Qatar Islamic Bank Launches $750m Sukuk

Order books for the deal reportedly hit over $6 billion ahead of launch.

UAE And Moroccan Banks Bid For BNP Egypt

Emirates NBD and Attijariwafa Bank are the front-runners to pick up the French bank’s Egyptian arm.

Barwa Bank Eyes Potential IPO On Doha Bourse

The Qatari lender, part-owned by Qatar Holding, revealed profits last year of 243.7 million riyals.

First Gulf Bank Eyes Five-Year Bond

The Abu Dhabi bank is planning a $500 million bond as an existing one to mature in 2017 yields 2.7 per cent.

UAE Banks Lending Limit Deadline Passes

The date set for banks to reduce their exposure to the government has passed with no word from the Central Bank.

Dubai’s DIFC To Stage Forum For MENA Leaders

In partnership with Deutsche Bank, the new DIFC Forum will open up discussions on doing business in the MENA and Asia regions.

ADCB Takes Legal Action Against Sheikh Hamdan’s Firm

Zabeel Investments allegedly owes $107 million to the Abu Dhabi bank which has filed for legal procedures.

Middle East Banking Jobs Slashed By Global Giants

Some of the world’s biggest banks are cutting jobs in their Middle Eastern operations in cost cutting measures.

Kuwait To Pass 2012/13 Budget Via Decree Soon

The draft budget, outlined in March, anticipates a spending increase of about 13 per cent.

Bahrain’s GFH To Arrange Leeds United FC’s Acquisition

Gulf Finance House will lead the purchase of the football club’s parent company, though no dates or terms are announced.

National Bank Of Fujairah Replaces Barclays On Eibor Panel

NBF will take the international bank’s seat on the UAE rate panel following Barclays’ Libor scandal.

Qatar Islamic Bank Plans Dollar-Denominated Sukuk

A whistle-stop tour of Singapore, UAE and London as Deutsche Bank, HSBC and QInvest LLC are mandated for the Islamic bond.

J.P.Morgan Invests $20m In Dubai E-Commerce Startup

The London-based investment fund has backed online fashion site Namshi just one year after it launched.

Bahrain’s GIB Updates $4bn Bond Programme

Gulf International Bank’s bond programme is 97.2 per cent owned by the Saudi government, giving a safer level of risk.

UAE’s First Gulf Bank Eyes Bond Issue

FGB has hired five banks for a new benchmark bond, according to sources.

IMF To Cut Global Growth Forecast

The Eurozone debt crisis poses the biggest threat to the global economy, says IMF chief.

Dubai’s JAFZA Posts 20% Drop In H1 Profit

State-owned Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) attributed the fall in H1 profit to rising costs.

Dubai’s DEWA Eyes Sukuk Issue In 2013

Proceeds from the issue will be used for repayment, said DEWA CEO, Saeed Mohammed al-Tayer.

REVEALED: Insights From The GCC’s Top Private Bankers

Experts from Emirates NBD, Falcon Private Bank, Lombard Odier, Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group and Julius Baer reveal their regional wealth management strategies to Gulf Business.

Kuwait’s Commercial Bank To Liquidate Investment Unit

CBK Capital is believed to have $53.5 million in capital and manages a Kuwaiti stocks fund and an Islamic finance fund.

Private Banking Special: Julius Baer

Middle East investors are still seeking high-yielding investments, says Daniel Savary, head of Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East markets at Julius Baer

Private Banking Special: Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group

Rohit Walia, executive vice chairman & CEO at Bank Sarasin-Alpen Group, Middle East and India, says that the group will focus on tapping the Islamic finance industry in Saudi Arabia.

Private Banking Special: Lombard Odier

Swiss bank Lombard Odier is aggressively increasing its footprint in the Middle East, says its head of new markets, Arnaud Leclercq.

Private Banking Special: Falcon Private Bank

Switzerland has lost its appeal to Gulf investors, says Eduardo Leemann, CEO of Falcon Private Bank

Private Banking Special: Emirates NBD

Mark McFarland, chief investment strategist, Private Banking at Emirates NBD, says its time for wealth preservation.

Credit Suisse Cuts Dubai Investment Banking Jobs

The investment bank is reducing staff in Dubai and relocating some jobs to Qatar, say sources.

GCC Investors Eye Global Bonds, Credit

Local investors are looking for fixed income investment opportunities outside the region, say asset managers.

Saudi Arabia May Run Small Budget Deficit In 2016-IMF

The IMF also cut its forecast for Saudi’s budget surplus this year from 16.5 per cent to 12 per cent, citing oil price movements.

Doha Bank Plans 50% Capital Raise In Q1 2013

The Qatari lender said that it will use the additional capital to meet strategic business requirements.

Bahrain’s Bank Alkhair Appoints New CEO

Following the arrest and conviction of its former chief executive, Khalil Nooruddin takes the reigns.