Emirates NBD approves 40% dividend

Dubai’s Emirates NBD closes in on Turkey’s Denizbank despite Gulf row

Turkish relations with the Gulf states have been strained since Ankara stood by Qatar

UAE banks must justify interbank rates under new system

The new system encourages banks to consider a wider range of trades and counterparties when submitting quotes

Saudi rolls out online payment service

Holders of Mada cards will be able to make digital purchases from early April

UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank gets approval for three Saudi branches

The bank said it had applied for a Saudi commercial licence last month

Dubai Investments to launch sharia-compliant Arkan Bank

Arkan Bank will have an authorised share capital of $500m

First Abu Dhabi Bank denies it manipulated Qatari riyal

A law firm working for the central bank of Qatar asked US regulators to investigate FAB’s US subsidiary

Dubai airline Emirates set to close $600m sukuk

The proceeds from the issuance will be used for aircraft financing and working capital

Saudi banks to see 4% lending growth in 2018 – Moody’s

The kingdom’s economy is expected to return to growth this year

Different Arab money

GCC states plan company for money transfers between members

All six member countries including Qatar have agreed to contribute initial capital

Expat remittances from the UAE grow 2.2% to $44.7bn in 2017

India emerged as the top receiving country for remittances in Q4

UK officials told that Saudi Aramco IPO unlikely until 2019

The Saudi government had targeted a market listing by the second half of 2018

Bahrain’s Investcorp to establish $100m fund for Oman’s pension funds

The Opportunities Fund will make private equity investments in the US and Europe

Emirates NBD approves 40% dividend

Dubai’s Emirates NBD plans capital hike ahead of possible acquisition

The bank said in January it had started initial strategic talks for a possible purchase of the Russian lender’s stake in Turkey’s Denizbank

Creditors look to sell Saudi Arabia’s Al-Gosaibi debt on rising price

Assets belonging to Saad and its owner Maan al-Sanea are due to be auctioned

Saudi crown prince seeks solution to $2.6bn Islamic tax row

Banks are contesting extra zakat tax payments demanded by the government

Dubai’s Abraaj frees private equity investors from capital commitments

The move underscores the impact on Abraaj’s business from a dispute with four other investors

Dubai’s Amanat acquires 35% stake in Abu Dhabi University Holding

The company operates across private education and training, real estate, facilities management and other industries

Dubai’s DIFC attracts 315 new companies in 2017

Much of the growth came from Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia

Kuwait Stock Exchange preparing for IPO in Q1 2019

The Kuwaiti bourse has a market capitalisation of about $90bn

Indonesian govt lists two sukuk valued at $3bn on Nasdaq Dubai

The Indonesian government is the largest sukuk issuer on Nasdaq Dubai

VAT: UAE extends penalty deadline for non-registered firms

Businesses that are late in registering with the authority will be exempt from administrative penalties until April 30

UAE’s Abraaj suspends fundraising for $6bn new fund

The firm’s founder, Arif Naqvi, stepped down as chief executive earlier this week

UAE’s ADNOC encourages banks to establish Abu Dhabi presence

Abu Dhabi opened a financial zone in 2015

All VAT-registered UAE firms must submit returns, pay tax by Feb-end

The penalty for those who fail to pay tax is no less than Dhs500

Bahrain’s GFH appoints Abu Dhabi Financial Group’s Alseddiqi as chairman

The new appointment could revive the prospect of a merger between GFH and Dubai-based Shuaa Capital

UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank to enter Saudi in 2018

The bank has applied for a commercial banking licence in the kingdom

Founder of Dubai private equity firm Abraaj hands over control of fund

The moves comes weeks after a reported dispute between Abraaj and four of its investors

Saudi banks worried by jump in tax liabilities

Some bankers worry the demands might essentially be a money grab by the government

MSCI’s Saudi decision will be independent of Aramco listing

The government plans to sell about 5 per cent of the national oil firm in the second half of 2018

Bahrain, Manama, Cityscape view of Bahrain World Trade Center and Bahrain Financial Harbor

National Bank of Bahrain eyes advisory roles on big projects – CEO

Bahrain has a pipeline of large-scale infrastructure developments valued at around $32bn