The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) has appointed Omar Mehanna as managing director and global head of merchant banking. In his position, he will be responsible for the corporate finance, equity capital markets, project finance and debt advisory platforms. He will also lead the continued development and implementation of strategy relating to merchant banking, ensuring that NBAD provides a …

Managing both cash management and trade finance as a seamlessly integrated transaction banking proposition is one of the secrets of ADIB’s success, Maki Vekinis, the bank’s head of global transaction services, tells Cash&Trade in an exclusive interview Would you elaborate on ADIB’s overall GTS strategy and explain the importance of ADIB’s cash and trade business, both locally and internationally. At …

The dominance of transactions involving Tawarruq and Murabaha syndication and its variants in cash management and trade finance will continue unabated in 2015 in the absence of other products. Commodity Murabaha trading is done through exchanges such as the London Metals Exchange (LME), Bursa Suq Al Sila with its palm oil contracts based platform and the NASDAQ Dubai Murabaha Platform, …

JENS MIKOLAJCZAK – co-head of corporate cash management, EMEA, Deutsche Bank – discusses why SEPA matters for non-European corporates, and why 2015 is the year to consider its wider benefits On August 1 2014, the deadline for implementing obligatory Single Euro Payments Area changes passed for the 32 countries in the SEPA-zone. The culmination of a concept that began with …

CAROLINE MAGINN wonders whether there are other relationships in the Gulf Co-operation Council states that merchant financiers should be cementing There is, arguably, much global debate, mind-set and misnomer centred on the premise that natural resource abundance, particularly minerals, can have adverse consequences for social well-being, political stability, the environment and sustainable economic growth and creates a parallel disadvantage between …

MUSHTAK PARKER looks at new trends in Islamic Commodity Murabaha and trade receivables supply chains Islamic trade finance has flourished over the last four decades with the Murabaha (cost-plus financing) dominating the direction of financing of Islamic banks and financial institutions to the tune of up to 80 per cent. So much so has this been that the Murabaha became …

In an unpredictable economic climate it is vital that treasury teams are prepared for every eventuality. PAUL MELLY reveals how that is certainly the case with Saudi Telecom Even seven years after the 2007/8 financial crisis, the effects can still be felt, says Saudi Telecom’s Noman Ansari. The markets are unsettled and it seems that every day brings new developments; …

Although treasury teams view themselves as broadening their strategic contribution, their core focus still remains on tasks such as cash management, cash forecasting and compliance. That was one of the principal findings in a survey that looked at the roles carried out by these key professionals Treasury teams are playing a broader role, and are contributing to a wide range …

Under Royal Patronage SWIFT Holds its Middle East Regional Conference in Jordan ……………………………………………………………………….. Conference will be held on 30-31 March at the Dead Sea and will be attended by top international and regional bankers Amman/Dubai, 2 March 2015 – Under Royal Patronage, hundreds of top Arab and international bankers and financiers will be attending SWIFT’s annual Middle East Regional Conference, …

Abu Dhabi (February 23, 2015) – A range of leading institutions and Governmental organisations confirmed their support of the seventh Global Financial Markets Forum (GFMF), organised by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) on March 1st and 2nd at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. The forum will discuss major challenges and opportunities in the world economy from the perspectives …

NBAD’s annual event attracts decision makers, investors and thought leaders Abu Dhabi (February 15, 2014) – The seventh Global Financial Markets Forum (GFMF), the annual conference organised by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), will discuss major challenges and opportunities in today’s world economy from the perspectives of regulators, asset managers, sovereign wealth funds (SWF), bankers and politicians. H.E. …

Spending growth: Restaurants see 31 percent growth in total spend over the previous year; other high growth categories include consumer electronics (22%) and supermarkets (14%) Spending volume: Fashion retail accounts for highest total spend volume of US$151.2 MN Saudi Arabia and UK retain position as top spenders during DSF; Angola registers 97 percent surge in transaction volumes compared to 2014 …

Outlines Global Opportunities for GCC Investors for 2015 LONDON & Dubai 15 February 2015: RiverCrossing Capital Partners, an alternative investment management firm dedicated to providing Islamically-compliant opportunities to investors in GCC and Southeast Asia, today announced that it has been named Best New Institution for 2014 by Dubai-based CPI Financial for its Islamic Business & Finance Awards.  RiverCrossing, which invests …

NBAD’s annual event attracts decision makers, investors and thought leaders Abu Dhabi (February 15, 2014) – The seventh Global Financial Markets Forum (GFMF), the annual conference organised by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), will discuss major challenges and opportunities in today’s world economy from the perspectives of regulators, asset managers, sovereign wealth funds (SWF), bankers and politicians. H.E. …

Innovation and diversification provide sustained and significant global growth opportunities for Sukuk Investor base to widen dramatically in the coming years Abu Dhabi, UAE; London, United Kingdom; (February 11th, 2015): The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (“NBAD”), the Middle East’s leading bank, and CNBC, the leading business and financial news network, hosted an international panel of leading Islamic finance experts …