Oman says committed to currency peg despite cheap oil

The plunge of oil prices since mid-2014 has put heavy pressure on Oman’s state budget, causing one-year dollar/rial forwards to rise as high as 1,000 points this week

Dubai’s DP World H1 profit jumps 22%, acquisition helps

DP World’s revenue for the six months to June 30 was $1.90bn, up from $1.66bn a year earlier

Domestic business lifts UAE’s NMC Health H1 profit 14.7%

NMC made an adjusted net profit of $46.9m in the first six months of this year up from $40.9m a year earlier

Saudi reassures on riyal peg, forwards market pressure eases

The kingdom is expected to achieve economic growth in 2015 of 3 per cent

Abraaj sells stake in Condor Travels to Abu Dhabi-backed Carlyle Group

The company did not disclose the size of the stake that was sold or the value of the deal

Qatar raises its game to fend off next LNG giants

Qatar is working more closely with trade houses who are focused on short-term deals, often in riskier markets, while also lowering its price expectations

Global economy not at risk of recession despite China weakness

Goldman Sachs reduced its short-term outlook for the equity market to “neutral”, but remained “overweight” over six and 12 months

UAE Exchange names new CEO, makes changes to board

Deputy chief executive Promoth Manghat has been promoted to chief executive, the Abu Dhabi-based company said

Over half of Dubai residents don’t have home insurance – survey

Up to 67 per cent of apartment buildings and 50 per cent of villas in Dubai are uninsured, says survey by MoveSouq.com and RSA

Middle East firms’ business confidence falls in Q2 2015

Nearly 43 per cent of regional companies polled said that they were looking for opportunities in other markets, a new survey shows

Dubai stock market suffers biggest one-day fall since December 2014

Dubai’s stocks closed down 7 per cent as oil prices weakened

Introduction of VAT in UAE unlikely to deter foreign investors – analyst

The UAE is currently in the process of drafting out laws for the implementation of value added tax

UAE stocks sink on oil’s slide, Saudi worries

The main stock index in Dubai, the region’s most volatile market, tumbled 4.0 per cent to 3,563 points, hitting a four-month low

Arab Bank says report of $1bn settlement is ‘inaccurate’

Citing an unnamed source, the trade magazine The American Lawyer reported that Arab Bank had agreed to pay “slightly more than $1bn” to settle litigation

Fitch revises Saudi Arabia’s outlook to negative

Fitch said on Friday it expects the general government deficit to widen to 14.4 per cent of GDP in 2015

Pakistan’s MCB looks to the Middle East to drive growth

Pakistani finance minister Ishaq Dar said that both the UAE and Pakistan could learn from each other when dealing with issues such as extremism

India increases currency, duty free allowances for NRIs, tourists

The Indian currency allowance has been raised to Rs 25,000, while the limit for duty free goods has been hiked to Rs 45,000

Dubai’s DGCX appoints Gaurang Desai as CEO

Desai had been appointed acting CEO a year ago after former CEO Gary Anderson resigned due to ill health

Stock news: Dubai tumbles 2.7% after oil hits new low

Oil prices in the United States tumbled to their lowest level since 2009 on Wednesday

Saudi stock market plunge not caused by govt selling shares

The main Saudi stock index has plunged 12 per cent this month

Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments appoints new CEO

The state fund has appointed IPIC’s director of investments Mohamed Hamad Al Mehairi as Aabar’s new CEO

Dubai’s ruler issues new law to boost public-private partnerships

The law aims to encourage the private sector to participate and invest in infrastructure development

UAE says introducing VAT delayed by disagreement in region

Once a decision to impose VAT is made, the public will be given about 18 months to prepare for the implementation, state news agency WAM said

UAE’s NMC Health completes purchase of Dr Sunny Healthcare Group

The deal expands NMC’s addressable market and patient cross-referral capabilities of its network

UAE Exchange bids for finance company Dunia

Majid Al Futtaim and other local banks have also reportedly bid for Dunia

Saudi’s ACWA Power says raises extra $295.7m of bank finance

It increased its 2013 revolving credit facility by SAR400m, with National Commercial Bank and Samba Financial Group contributing equally to the extra amount

Bahrain to remove meat subsidies as cheap oil hits budget

Bahraini citizens will be compensated for the higher meat prices

Arab Bank settles US lawsuit over attacks by militants

Approximately 500 U.S. citizens had sued Arab Bank under the U.S Anti-Terrorism Act

Kuwait’s Agility Q2 net profit rises 5.5%

The firm said net profit in the three months to June 30 was KD 13.5m

Nearly half of Saudis are ‘uncomfortable’ with their debt – study

Many Saudis take bank loans to consolidate existing debts, according to a new report