Dubai’s July non-oil business growth slowest since 2012

The index fell to 53.1 in July from 55.5 in June, recording the slowest growth rate since March 2012

Amanat invests SAR 200m in Saudi-based healthcare firm

The firm said that its board approved the acquisition of a 35 per cent stake in Sukoon

Moody’s sees UAE property firms’ adoption of IFRS 15 as positive

The new accounting policy will help in appropriately reflecting the companies’ financial performance and increase transparency, a new report says

Dubai mall firm Majid Al Futtaim H1 revenue rises 7%

The privately-owned firm said in a statement revenue for the six months to June 30 was Dhs 13.7bn

Dubai’s Damac Properties Q2 profit surges

The developer reported a net profit of Dhs 1.42bn ($386.6m) for the three months to June 30

Saudi July non-oil business growth recovers from record low – PMI

The seasonally adjusted Emirates NBD Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index climbed to 57.7 points last month from 56.1 in June

UAE July non-oil business growth rebounds from 22-month low

The seasonally adjusted Emirates NBD UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 55.8 points last month from 54.7 in June

Emirates Reit to develop new Dhs 208.3m school in Akoya development

The real estate investment trust fund will build the facility and lease it to Jebel Ali School

Saudi central bank curbs credit card cash withdrawals -source

Previously, customers could obtain cash advances equivalent to as much as 50 per cent of their monthly credit card spending limits

Private equity investments into MENA reach Dhs 1.5bn in 2014

Private equity investments in the Middle East and North Africa rose 118 per cent last year, a new report shows

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding posts 13% Q2 profit rise

The firm attributed the profit rise to higher income from its associates and joint ventures and lower costs

Middle East funds turn negative as oil drops again

Only 13 per cent of investment firms expect to raise their equity allocations to the Middle East in the next three months, a survey shows

Abu Dhabi, Dubai exchanges explore possibility of stock futures

The exchanges have established a joint committee which will examine the issue over the next few months

UAE fuel price deregulation to have ‘one-off’ impact on inflation – Stan Chart

The bank has revised its average inflation forecast for 2016 to 4.3 per cent from 4 per cent previously

Dubai regulator fines Arqaam $50,000 over money laundering rules

A periodic risk assessment by authorities identified deficiencies in Arqaam’s systems and controls to prevent money laundering

UAE credit growth expected to be nearly flat in 2015 – Mashreq CEO

He also forecast that the country’s banking sector profits would rise about 10 per cent in 2015

UAE to cut state spending by 4.2% this year – central bank

Consolidated government spending is expected to drop to Dhs 460.6bn in 2015 from Dhs 480.8bn in 2014

Standard Chartered appoints audit head as new UAE chief executive

Group head of internal audit Julian Wynter will replace Mohsin Nathani, who resigned from the bank in April, sources said

RBS ends plan to sell UAE transaction services to ADCB

The deal was called off in part because ADCB asked at a late stage to select which of RBS’ customers it would take, sources said

Dubai Financial Market Q2 net profit drops 48%

The firm, which runs securities trading in Dubai, made a net profit of Dhs 132.4m in Q2

UAE’s First Gulf Bank Q2 profit boosted by lending rise

FGB made a net profit of Dhs 1.45bn for the three months to June 2015, up 8 per cent to Q2 2014

Kuwaiti MPs head to UK to check on sovereign wealth fund’s London office

They plan to check how investments are being made and whether enough official oversight exists

Dubai Holdings unit says to pull out of Malta telecoms company

Emirates International Telecommunications Malta, which holds a 60 per cent share in Go, did not say how it plans to divest its stake

Iran eyes $185bn oil and gas projects after sanctions

Iran will focus on its oil and gas, metals and car industries with an eye to exporting to Europe, a top official said

Bahraini insurer ARIG plans full ownership of Takaful Re

ARIG already owns 54 per cent of Dubai-based Islamic reinsurer Takaful Re

Dubai’s Emaar Malls Q2 profit rises 43%

Emaar Malls made a net profit of Dhs 412m in the second quarter of 2015

Dubai’s Union Properties says plans three projects worth $544.5m

The developer did not provide any details about the projects

Doha, Dubai most expensive Middle Eastern cities for expats

A new index finds that the cities are among the most expensive worldwide for beer and wine

UAE’s inflation rate up 4.2% y-o-y in June

Housing and utility costs saw the biggest jump in June as they rose 10.2 per cent, statistics show

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Q2 net profit up 21%, beats estimates

The lender made a net profit attributable to shareholders of Dhs 1.28bn in the second quarter of 2015