Media & Advertising Saudi media company MBC Group to float 10% in IPO Saudi media major MBC Group plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul). The announcement comes after the Capital Market Authority (CMA) approved the company’s plan to offer 33.25 million ordinary shares, representing 10 percent of its share capital. The offering price will be determined at the end of the […] November 22, 2023
Health PureHealth plans to launch IPO on Abu Dhabi exchange Healthcare provider PureHealth Holding has announced plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange to fuel its global expansion efforts. The listing, likely to be in December, is subject to regulatory approvals, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported. Existing shareholders are Alpha Dhabi Holding and International Holding Company […] November 21, 2023
Finance Dubai Taxi’s market value forecast at $1.25bn on listing Dubai Taxi Company, a unit of the state-owned Roads and Transport Authority, has set the price range for its initial public offering (IPO) at AED1.80 to AED1.85 ($0.49 to $ 0.50) per share. This gives a market capitalisation of between AED4.5 billion and AED4.6 billion at the time of listing. The subscription period for retail […] November 21, 2023
Transport Toll operator Salik targets 10% revenue rise in 2023 Dubai road toll operator Salik expects revenue-generating trips to grow by up to 10 percent in 2023 year on year as a result of continued strong growth in tourism and residency. The company’s net profit rose 5.3 percent to AED255 million ($69.43 million) in the third quarter of 2023 from AED242 million a year earlier […] November 13, 2023
Finance Dubai Taxi Company to list 25% stake in IPO Dubai Taxi Company has announced plans to launch its initial public offering (IPO) after its legal status was amended to a public joint-stock company. The company will issue 624.75 million shares at a nominal value of AED 0.04 on the Dubai Financial Market, representing 24.99 percent of its total issued share capital. The subscription period […] November 13, 2023
Real Estate Seera Group invests $160m in Riyadh business park Saudi travel major Seera Group plans to invest SAR600 million ($160 million) in a real estate fund to finance the development of a new business park in Riyadh. Seera will be the primary investor in the Sharia-compliant fund with the aim of developing the Kayanat Central Business Park in the north of the Saudi capital. […] November 9, 2023
Opinion Media & Advertising Ad agency mergers show industry model in flux Merging brands is seen as the way to service clients in an era of digital specialisation November 7, 2023
Finance Mena IPOs drop but analysts still bullish for 2024 Listings on Middle East and North African stock markets slowed during the third quarter, but analysts remain upbeat for 2024 despite concerns over the Israel-Gaza conflict. There were six initial public offerings (IPOs) in Q3, raising $523 million in total. This is a 14 percent drop in volume and a 66 percent slump in proceeds compared […] November 7, 2023
Energy Arabian Drilling profit slips 34% on higher finance costs Arabian Drilling Company said its third-quarter 2023 net profit declined 34.27 percent to SAR140 million ($37.32 million) from SAR213 million in Q3 2022 due to higher finance costs. The Saudi-listed oilfield services company’s revenue grew 31.05 percent annually to SAR920 million, primarily due to the start-up of three additional offshore rigs on five-year contracts. Net profit […] November 6, 2023
Economy Bahrain economy grows 2% despite GCC trade slump Bahrain’s economy grew by 2 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2023, despite a drop in trade with neighbouring GCC countries. The kingdom saw its non-oil sector increase by 2 percent, while the oil sector was up 2.2 percent. Bahrain’s fiscal and current account break-even oil prices are among the highest in […] November 1, 2023
Media & Advertising Saudi advertising major in $270m pursuit of rival The Saudi advertising giant Arabian Contracting Services is pursuing the acquisition of its Riyadh-based rival Faden Media, in a deal worth more than SAR1 billion ($270 million). The company, also known as Al Arabia, said in a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange that it is now working to complete the takeover within six months, […] November 1, 2023
