UAE To Begin Direct Debit System On October 5

The implementation of the country’s first direct debit system will see a reduction in the use of post-dated cheques to secure finances.

Majority of ME Employees Unhappy With Benefits Packages

According to Robert Walkers, 96 per cent of the employees consider benefits a critical factor when accepting an offer in the Middle East.

Qatar Financial Regulator Proposes Streamlining Share Acquisition Rules

Currently even small percentage movements in ownership have to be reported to the authority.

Qatar Holding Buys NYSE Euronext Stake Out Of Qatar Exchange

The deal, for which a price was not revealed, makes Qatar Holding the sole owner of Qatar Exchange

Abu Dhabi’s Al Hilal Bank Launches $500m Debut Sukuk

Orders from investors reportedly reached $2.75 billion.

Dubai’s Index Has Best Quarter In Six Years

Shares in Dubai were boosted during the quarter after index compiler MSCI upgraded the United Arab Emirates to emerging market status.

Ex-DIFC Exec Fined $7,500 For Falsifying Information

Tareck Fouad Farah was found guilty of issuing a letter containing false information.

ME Sovereign Funds Increasingly Investing In Property

Around 69 per cent of sovereign funds in the Middle East cited an increase in allocation of their investments to alternative options.

Saudi’s Almarai Prices Gulf’s First Corporate Hybrid Sukuk

BNP Paribas, HSBC, Saudi Fransi (Credit Agricole) and Standard Chartered were the leads.

Saudi Start-Up Glowork Gets $16m Investment

Saudi firm SAS has acquired a 51 per cent stake in Glowork, a platform that helps women in the Middle East find employment opportunities.

Private Banking Special: Khaled Sifri, Emirates Investment Bank

Founded in 1976, EIB changed its strategy away from pure asset management to a wealth management platform offering private and investment banking services to a broader client base.

Oman Air And Bank Muscat Launch Visa Credit Card

Co-branded card is designed to reward and enhance loyalty among frequent flyers

Dubai Stock Market Surges To 5-Year High On Heavy Buying

Dubai’s benchmark advanced 1.2 per cent to 2,771 points, its highest finish since November 2008

Qatar GDP Growth Slows Marginally To 6% In Q2

GDP rose 0.6 per cent from the first quarter, according to the Ministry of Planning and Statistics.

Qatar First Bank Says CEO Mansour Resigns

Ahmad Mehsari from Qatar Islamic Bank will take over as the bank’s acting chief executive.

Egypt Received $7bn Of Promised $12bn In Gulf Aid

Egypt has received $3 billion from the UAE and $2 billion each from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

GCC Capital Expenditure To Rise By 8.2% In 2013

GCC states’ expenditure on rail schemes, expansion of power generation plants and housing projects is expected to boost capital expenditure in 2013.

Government Debts Affect Dubai’s Business Confidence

According to the IMF, Dubai’s total debt stands at $142 billion, or around 102 per cent of its GDP.

Bank Dhofar CEO Resigns Amid Merger Talks

Bank Dhofar has appointed Abdul Omar Al-Ojaili as its acting chief executive, replacing Anthony Mahoney.

Oman May Issue Sovereign, Islamic Bonds In 2014

Oman aims to develop its fledgling Islamic finance industry with a debut issue of sukuk by the government.

UAE Moving Away From Cash-Based Society

A MasterCard study has found the UAE has one of the fastest changing payments systems.

UAE’s First REIT Plans IPO On Nasdaq Dubai

Emirates REIT, formed in 2010, has income-generating assets worth 770 million dirhams.

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Arab Monetary Fund In $117m Loan To Jordan

Jordan was hit by a financial crisis last year as foreign aid fell and welfare payments soared.

Dubai Stock Investors Place World Expo Bets Ahead Of Vote

Dubai is competing with Izmir in Turkey, Sao Paulo in Brazil and Yekaterinburg in Russia for the right to host the 2020 world’s fair.

Saudi Has Most Attractive Tax Framework Among G20 Nations

Saudi imposes a particularly light tax burden on entrepreneurs as compared to its European counterparts, says Ernst &Young

Mubadala’s H1 Profit Up 10.4% On Investment Gains

The Abu Dhabi fund said that profit attributable to equity owners for the first half of the year was Dhs1.1 billion.

Oman To Unveil Privatisation Plans In January

The government currently owns more than 60 companies across various sectors in the country.

NBA Champion Kobe Bryant To Open Health Business In Dubai

The LA Lakers’ player has received a tax-free trade license from the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).

Citigroup Moves To Block New Arbitration By Abu Dhabi Fund

ADIA previously accused Citigroup of fraud in the initial arbitration.

UAE’s Western Expats Spend Heavily On Luxury: Survey

UAE expats are “less prudent” than their counterparts in Singapore and Hong Kong with regards to financial planning.