Oman May Sell Assets, Borrow Abroad If Oil Prices Drop

Oman relies on oil and gas for 87 per cent of its budget revenue.

Retail Banking To Outpace Corporate Banking In The GCC

The GCC’s young population, economic well-being and a steadily rising GDP per capita will boost retail banking.

Different Arab money

Assets Under Management In MEA To Hit $1.5 Trillion By 2020 – PwC

The amount represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 12 per cent.

Abu Dhabi Developer Aldar Q4 Profit Rises 79%

Profit rose on the back of gains from the acquisition of Sorouh and handover of residential units.

Mubadala Says Assessing Options For $1.25bn Bond Maturity

The maturity is part of a $1.75 billion, two-tranche bond which the fund sold in 2009.

Saudi Arabian Airlines Picks Adviser For Cargo Unit’s Share Sale

A stake in the maintenance subsidiary is expected to be sold to the public before June 2015.

JP Morgan Cuts Banking Ties With Emirates NBD

The bank has severed relationships in its cash management business in the Middle East.

Qatar’s CBQ Posts 32.9% Q4 Profit Drop

The bank made a net profit of 300 million riyals for Q4 2013 compared with 447.3 million riyals a year earlier.

Higher Spending Narrows Kuwait Nine-Month Budget Surplus

The IMF has warned that Kuwait’s expenditure could exceed oil revenues as early as 2017.

Qatar’s Qinvest, QIB In Islamic Funds Tie-Up

QInvest is streamlining its operations, focusing on investment banking and asset management business.

Dubai’s DFSA Obtains Court Orders Against Deutsche Bank

The bank was found in material non-compliance with requirements to produce information to the financial regulator.

Italy’s Monte Paschi Foundation In Talks With Qatar For Stake Sale

Qatar sovereign fund is reportedly seeking a 15-20 per cent in the troubled Italian lender.

Saudi Arabia’s Mortgage Law To Boost Markets

Changes in Saudi’s mortgage law in 2013 are expected to boost banks in the GCC’s largest domestic market.

UAE Banking: Brighter Prospects Ahead

After some difficult years, there are signs of better times ahead for the UAE banking sector.

Qatar’s QNB Aims To Be Largest Lender In ME, Africa By 2017

The lender is looking for acquisition targets in Turkey, Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa.

Papua New Guinea Appoints UBS To Refinance $1.48bn Abu Dhabi Bond

The five-year bond was issued to Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) in 2009.

Saxo CEO Warns of China, Euro Concerns in 2014

Lars Seier Christensen warns of slowdown in China and on-going concerns in the Eurozone

Middle East To See A Surge In Chinese Investments In 2014

Around 74 per cent of Chinese investors polled said that they expected outbound M&A deals from the country to rise in 2014.

QNB Financial Services Expands Coverage To Saudi, Egypt, UAE

The brokerage is seeing increased interest in the three markets among Qatari investors.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank 2013 Q4 Profit Up 41%

The lender made a net profit of Dhs343 million in the fourth quarter compared with Dhs242.8 million in the same period in 2012.

Saudi’s Dar Al Arkan May Repay $450m Sukuk Early

The $450 million Islamic bond is due to mature in February 2015.

Kuwait To Invest $676m In Italy

The announcement was made by Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, who is officially visiting the GCC.

Dubai Financial Centre Posts Double-Digit Growth For 2013

The number of active registered companies operating within the DIFC rose 14 per cent to 1,039 last year.

First Gulf Bank To Hire Investment Bankers To Grow Business

The bank has mandates for arranging loans and bonds for UAE entities totaling around $15 billion, an official said.

Trading On Dubai’s Main Stock Exchange Suspended

Trading on Dubai Financial Market (DFM) was suspended because of a system malfunction

Islamic Bank Of Britain Gets Fresh Capital, Plans Expansion

The injection will allow IBB to grow its retail operations and develop its commercial business.

Waha Capital 2013 Profit Up 43%

The firm’s total assets grew to Dhs5.2 billion from Dhs4.4 billion a year earlier.

Kuwait Finance House Q4 Net Profit More Than Doubles

Net profit rose to 26.4 million Kuwaiti dinars in the three months to the end of December compared to 11.8 million dinars a year earlier.

ING Shuts Middle East Asset Management Operation In Dubai

The small Dubai team managed $425 million of assets at the end of 2013.

Nearly 50% Of Finance Sector Workers Say Emiratisation Doesn’t Add Value

A bulk of local recruitment in banks is happening at graduate level, which needs to be accompanied by a sound retention strategy.