Abu Dhabi’s Hilal Bank Considers Capital Hike To Fuel Growth -CEO

The Islamic lender plans to expand its retail and wholesale banking business locally and internationally over the next five years.

Kuwait’s Burgan Bank Says To Raise Capital This Year To Comply With Basel III

The increase, which may happen this year, could be “pure capital” or perpetual bonds or both, its chief executive said.

Abu Dhabi’s Waha Capital Secures $750m Credit Facility

The facility replaces the previous $505 million facility secured in 2011.

Dubai Bourse To Hold Roadshow In London

Executives from 13 companies listed on the DFM and NASDAQ Dubai will meet investors on April 28 and 29 in London.

M&A Deal Activity Rises In Middle East, Africa As Global Volumes Fall

African countries are catching the eye of international investors as growth decelerates in India, China and Brazil.

UAE’s Al Etihad Credit Bureau Says It’s Operationally Ready

The federal credit bureau will help financial institutions in the UAE check the creditworthiness of consumers.

Oman Air To Raise Capital By $519m As Annual Loss Widens

The carrier’s annual loss widened by 16 per cent to OMR113.34 million in 2013.

Qatar Spending To Rise 3.7% To $60bn In 2014/15

The budget is “the largest in the history of the state of Qatar,” Finance Minister Ali Sherif al-Emadi said.

Dubai’s Able Logistics Picks Shuaa To Lead Manage IPO

Buyout firm GrowthGate Capital plans to take Able Logistics Group public on the Dubai Financial Market around the end of 2014.

Kuwait’s Oil Exports Fall 3% In 2013

Kuwait’s declining oil export receipts were due to modest global demand and lower oil prices in 2013, a new report says.

Dubai Holding Unit Says 2013 Net Profit Up 178%

Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group reported a 2013 net profit of Dhs3.3 billion.

HSBC Appoints New Head Of MENA Retail And Wealth Management

Khalid Elgibaly, formerly the chief executive of Standard Chartered in Pakistan, will take on the role.

Egypt’s EFG-Hermes Sinks To 2013 Loss On One-Off Charges

EFG-Hermes said the one-off charges totalled 761 million pounds, including 616 million in the fourth quarter alone.

Dubai’s Damac Picks Banks For Potential Sukuk Issue

The Dubai developer has appointed Barclays, Citigroup, and Deutsche Bank as joint global co-ordinators.

Middle East Funds Bullish On Regional Equity Markets

Survey finds that 47 per cent of the funds expect to raise their equity allocations to the Middle East over the next three months.

Italy Sees Etihad-Alitalia Deal Decided Soon

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways is in talks to acquire 40 per cent of Italy’s struggling flag carrier.

Abu Dhabi’s Hilal Bank Reports 2013 Net Profit Up 42%

The lender attributed the profit rise to growth in assets and improvement in asset quality and liability mix.

Oman Sets Up Committee To Ensure Financial Stability

The committee includes the CEO of the Capital Market Authority and officials from the finance ministry.

Etihad Airways To Raise $2bn For Deliveries In 2014

Etihad will take delivery of 18 aircraft this year that include 10 Airbus aircraft and eight Boeing planes.

QIB In Talks For Bank Asya Stake

The Qatari lender is looking to finalise the transaction in the next few months.

Occidental Middle East Asset Sale Delayed Due To Regional Disputes

The firm said last year that it planned to sell a minority stake in its regional operations as a part of a restructuring program to lift its valuation.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, France’s CDC Launch 300m Euro Investment Fund

The investments will mainly target equity stakes in private companies as well as other asset classes including real estate or infrastructure.

Gulf Capital To Sell Rest Of GMS Within Two Years

Gulf Capital floated approximately 40 per cent of its holding in Gulf Marine Services on the London Stock Exchange earlier this month.

Qatar Regulator Reprimands RBS For Insufficient Staff Training

Qatar Financial Centre said it has accepted an enforceable undertaking from RBS to establish a “remedial action plan.”

Etihad-Air Serbia Deal Gets Regulator’s Nod

Etihad’s chief executive confirmed that the initial loan of $40 billion to Air Serbia will be converted to equity.

Egypt’s Naeem Holding To Cross-List On Abu Dhabi Exchange

The company has given no details of the timing or size of the listing.

PineBridge Buys 50% Stake In Turkish Therapy And Rehab Chain

The stake in Romatem is PineBridge’s second investment in Turkey and its third deal in the Middle East.

North America Impairment Pushes Abu Dhabi’s TAQA Into 2013 Loss

TAQA said that the impairment did not affect the company’s ability to continue operations or service its debt.

Virgin’s Branson Confirms Gulf Funding For Cruise Ship Project

Branson was looking for potential Middle East investors for his $1.7 billion cruise ship project, according to media reports.

Dubai’s Ithmar Eyes Dhs1bn Of Gulf PE Deals

The company is looking at deals in healthcare and education.