Analysis Real Estate Canary Wharf’s evolution is a nod to QIA change of strategy The futuristic designs for the former HSBC Holdings headquarters in London’s Canary Wharf may provide a glimpse into the strategy in recent years of one of its major shareholders – the Qatar Investment Authority. Reportedly a casualty of the Covid pandemic and subsequent shift to remote working, 8 Canada Square is to be turned into […] July 26, 2024
Banking & Finance Mashreq’s earnings up as loans and deposits rise Dubai-listed lender Mashreq said its net profit rose 14 percent year on year to AED4 billion ($1.1 billion) in the first six months of 2024 on higher interest income, business expansion and minimal risk costs. Net profit before tax grew 24 percent to AED4.5 billion. Net interest income increased 17 percent year on year to […] July 26, 2024
Banking & Finance First Abu Dhabi Bank revenue rises on overseas growth First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s biggest lender, said revenues rose 16 percent year on year to AED15.7 billion ($4.3 billion) in the first half of 2024, driven by 30 percent annual growth in international franchise. Net profit increased 3 percent to AED8.4 billion despite the impact of corporate tax, which came into effect […] July 25, 2024
Banking & Finance PIF appoints investment chief as it shifts focus to local projects Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has appointed a head of investments as it seeks to manage funding challenges for the giga-projects at the centre of the country’s economic transformation programme. Fahad AlSaif will be responsible for “guiding the development of PIF’s overarching investment strategy” and helping the fund’s leadership in its decisions, a statement said. […] July 24, 2024
Banking & Finance UAE bank to bolster presence in Central Asian economy Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is bolstering its Islamic banking services in Kazakhstan. The Abu Dhabi-listed bank will establish a sharia-compliant corporate banking services centre to gain a foothold in the $1.8 trillion Central Asian economy. Al Hilal Islamic Bank, a subsidiary of the bank in Kazakhstan, will be rebranded and offer corporate financial products […] July 24, 2024
Finance Signs of US recovery prompt Saudi Arabia to buy treasury bonds Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US bonds rose by 22 percent year on year in May, as the kingdom banked on an economic recovery in the United States. The May figure of $136.3 billion, released by the US Department of the Treasury, is the highest level of Saudi bond holdings since January 2022. The kingdom is […] July 23, 2024
Economy GCC economic data The latest economic indicators for the Gulf Co-operation Council countries: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain July 22, 2024
Finance SMEs in Oman to get emergency fund loans The Oman government has set up an emergency fund to support small and medium enterprises after the impact of a tropical cyclone last October. The loan fund is intended to ensure the continued and sustainable operation of SMEs and aid in overcoming any emergency situations, the state-run Oman News Agency reported, quoting the Authority for […] July 22, 2024
Finance Abu Dhabi-backed Egyptian fintech raises $160m Egyptian fintech MNT-Halan, backed by Chimera Abu Dhabi, a private investment company, has raised $157.5 million to support regional expansion. The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank’s private investment arm, invested $40 million in the fundraising round. The remaining was contributed by Lunate, an Abu Dhbai-based asset management company, Development Partners International, Lorax Capital Partners, […] July 22, 2024
Banking & Finance BlackRock-led investors to refinance Aramco Pipelines stake Investors in Saudi Aramco’s gas pipeline network, led by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, are planning to issue $3 billion in bonds to refinance a loan that backed their purchase of a stake in the network. The consortium of investors took a $13.4 billion bridge loan in 2021 to acquire a 49 percent stake […] July 19, 2024
Banking & Finance Rakbank plans first bond to fund social projects The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (Rakbank) is planning to launch its first social bond issuance, a news report has said. The Abu Dhabi-listed bank is seeking bids for the five-year benchmark-sized dollar-denominated bond, Reuters reported. The initial price was set at 170 basis points over US Treasuries, with the final pricing expected on confirmed […] July 19, 2024
Finance Sharia standard 62 may disrupt sukuk market, says S&P Global sukuk issuances are likely to suffer next year if the proposed standard 62 sukuk changes to sharia guidelines are implemented, according to credit rating agency S&P. “Adopting Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions standard 62 guidelines as they have been presented could disrupt the market,” it said in a new report. The […] July 19, 2024
Opinion Banking & Finance Georges Elhedery, ‘one of our own’ at helm of HSBC New bank CEO will reinforce Middle East's position as a global financial fulcrum July 18, 2024
Finance Masdar taps green debt market to finance expansion Masdar, the UAE’s state-backed clean energy company, has raised $1 billion through its second green bond issuance, made up of dual tranches of $500 million each. The bonds are part of a larger programme to raise up to $3 billion to fund its renewables projects. The bonds, of five and 10 years, met strong appetite […] July 18, 2024
Banking & Finance Loan growth pushes Emirates NBD profit up 12% to $4bn Emirates NBD, Dubai’s biggest bank, reported a 12 percent year-on-year increase in net profit to AED13.8 billion ($3.8 billion), driven by increased lending and higher impaired loan recoveries. Total income reached AED21.4 billion after strong loan growth across all business segments coupled with a stable, low-cost funding mix. Lending grew 6 percent year on year […] July 18, 2024
Video length: 04:06 VIDEO Banking & Finance GCC investors in UK warned of new tax liabilities The newly elected Labour government is expected to introduce a range of tax changes that will impact British expatriates living overseas, non-doms and the UK’s community of wealthy foreign investors. Tax consultants suggest that GCC investors considering selling their UK assets should do it “sooner rather than later” to escape the hikes that could significantly […] July 17, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Banking & Finance Fintechs having ‘no impact’, says remittances CEO Fintechs are no threat to the UAE-based remittances company Al Fardan Exchange, its CEO Hasan Al Fardan has declared. Al Fardan said there was no intention to drop fees to compete with finance technology startups. To date, he said, fintechs have had “no material impact on our business or our operations. We are hitting record […] July 16, 2024
Opinion Economy The GCC must tackle climate risk to protect credit lines Climate premium costs could manifest as a silent tax burden and hamper economic development July 16, 2024
Opinion Finance American business weighs prospect of ‘Trump trade’ Some sectors, such as energy and real estate, stand to gain on an election win July 15, 2024
Opinion Finance The Thames Water crisis makes waves for the UK’s Labour Party A government bailout is no longer unthinkable and Gulf investors will have grave concerns July 15, 2024
Finance ADGM sets deadline for whistleblowing rules Companies in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have been given a deadline of May 2025 to implement the latest whistleblowing regulations. The financial authority has published its new whistleblowing framework to ‘maintain transparency, accountability and market integrity’. The framework includes regulations on reporting of protected disclosures, allowing reporting of suspected breaches of ADGM legislation […] July 12, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Artificial Intelligence AI regulations double investment costs, says Mashreq Bank Differing rules surrounding artificial intelligence and the lack of a global regulatory environment is doubling the cost of new investments and complicating business expansion, a leading UAE financial institution has revealed. Amith Rajan, executive vice-president at Mashreq Bank, told AGBI that a “patchwork” AI regulatory landscape has prevented the bank from entering some countries, and […] July 11, 2024
