UAE consumers will see biggest impact from VAT – experts

The tax is slated to be implemented from January 2018

Saudi central bank studying how to reschedule mortgages

The central bank issued instructions to banks on Sunday on how they should reschedule the consumer loans

Qatar exchange to introduce margin trading this week

The initiative primarily aims to boost liquidity in the market

Dubai compulsory health insurance boosts UAE insurers’ profits

Listed insurers reported aggregate profits in the first half of 2016 after losses in 2015

GCC countries face further credit rating downgrades

The region’s macro momentum is losing steam, says Fisch report

Saudi central bank orders rescheduling of consumer loans

The central bank said it wanted to support borrowers whose incomes had been reduced due to government spending cuts

Saudi Central Bank asks lenders to reschedule government worker loans

The cabinet announced this week that it would slash ministers’ salaries by 20 per cent and reduce a range of allowances

Saudi Arabia’s central bank to inject $5.3bn to boost financial stability

The central bank has been battling to slow the rise in money rates since early this year

Online marketplace The Luxury Closet closes $7.8m series B round

The firm said it would use the funds to accelerate its regional expansion

Compareit4me.com raises $2.4m in bridge funding round

Compareit4me said it would use the investment to build its recently launched UAE insurance business

Former RAKIA CEO held in Jeddah airport over alleged $1.5bn fraud

Khater Massaad was detained under an arrest warrant issued by the Ras Al Khaimah government

Dubai startup MoveSouq closes $3m funding round

The amount raised will be used by the startup to expand services

Exchange houses hold talks with UAE Central Bank over new rules

UAE banks restructure $1.9bn of loans

Banks in the country agreed to help SMEs restructure their debt in March after a series of defaults

Qatar announces relocation of financial centre

Firms will be able to operate from the new location starting in mid-2017

Riyad Bank CEO to retire, deputy to take over role

The bank is Saudi Arabia’s fourth-largest lender by assets

Saudi shares drop on Sunday as activity falls to 12-month low

Oil-related companies and banking shares faced declines

Qatar central bank offers $824m of government bonds for sale

This is the central bank’s second domestic bond sale this year

Bahrain’s Investcorp acquires $223.5m office tower in Seattle

The acquisition was carried out by Investcorp’s US-based real estate arm

US removes defunct Saudi-linked American charity from blacklist

The US’ decision in 2004 to blacklist Al Haramain Islamic Foundation sparked a legal battle

Bahrain’s GFH disposes of remaining Leeds United stake

GFH first acquired the club in late 2012

UAE markets set to fall as they reopen after Eid

Many investors may remain absent on the last day of the working week

Abraaj may buy Middlesex University’s Dubai campus

The deal could be worth around $55m to $70m

Abu Dhabi regulator issues Rothschild Gulf Investment Bank scam alert

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market has warned against interacting with the firm

Close to 60% of UAE residents don’t have life insurance

Majority of survey respondents say life insurance is too expensive

Dubai World unit Istithmar cuts most of its staff – report

More than 15 staff responsible for selling the assets of Dubai World have been handed notices

Egypt eyes $2-3bn deposit from Saudi to help seal IMF deal

Egypt reached a preliminary agreement with the IMF in August for a $12bn three-year lending programme

No more jail time for bad debts under new UAE bankruptcy law

The long-awaited law was approved by the cabinet this week

UAE cabinet approves bankruptcy law

The new law is anticipated to decriminalise bounced cheques

Qatar National Bank becomes first GCC lender to open Cuba office

QNB has obtained regulatory approvals needed to open the office

UAE salaries forecast to grow by 4.6% in 2017

Salaries across the GCC region are projected to rise next year due to better economic conditions