Predictions 2016: Global Investment House vice chairman and group CEO Maha K Al-Ghunaim

This year will be extremely challenging for the GCC region, writes Maha Al-Ghunaim

Crowdfunding takes a step up as SMEs struggle for backing

Banks remain unable or unwilling to finance SMEs, says Eureeca co-founder

GCC countries could save $87bn through renewables

IRENA report suggests renewable energy plans could save money and create hundreds of thousands of jobs

Record year for Middle Eastern cross-border M&A

Outbound deals fueled by the region totaled $76.34bn

Inequality rising: Richest 62 own as much as half of the world, finds Oxfam

Report finds that the wealthiest 1 per cent owns more than the rest of the world’s population

Abu Dhabi bank NBAD to invest $10bn in sustainable businesses

The amount will be used to finance environmentally sustainable projects over the next 10 years

Emirates NBD posts 39% rise in 2015 net profit on low impairment charges

The Dubai-based lender posted a 32 per cent drop in impairment charges

UAE’s RAKBANK eyeing 250 job cuts – report

Cuts follow the 350 reported in November at FGB, HSBC and Standard Chartered

Value of GCC project contract awards to drop 15% in 2016 – report

GCC governments have slashed spending as oil prices continue to plummet

More than half of UAE residents say their salary is too low to save money

Another third of cash-strapped employees cannot save a single dirham a month

GCC food bills among world’s cheapest, says survery

Research by MoveHub shows Qatar as the cheapest country on the world for food shopping

Banking on money centre lenders in 2016

US money centre banks will outperform as interest rates rise in 2016, writes Matein Khalid

Property insurance premiums could rise in UAE after fire accidents

Dubai specifically has seen a spate of fire accidents in recent years

UAE hopes to earn revenues of up to Dhs 12bn by introducing VAT

The country plans to begin levying value added tax in 2018

Qatar’s QNB announces 7.7% profit growth in 2015

The lender attributed improved revenues and cost controls for the growth in profit

Saudi riyal forwards drop to record low

Low oil prices have raised speculation that the riyal could be unpegged from the dollar

GCC can diversify revenues without raising taxes – study

Regional governments can generate at least 10 per cent of their gross domestic product through a number of non-tax revenue options, new research shows

Islamic finance industry worth $2tr by end of 2014, says AMF chief

Director-general of the Arab Monetary Fund says the industry grew 20 percent between 2000 and 2015

Dollar strength could see oil hit $20 – Morgan Stanley

US bank warns of further declines if the currency’s strength continues

Home insurance requests soar in the UAE after Address fire

Insurance requests were up three times the average during the first week of the year, finds new survey

Why banks need to go omnichannel

Banks need to provide an optimised and consistent user experience across all channels

Top 10 tips to save money in the New Year

Budgeting will come more easily the longer you stay with it, writes Jamie Scott

Up to 20% of GCC firms to freeze pay rises amid economic downturn

Benefits such as bonuses could also be affected as earnings predicted to grow at slowest rate in three years in 2016

What to expect from Dubai Shopping Festival 2016

Retail slowdown could mean bigger discounts with ‘part-sale’ already starting at 30 per cent

The Yellen effect: Why the US interest rate hike will hit the GCC hard

The recent Fed rate hike may have consequences for the GCC economies in more ways than one, writes Binod Shankar

Jebel Ali Freezone repays Dhs 2bn bank debt ahead of schedule

The Islamic facility was arranged in June 2012 and was set to mature in 2020

US expats in UAE may have passports revoked if income unreported

The UAE has signed a deal with the US to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act from early next year, says financial firm

Private bank LLB expects 20% growth in Middle East clients

Growing private wealth and a slowdown in wealth creation in traditional Western markets made the Middle East an increasingly attractive option for the European lender

How to prepare for an IPO

 Going public, in any sense, is a transformational event. Wherever you plan to list, the…

Almost 90% of GCC business leaders admit market volatility – survey

Almost 90% of GCC business leaders admit market volatility – survey