Israel

Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority signs agreement with Israeli Chamber of Commerce

DAFZA will provide incentives to Israeli companies wishing to establish their businesses within the emirate

Different Arab money

Why SMEs should consider trade financing over legacy banks in this region

Many SMEs do not have access to bank borrowings, purely because banks are generally reluctant to provide funding to companies that have smaller balance sheets

HSBC shares fall to 25-year low on China fears, banks report

Europe’s largest bank has been named as a possible candidate for China’s “unreliable entity list”

Abu-Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Investment Office to open first international branch in Tel Aviv

ADIO will subsequently open offices in Europe, North America and Asia

Emirates NBD

Dubai’s Emirates NBD signs MoU with Bank Leumi Le-Israel

Bank Leumi currently holds approximately 30 per cent market share in the Israeli banking system

Emirates NBD

Dubai’s Emirates NBD enters into MoU with Israel’s Bank Hapoalim

The agreement will allow Israeli clients to transact directly in the UAE

UAE spending

UAE federal budget records Dhs9.75bn surplus in H1 2020

The federal government’s total revenues were reported at Dhs34.7bn

Adeeb Ahamed New

LuLu Financial Holdings’ MD Adeeb Ahamed on the Covid crisis, remittances and plans ahead

UAE-based LuLu Exchange contributes to nearly 1.7 per cent of the global remittance inflows, reveals Ahamed

Mideast equity markets mixed with oil prices in focus

Kuwait’s main equity index led losses in the region

Sheikh-Mohammed Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed outlines new law for family-owned businesses in Dubai

The validity of a family ownership contract can extend up to 15 years, after which it must be renewed

Sheikh Mohammed Digital Economy

Sheikh Mohammed says digital economy is next priority for UAE

The digital economy’s contribution to the UAE’s local GDP in 2019 reached 4.3 per cent

Abu Dhabi insurance company Daman appoints new CEO

Al Mehyas has been leading the company following a major reorganisation last year

Dubai’s DIFC grants banking licence to Samba Financial Group

Samba Financial Group’s presence in DIFC will facilitate its access to regional markets

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank records 52% decrease in net profit for H1 2020

Its net revenue also declined nearly 11.5 per cent year-on-year to Dhs2.5bn