Banking and Finance First Abu Dhabi makes China expansion a priority First Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s largest bank by assets, plans to triple revenue from its operations in China by 2026. FAB is the only fully licensed UAE-based bank in mainland China and considers growth in the country a “priority” after revenue rose by 50 percent last year to about AED100 million ($27 million). Group CEO […] February 29, 2024
Tech Sovereign funds must be ‘enablers of progress’ says Mubadala chief Sovereign wealth funds have a responsibility to transform from asset investors to enablers of global progress, the CEO of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has announced. Al Mubarak told an investor conference in Abu Dhabi: “We are in the business of driving progress and investing in solutions to global challenges.” The government-controlled fund was […] February 29, 2024
Analysis Banking and Finance GCC banks look to US and Europe GCC banks may be forced to look overseas to fulfil growth ambitions as home markets become increasingly saturated, experts say. While some banks have already ventured abroad – mainly into Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, which constitute nearly a half of their presence outside the Gulf – more developed markets such as the US and Europe […] February 28, 2024
Banking and Finance Qatar commits $11bn for French startups and funds Qatar will invest €10 billion ($10.9 billion) in French startups and investment funds as part of a new strategic partnership. The announcement was made in a French-Qatari joint communique released during Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s state visit to Paris. The investments will focus on energy transition, semiconductors, aerospace, artificial intelligence, health, […] February 28, 2024
Construction Drake & Scull to issue sukuk for return to Dubai market The directors of Drake & Scull International are looking to recapitalise the troubled construction giant via a sukuk, with a view to resuming trading on the Dubai Financial Market. A general assembly meeting will be held “as soon as possible” to increase the company’s share capital, which will be done through a mandatory convertible sukuk, […] February 27, 2024
Finance IHC reports marginal profit despite revenue climbing 18% International Holding Company (IHC) has reported an increase in net profit of just 1.2 percent year on year to AED32.95 billion ($8.97 billion) in 2023, despite an almost 20 percent rise in revenue. IHC – the Middle East’s largest listed holding company, which is listed in Abu Dhabi – is part of a business empire […] February 27, 2024
Banking and Finance PIF enlists global banks for second debt market issue Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has hired banks for its upcoming Shariah-compliant dollar bond, marking its second venture into the bond market this year. The sovereign fund, which manages over $700 billion in assets, has mandated Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Standard Chartered as joint global coordinators, Reuters reported, citing a PIF document. Investor meetings […] February 27, 2024
Banking and Finance Mubadala and Goldman Sachs to put $1bn into Asia-Pacific Mubadala and Goldman Sachs have signed a $1 billion agreement to invest in private credit deals in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership between Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund and Goldman Sachs Alternatives will put private credit into “high-quality companies and sponsors” throughout the region with a particular focus on India, they said in a joint […] February 26, 2024
Analysis Banking and Finance Egyptian economic woes to prolong startup funding slump Egyptian startups face another tough year finding funding, as the prospect of further currency devaluations and stubbornly high inflation deter investors, despite the attractive demographics of the Arab world’s most populous nation. The number of venture capital deals in Egypt in the first nine months of 2023 was 47, down by nearly two thirds on […] February 26, 2024
Analysis Banking and Finance VC firms ready for Mena investment rebound Venture capital companies expect investment activity in the Middle East and North Africa to rebound this year after a slump in 2023, with startups in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates likely again to dominate dealmaking. In 2023 there were 517 VC deals in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. They raised a […] February 26, 2024
Opinion Banking and Finance Lebanon’s bank restructuring offers a ray of light The government’s recapitalisation proposals signal a step in the right direction February 26, 2024
Banking and Finance Two of Saudi’s largest listed banks mull $2.7bn dividend Two of the largest listed banks in Saudi Arabia have declared a combined dividend of SAR10 billion ($2.7 billion) for the second half of 2023. The board of Saudi National Bank (SNB), the kingdom’s largest bank by assets, has recommended a dividend of nine percent or SAR5.4 billion for the second half of 2023. Overall, the […] February 26, 2024
Banking and Finance Turkey close to removal from FATF ‘grey list’ says minister Turkey has successfully concluded technical studies aimed at removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, treasury and finance minister Mehmet Şimşek has said. The final step involves an on-site assessment scheduled for June, Hurriyet Daily News, a Turkish English daily, reported, citing the minister’s post on social messaging site X. “We are […] February 26, 2024
Finance Capital and reserves of UAE banks rise 13% to $131bn The total capital and reserves of banks operating in the UAE increased 13.3 percent to AED481.5 billion ($131 billion) by the end of November 2023, compared to AED425 billion a year ago, the Central Bank of the UAE’s (CBUAE) data showed. Banks’ aggregate capital and reserves increased 12.3 percent or AED53 billion during the first […] February 25, 2024
Video length: 01:24 Analysis Banking and Finance UAE removed from FATF ‘grey list’ The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said on Friday that it had removed the UAE from its so-called grey list, in recognition of the Gulf state’s efforts to curb illicit financial flows. Experts told AGBI the cleared status is expected to restore the UAE’s correspondent banking ties with institutions which had withdrawn services over the […] February 25, 2024
Banking and Finance Dubal Holding net yearly profit down by half Dubal Holding, the investment company owned by the Dubai government, has announced a 50 percent drop in net profit for 2023 compared to the previous year. Dubal Holding, which invests in the commodities, mining, power, energy and industrial sectors, recorded a net profit of AED 1.79 billion ($487 million) for 2023, down from the previous […] February 23, 2024
Sustainability Climate transition galvanises ties between UAE and France Climate transition is becoming a central focus of economic cooperation between the UAE and France as the countries agreed to establish a “Bilateral Climate Investment Platform”. The platform aims to accelerate joint projects and investments in clean energy sectors, with a particular focus on advancing the decarbonisation of industries such as steel, cement and petrochemicals. […] February 22, 2024
Banking and Finance Saudi remittances fall as expats invest domestically Expatriate remittances from Saudi Arabia have fallen over the past two years, despite a rise in the number of overseas workers needed to develop the kingdom’s slate of huge giga-projects. Some experts have predicted the slump in funds sent back home could be as a result of improved investment opportunities inside the kingdom. Yearly remittances […] February 22, 2024
Renewable Energy Dewa and Masdar secure funding for sixth phase of solar park Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy major Masdar have achieved the financial closing of the 1,800-megawatt (MW) sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The funding has been jointly provided by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered […] February 22, 2024
Banking and Finance HSBC’s Middle East unit increases lending in Q4 HSBC’s Middle East subsidiary expanded its loan book in the fourth quarter, outperforming the bank’s other units. Customer lending at HSBC Bank Middle East was $20 billion on December 31, up $1.6 billion, or 8 percent, on three months earlier. Worldwide, HSBC’s customer lending fell by 2 percent over the same period. The Middle East […] February 21, 2024
Economy Financial services help Bahrain to record $1.7bn in investments Bahrain attracted more than $1.7 billion in investments last year through its government-backed investment company. The financial services sector was the main driver. The figure, released by the Bahrain Economic Development Board, was 55 percent up on 2022. The investments covered 85 local and international projects, which are forecast to create 5,700 jobs in Bahrain […] February 21, 2024
Opinion Banking and Finance Gulf’s neobanks must hone the user experience Digital banking in the region must learn from European pioneers and innovate further February 20, 2024
