Bahrain’s Ahli Posts Q1 Profit Jump After Qatar Sale

The Bahrain bank would still have seen Q1 profit of 12.2 per cent without selling its 29.4 per cent stake in Qatar Foundation.

Mashreq Capital Plans $100m Islamic Equity Fund

The investment unit of the Dubai lender plans to raise between $75 million and $100 million for the fund.

Dubai Investments To Complete $191m Asset Sale This Year -CEO

The company’s first-quarter profit was likely to be about Dhs190 million, said CEO Khalid bin Kalban.

GCC Stock Markets – On The Rise Or Fall?

Record market highs fail to secure emerging market status for GCC economies, leaving regional equity markets inconclusive.

National Bank Of Abu Dhabi Q1 Profit Up 36%

The bank posted net profit of Dhs1.41 billion ($384 million) in the first three months of 2013.

Barclays’ Senior MENA Banker Resigns

Dubai-based Michael Helou headed up Barclays Capital in the region, the lender’s investment banking arm.

Gulf Bond Issuance Seen At $37bn In 2013 – Stanchart

The estimated figure is slightly higher than the $34 billion of total dollar issuance in 2012.

UAE Stock Markets Hit New Multi-Year Peaks

Dubai’s index rose 1.4 per cent to 1,986 points, its highest level since December 2009.

Pudner To Leave Dubai’s ENBD, New CEO Will Reveal Priorities

Pudner is expected to stay as CEO until his contract expires at the end of this year.

Saudi Telecom Posts 38.5% Fall In Q1 Net Profit

The firm posted a net profit of SAR1.55 billion, attributing the profit drop to charges relating to an Indian affiliate.

Saudi’s Kingdom Holding Sees 9% Q1 Profit Rise

The firm made a net profit of 110.1 million riyals ($29.4 million) during the three months ended March 31, compared with 100.8 million riyals in the same period a year earlier.

GEMS Education Raises $545m Expansion Loan

The loan is a mix of Islamic and conventional financing managed by lenders including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank.

Emirates NBD CEO Rick Pudner Resigns

Pudner has been at the helm of Dubai’s biggest bank since 2006 after 24 years at HSBC.

NBAD Signs Refinancing Deal With Paris’ Prince de Galles Hotel

The Abu Dhabi lender is refinancing the renovation of the Parisian five-star hotel that is scheduled to re-open in May 2013.

Etisalat Draws Strong Bank Demand For $8bn Maroc Tel Bid Loan

The UAE telecoms operator has already secured the backing of 12 banks and up to four more could join.

Kuwait’s NBK Q1 Profit Flat, Sees Rosier Outlook

National Bank of Kuwait made KD81.3 million of net profit in the three months of 2013.

Bank Muscat Q1 Profit Drops 25.1%, Misses Forecasts

The lender made a OMR15 million one-off provision after some of its prepaid travel cards were hit by fraud.

Qatar’s Barwa Bank To Raise $563m In Share Sales

The lender will raise the amount through two share sales including an IPO on the Doha bourse, its CEO said.

UAE Investors Prefer Property Over Gold

Real estate is currently the preferred asset class for investors in the UAE, finds new survey.

Oman’s Alizz Islamic Bank Eyes Q3 Launch -COO

Alizz Islamic Bank is the second full-fledged Islamic bank in the sultanate.

Emirates NBD Eyes 40% Retail Lending Boom

ENBD presently generates around 95 per cent of its revenue from its home market, although it is hoping to increase its international business to 15-20 per cent in five years.

UAE Credit Bureau May Struggle For June Start

Head of consumer and elite banking at NBAD and the head of retail banking at Emirates NBD believe the June start date will be missed.

Goldman Sachs Middle East Senior Banker Resigns

Khaled Eldabag, a Dubai-based managing director, had clients including Abu Dhabi investment fund Mubadala.

Pegasus Airlines To Float IPO Stake This Week

The stake will be split between domestic, qualified and foreign institutional and individual investors.

Dubai Islamic Bank Q1 Net Up 17%

The bank made Dhs301.7 million ($82.2 million) in the three months to March 31.

Saudi Lender NCB Posts 19.4% Q1 Net Profit Rise

National Commercial Bank’s net profit was boosted by higher special commission and fee income.

Banque Saudi Fransi Q1 Net Drops 13.3%

The kingdom’s fifth-largest bank by market cap said it made $182.4 million in the three months ending March 31.

Union Properties Shareholders’ Approve $109m Debt Extension

The Dubai-based property developer’s loan has been extended until August 20, 2017.

Abu Dhabi Fund Mubadala Swings Back Into Profit In 2012

The fund made a profit of Dhs455 million in 2012, compared with a loss of Dhs3.2 billion in 2011.

Mashreq Sues ING Over Losses Tied To ‘Roach Motel’ Debt

The Dubai-based lender is accusing Netherlands-based ING of losing 40 per cent of a $108 million investment.