Saudi to let foreigners take strategic stakes in firms

Foreign investors with appropriate experience and expertise will be allowed to own such stakes

Dubai, Abu Dhabi market futures to be traded on Nasdaq

Nasdaq Dubai launched its futures market last September

Emaar plans to sell 20% of its property unit via IPO next month

Retail investors can subscribe to the offering between November 2 to 13

UAE central bank survey projects moderate growth in loan demand

More than 60 per cent of respondents reported no changes to loan terms and conditions last quarter

Emaar shareholders approve listing of real estate arm on Dubai’s DFM

Emaar’s property arm plans to offer up to 30 per cent of its shares to the public

Abu Dhabi state investor Mubadala sets up venture capital arm

The new unit will oversee an early growth fund set up with Japan’s SoftBank

Abu Dhabi bourse starts technical short-selling to boost liquidity

The move is also hoped to attract more foreign investors

Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC considering IPO in some services

ADNOC will remain wholly owned by one single shareholder – the Abu Dhabi government

Nearly half of UAE residents in debt, says report

Study also shows that almost one third of people are not saving any money

China offers to buy 5% of Saudi Aramco directly

Allowing China to buy 5 per cent of Aramco would effectively mean cancelling the planned IPO

Saudi sovereign fund PIF hires senior officer

Greg Bankhurst has been appointed chief development officer

UAE’s finance ministry yet to fix VAT rate on goods, services

The UAE is set to introduce VAT from January 1, 2018

Dubai Aerospace plans sukuk issue by mid-2018

The Dubai government-controlled company is one of the world’s largest aircraft lessors

Saudi may raise loan-deposit ratio for banks

The central bank last raised the ratio in February 2016, to 90 per cent from 85 per cent

IMF says income tax may become “necessary” for GCC states

The Gulf countries are preparing to implement a 5 per cent value added tax rate next year

Saudi preparing tougher rules for insurance firms – sources

The Saudi insurance sector has come under pressure as the economy has slipped into recession this year

VAT to create over 5,000 jobs in the GCC – analyst

The UAE will begin implementing the tax in January 2018

Saudi regulator monitors Banque Saudi Fransi over governance issues

SAMA did not elaborate on the nature of the bank’s “deficiencies”

UAE’s Abraaj invests in Colombian firm QBCo

QBCo is the largest private label food manufacturing company in Colombia

UAE app aims to make half of transactions cashless in 5 years

Pilot projects using the app will begin in the coming month

Saudi sovereign fund creates $1.07bn ‘fund of funds’ to back SMEs

The PIF expects the investments to create 2,600 jobs and contribute SAR400m to GDP by the end of 2020

Saudi central bank paints rosy picture of economy

Latest official data showed the economy in recession during the second quarter

UAE banks seek to reduce cash usage with new app

Klip allows the cashless spending, transfer and storage of money

Bahrain’s Investcorp eyes businesses linked to Aramco, Saudi healthcare

The firm is eyeing businesses that “live around Aramco”

Survey reveals 76% of UAE residents plan to delay retirement

Residents were found to be avoiding retirement for financial and social reasons

Saudi market regulator loosens asset management rules

The revisions will reduce requirements for obtaining a “management activity” licence

Dubai’s Mashreq to cut branches as it shifts towards digital banking

The downsizing will translate into a reduction of 15 to 20 per cent of the bank’s staff in retail services

Saudi stocks may be hurt, Kuwait uninspired by FTSE’s index decisions

On Friday FTSE said it would reevaluate Saudi’s emerging market index inclusion in March next year

Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala swings to H1 profit

Mubadala suffered a net loss of Dhs4.7bn in the first half of 2016

Saudi Arabia sells third international bond to raise $12.5bn

Wednesday’s issue was split into three tranches