Finance Dubai taxi operator to raise $300m in IPO next month Dubai Taxi Corporation, a unit of the Road and Transport Authority (RTA), aims to raise nearly AED1.10 billion ($300 million) from a share sale in November, Bloomberg reports. The taxi operator intends to distribute a dividend of AED71 million in April for the fourth quarter of 2023, the news agency reported, citing an investor. Dubai […] October 31, 2023
Finance DFM profit doubles to $51m as trading volume surges Dubai Financial Market (DFM) reported a 109 percent rise in net profit to AED186.2 million ($50.69 million) in the first nine months of the year, compared to AED89 million a year earlier. The profit was driven by a significant increase in trade volume and value, as well as an influx of new investors, according to […] October 31, 2023
Oil & Gas SLB predicts record Middle East oilfield services revenue SLB, the world’s largest oilfield services company, is predicting record revenue growth in the Middle East this year, as the region’s oil and gas companies ramp up capacity levels. The US company reported that international revenue rose 12 percent to $6.6 billion in the third quarter, its highest level since 2015. Opportunities in the GCC, […] October 30, 2023
Banking & Finance Investcorp Capital to list on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Investcorp Capital has revealed plans to offer 643 million ordinary shares in an initial public offering on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The shares, which represent an estimated 29.34 percent of issued share capital after the IPO, will have a nominal value of $0.50 (AED1.84), according to a statement from the Bahrain-based alternative investment company. […] October 24, 2023
Finance Turkey’s finance minister to embark on second Gulf tour Turkey’s finance minister Mehmet Şimşek is to embark on a second tour of Gulf countries as part of his government’s drive to attract foreign investment. “Our meetings with investors will continue next week with visits to Gulf countries,” Daily Sabah newspaper reported, quoting a post by Şimşek on X, formerly Twitter. Şimşek will visit Abu […] October 23, 2023
Video length: 3:34 VIDEO Tech New sectors to drive e& growth as telecoms becomes ‘saturated’ UAE tech and telecoms company e& – formerly Etisalat – is looking at more acquisitions in the GCC as well as Africa and Eastern Europe. “We are in processes as we speak,” said Salvador Anglada, CEO of e& enterprise, during an exclusive roundtable at Gitex. The telecoms major rebranded from Etisalat last year to become […] October 20, 2023
Analysis Finance Egypt shines as Mena’s top performing bourse in 2023 Egypt’s benchmark stock index soared to another all-time high this week, extending a prolonged rally as investors bought equities to hedge against soaring inflation and a fragile Egyptian pound. The EGX30 Index is the Middle East and North Africa region’s top performer in 2023, rising 51.2 percent to October 17, although in dollar terms its […] October 18, 2023
Retail Food store Kibsons says IPO could be on the table Kibsons, the family-owned food delivery company in the UAE, has said a potential listing of the business is “absolutely” on the table. Launched in 2016, it processes over 35,000 orders a week. And founder and CEO Halima Jumani says they are on target to hit $100 million in turnover this year. Jumani, who co-owns the […] October 17, 2023
Finance Turkey’s regulator approves largest IPO since 2018 Turkey’s market regulator has given the nod to launch food services company TAB Gıda’s floatation on the Borsa Istanbul bourse. The initial public offering (IPO) will be the “largest in dollar terms since 2018”, Daily Sabah newspaper said. The company will float about 20 percent, or 52.5 million, of its shares at 130 lira each, […] October 16, 2023
Finance Oman’s OQ Gas IPO order book hits ‘record-high’ $10bn Oman’s OQ Gas Networks (OQGN), the pipeline business of state energy giant OQ, said that the order book reached for its initial public offering was oversubscribed 14 times, reaching OMR4 billion ($10 billion) A total of 2.1 billion shares, representing 49 percent of OQGN’s issued share capital, were offered, generating OMR288 million, making the OQGN […] October 13, 2023
Analysis Finance Kuwaiti stocks toil but analysts foresee 2024 rebound Overpriced valuations, high interest rates and oil production cuts have sapped investor confidence in Kuwait, and the country’s stock market is among the Mena region’s worst performers this year. Despite this, analysts predict a sustained rebound in crude prices, steady corporate earnings and renewed government infrastructure spending. This could boost ebbing sentiment and spark a […] October 13, 2023
