Dubai-based Enhance closes $1.5m seed funding round

The company plans to use the funds to launch new online marketplaces

National Bank of Oman CEO resigns

Ahmed Jafar Al Musalami has served as CEO since 2014

Saudi Arabia’s Samba, Alawwal underline banking upturn

Samba recorded an 11.4 per cent rise in fourth-quarter net profit, while Alawwal swung into profit

Qatar’s Commercial Bank agrees to sell stake in UAE’s UAB to Tabarak

The sale comes amid a diplomatic rift between Qatar and the UAE

Nasdaq Dubai launches Abu Dhabi, Dubai index futures

Gulf countries have generally been slow to introduce equity derivatives

UAE banks see end to $22bn Saudi debt dispute

Saudi Arabia’s Saad Group and Ahmad Hamad al-Gosaibi & Bros Co defaulted in 2009

Dubai gold trader obtains first Middle East cryptocurrency licence

The company will offer the storage of bitcoin, ethereum and other currencies at a vault in Dubai

Dubai exchange explores options as India stops licensing securities abroad

India-related contracts have been a major reason for growth in the DGCX’s business over recent months

UK fraud office charges Barclays over $3bn Qatar loan

The SFO said a date for the first court appearance will be set in due course

Citigroup targets rapid Middle East and Africa growth in 2018

Saudi Arabia is likely to lead the growth, with the UAE, Egypt and Nigeria also key drivers

Saudi Arabia looks to refinance $10bn syndicated loan, say sources

HSBC, JPMorgan and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group are claimed to be working on the refinancing

Dubai’s Emirates NBD appoints CIO and CDO in digital push

The bank is spending Dhs1bn on an IT transformation initiative

UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank gets Saudi securities licence

The bank does not currently have a branch or representative office in Saudi Arabia

Dubai’s Abraaj denies wrongdoing related to $1bn healthcare fund

Abraaj said it had hired KPMG to verify all receipts and payments made by the fund

UAE regulator warns cryptocurrency investors, issuers

The Securities and Commodities Authority warned that crypto investments were not covered by the law

Dubai’s Emirates NBD in talks to buy Turkey’s Denizbank

Emirates NBD completed the acquisition of BNP Paribas’ Egyptian assets in 2013

First Abu Dhabi Bank’s 2017 profit hit by merger costs

National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank merged to create FAB in April

Shares in Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding soar, but banks cautious

The prince was released from detention at the weekend

Bahrain’s Ithmaar Bank plans aggressive expansion in Pakistan

The bank aims to open 100 new branches in Pakistan, taking its total there to 500

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Q4 net profit up 7%

ADCB’s board proposed a dividend of 42 per cent of the bank’s capital for 2017

Release of Prince Alwaleed and other businessmen may boost Saudi market

More than 200 people had been detained as part of the kingdom’s corruption purge

Fate of Saudi bank merger to be clear by Q1

A merged Alawwal and SABB would rank as the third-largest bank in Saudi

Dubai’s Shuaa Capital in talks to acquire Kuwait’s Amwal

Shuaa previously acquired an 8 per cent stake in the company in July

Citi gets Saudi go-ahead for investment banking business

Citigroup had pulled out of Saudi Arabia in 2004, having been in the kingdom for five decades

Saudi Arabia asks banks for proposals to refinance $10bn loan, raise more debt

The kingdom hopes to establish a prominent position in international debt markets as part of its economic reforms

CFO of Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding quits

Mohamed Fahmy has worked with the company for about five years

Weeks of talks fail to resolve Dana Gas sukuk dispute, say sources

The $700m case moved to UAE and British courts, and legal proceedings in both countries are continuing

Dubai Financial Market launches allocation service

The service is designed to improve market participation by international investors

Dubai Islamic Bank Q4 net profit rises 26%

The bank is considering options including a rights issue and an issue of Islamic bonds

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange enters blockchain deal with SWIFT

ADX will work with other organisations to explore the use of blockchain to speed up securities processing