Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank appoints new CEO

Mazin Khairy Shaker Manna will take on the role from the first week of March

Saudi central bank governor says does not expect more bank mergers for now

Ahmed al-Kholifey said liquidity in the market was ‘strong’

Saudi Electricity Co to sign $4bn syndicated loan

The firm is the main electricity producer in Saudi with an 81.2 per cent indirect government ownership

Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC rated ‘AA’ by Fitch, the highest in the GCC region

The rating is the first assigned to ADNOC and is in line with the rating of the Abu Dhabi government

UAE’s new excise tax tobacco scheme to apply to shisha from Q4

The scheme works by means of a digital stamp on tobacco product packaging that ensures tax compliance

UAE’s Emirates Development Bank hires arrangers for dollar bond

Emirates NBD Capital, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd, and Standard Chartered Bank have been hired as joint lead managers

Mubadala’s venture capital unit to launch $400m European fund, says executive

Mubadala Ventures will also invite international venture funds to invest in Abu Dhabi

Saudi PIF to boost hiring as it eyes expansion outside Riyadh

The sovereign wealth fund is seeking to open offices in London and in the United States

Bank interest and dividends not subject to VAT in the UAE

There is no requirement to report income from bank deposits and dividends in the VAT return

Citigroup sees Saudi, UAE as top Mideast markets for deals this year – executive

The US lender won approval last year to begin investment banking operations in Saudi Arabia

Bahrain’s Investcorp acquires eight properties in the US for $330m

The properties are spread across five states including North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Arizona and Texas

Franklin Templeton, Actera eyeing Dubai-based Abraaj’s Turkey funds

Investment firm Abraaj collapsed last year in the aftermath of a row with investors

IMF chief says oil exporters have not fully recovered from oil shock

Christine Lagarde cautioned against investing in “white elephant projects”

gender gap 2022

Where do women stand in the UAE financial services profession?

Women are unable to grow and therefore there is a lack of women in leadership positions to encourage others to rise to the top

UAE’s Mashreqbank hires banks ahead of dollar bond sale

The potential issue is expected to be of benchmark size, which generally means at least $500m

UAE releases $496m frozen funds, ending Kuwait dispute

The amount had been frozen at Dubai’s state-owned Noor Bank since late 2017

Higher fee income helps profits rise at Bahrain’s Investcorp

The private equity house saw first-half net profit rise five per cent to $58m

FTSE Russell, Nasdaq Dubai to start Saudi equity indexes for derivatives trading

The move is part of an expansion of Nasdaq Dubai’s derivatives market

Saudi and Kuwait remain top picks for cautious Mideast funds

One third of fund managers expected to increase their allocations to regional equities over the next three months

Emirates Global Aluminium secures $6.5bn loan

The loan refinances an existing $4.9bn debt facility agreed in December 2015 and a $1.8bn loan raised by Dubai Aluminium

Bahrain’s Investcorp launches in India by acquiring IDFC businesses

Investcorp is looking to expand its business across Asia

Dubai Investments Park postpones Islamic bonds sale

DIP said more attractive funding alternatives were available

Abu Dhabi banks ADCB, UNB and Al Hilal to merge creating UAE’s third largest lender

The new banking group, with assets of $114bn, will carry the ADCB identity

UAE, Saudi reveal details about common digital currency Aber

The common digital currency is expected to reduce remittance costs between the two countries

ADCB’s chairman, CEO to fill top positions in new Abu Dhabi merged bank – sources

The three-way merger with Union National Bank and Al Hilal Bank could form a bank with around $113bn in assets

The many benefits of contactless payments in the UAE

The shift in consumer behaviour is requiring merchants to adapt to changes that could affect their bottom line

UAE to implement new technology to reduce cheque fraud

Banks in the country plan to use QR codes to improve cheque security

UAE-based Gulf Capital’s credit fund halts investments after staff departures

At least seven employees, including four managing directors, have left Gulf Capital in the past year and a half, said sources

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed’s firm supports Uber-Careem merger

Kingdom Holding holds a stake in Dubai-based car hailing app Careem

Saudi’s largest lender NCB posts 3.5% rise in Q4 profit

The bank, which is in merger talks with Riyad Bank, made a net profit of SAR2.65bn in Q4