Saudi cabinet grants license to Qatari bank for first time

Qatar National Bank has been granted a license to open a branch inside the kingdom

Swiss authorities helping Oman in oil corruption probe

Swiss authorities are involved because transactions related to the probe involved Swiss financial institutions, a source said

Different Arab money

GCC economies hit by oil price drop, to grow 3.4% in 2015

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have fared better than their GCC counterparts because of economic diversification, says report

UAE bank FGB raises $1bn loan for general purposes

The three-year facility is structured as a bullet loan which means the principal will be repaid at the end of the term

Saudi salaries up 4.5% in 2015 despite falling oil prices – report

Employees in the kingdom are expected to record a 5 per cent salary hike in 2016, the report by Hay Group found.

Commercial Bank of Dubai shareholders reject $750m Tier 1 bond plan

The bank said last month that its board had proposed the Basel III compliant bond, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval

Saudi central bank to appoint KPMG partner as deputy governor for supervision

KPMG Saudi Arabia’s managing partner Tareq al-Sadhan is leaving the company at the end of December

Gulf firms turn to banks to fund big projects as state coffers squeezed – SocGen

A drop in oil prices, which hit a six-and-a-half-year low last month, has pushed some Gulf state budgets into deficit for the first time in years

IMF urges Saudi action on domestic energy prices and wage bill

The Saudi economy is forecast to keep expanding strongly this year, showing little impact from the oil price drop, according to the IMF

Qatar’s regulator to grant licences to GCC banks

Licences for new banks will be given according to criteria set out by the central bank, a statement said

Qatar won’t scale back projects, cut subsidies – minister

Qatari officials have announced plans to spend around $200bn on infrastructure projects over the next decade or so

Daman JV to invest Dhs 150m in GCC’s F&B sector

The joint venture, called ICON Arabia, is planning to bring 15 new food and beverage brands to the region

Doha Bank partners with India’s Reliance, led by Anil Ambani

The agreement is aimed at generating new business opportunities in the GCC and India

UAE salaries up 4% in 2015 despite oil price slide

Automotive and retail sectors saw the highest growth in salaries so far this year, a new survey showed

Saudi Arabia to allow full foreign ownership in retail

The increase in foreign ownership from the present level of up to 75 per cent for retail businesses comes after tumbling oil prices have slashed government revenues

UAE job market continues to surge despite oil price drop

The UAE’s economic diversification, smart city vision and political stability have all helped fuel the job market, says analyst

UAE job market continues to surge despite oil price drop

The UAE’s economic diversification, smart city vision and political stability have all helped fuel the job market, says analyst

Saudis trimming expenses, slowing some projects – finance minister

Ibrahim Alassaf said the kingdom was well-prepared to cope with the plunge of crude prices

Kuwaiti banks will not feel pinch of low oil prices – Fitch

Public spending in the Gulf state is expected to remain strong thanks to big buffers

Bahrain’s GFH says board approves Kuwait delisting

The decision meant GFH could focus trading on its home and the main secondary market for its shares, Dubai

Different Arab money

Beating state debt addiction proves hard for UAE banks

During the global credit crisis of 2009-10, UAE banks were hobbled by their links to heavily indebted companies that were wholly or partly owned by governments of the seven emirates in the UAE

Troubled Atlas Jewellery seeks time to repay $136m debts

The Atlas default affects at least 15 banks, but sources say that reaching a deal would be tricky unless creditors can meet its founder, who remains in police custody

Dubai’s DIFC aims to have 100 Indian firms by 2024

Dubai’s financial freezone is looking to Indian and other Asian markets to fuel its growth over the next 10 years

Oil price slump to start affecting Saudi banks -S&P

S&P said historical data suggested there was a clear link between non-performing loans and oil prices

Dubai’s DIC sells alumina products maker Almatis

The deal is the latest divestment by the Dubai government-owned group to repay its debts

SKAI closes Dhs 1.1bn finance package for Dubai Viceroy hotels

The syndicate for the dual Islamic and conventional facility is backed by a mixture of local and Chinese banks

Rising oil output boosts Saudi economic growth

Gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, expanded 3.8 per cent from a year earlier in the second quarter, accelerating from a revised 2.3 per cent in the first quarter

Kuwait mulls tax on goods and infrastructure as low oil prices bite

The country is looking to impose indirect taxes such as road tolls and paid parking metres to compensate for low oil revenues

Stock news: Saudi Arabia surges, boosted by stronger oil

Saudi’s market suffered the most from panic selling in the Gulf and is still down 12.8 per cent month-to-date

Bahrain’s Investcorp says market volatility won’t hit business

The Bahrain-based investment fund posted a 13 per cent increase in net income for the 12 months to June 30