Saudis may seek funding in Chinese yuan

Obtaining some funds in yuan could give Riyadh more financial flexibility

Saudi wealth fund PIF hires head of domestic investments

Rashed Sharif was previously CEO of Riyad Bank’s investment banking arm

UAE startup Now Money gets $700,000 funding from US investors

The mobile banking app aims to provide financial inclusion to low-income migrant workers

Dubai FinTech Hive accelerator selects first 11 finalists

The group will engage in a 12-week programme before pitching to investors

UAE President issues federal excise tax law for tobacco, soft drinks

The excise tax will be imposed on tobacco products, energy drinks and certain soft drinks

Saudi payments start-up PayTabs raises $20m

PayTabs said it would use the funds to expand into more than 20 new markets

Goldman Sachs gets approval for Saudi equities trading licence

Goldman Sachs has been operating in the kingdom since 2009 as an agent and underwriter

Dubai’s Noor Bank cuts dozens of jobs

Sources said the final figure for the planned redundancies could be more than 200

Different Arab money

Other GCC states may introduce VAT after UAE and Saudi

The UAE and Saudi Arabia will be implementing VAT starting 2018 January

UAE expects VAT tax laws to be issued in Q3 2017

The UAE plans to introduce VAT at a 5 per cent rate in January 2018

Emaar reports 14% net profit growth in Q2 on strong international revenues

The developer recorded a 22 per cent rise in property sales in Dubai during H1

GCC listing activity remains sluggish in Q2

Proceeds raised during the quarter decreased by more than a third

All you need to know about the UAE’s tax administration system

The UAE recently issued a federal law for Tax Procedures

Saudi Arabia favours New York for Aramco listing despite risks

A final decision will be taken by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman

Taxing tobacco in the GCC

As the GCC begins implementing an excise tax on tobacco, industry insiders urge for measures to ensure illicit trade doesn’t flourish

India’s new tax GST: Will it impact business with the GCC?

India introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1

Saudi’s five largest banks could face profitability pressures – Moody’s

Profitability will mainly be affected in 2018 due to lower government spending

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

Bahrain’s Investcorp aims for 10 investments in current fiscal year

The company reported a 116 per cent rise in its second-half net profit

HSBC to add staff in Saudi as kingdom adopts Vision 2030 agenda

The programme has created “fantastic” opportunities for its Saudi operations, says regional HSBC chief

Moody’s downgrades outlook on Qatar’s banking system to negative

The outlook change was attributed to weakening operating conditions and continued funding pressures

Abu Dhabi’s Al Hilal Bank issues $100m private sukuk

The issue, led by First Abu Dhabi Bank, has a two-year maturity

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed to invest about $800m in Egypt

Alwaleed’s investment will include establishing two new hotels

Qatar’s IHG to list on bourse despite diplomatic crisis

It will be the first listing since the regional crisis erupted in June

UAE manufacturing firm JBF RAK seeks to renegotiate Dhs2bn of debt

The polyester producer is 60 per cent owned by RAKIA

Abu Dhabi Global Market, KPMG launch fintech challenge for start-ups

The programme sees fintech firms asked to address challenges in six areas of the financial services industry

Profit at Abu Dhabi's Mubadala climbs 12.4%

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sells second stake in US chipmaker AMD

In March, Mubadala sold 45 million shares in AMD for around $613m

Oman signs $3.55bn loan with Chinese banks

Oman has borrowed over $10bn this year to replenish coffers hit hard by lower oil prices

UAE’s ENOC secures $500m revolving credit facility

The loan, with a three-year maturity, will be provided by a group of seven banks

Oman in talks with banks about loan and bond

The sultanate has already raised $7bn from international bonds this year

Dubai introduces crowdfunding rules to help small businesses

The regulations establish a framework for loan and investment crowdfunding