Banking & Finance
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dubai Eye
18 minutes ago
- Dubai Eye
Dubai International Chamber records 138% registration increase in H1
Dubai International Chamber has recorded a 138 per cent increase in companies under its jurisdiction in the first half of 2025, attracting a total of 143 companies. The increase included 31 multinational companies (MNCs), marking a 138 per cent increase over the 13 attracted in H1 2024. Meanwhile, 112 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) joined the Chamber during H1 2025, compared to the 47 attracted during the same period last year. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai International Chamber, stated, 'We are making strong and steady progress in consolidating Dubai's position as the global destination of choice for foreign direct investment and a launchpad for companies targeting international growth. This momentum is fuelled by Dubai's unique competitive advantages, which include world-class infrastructure, a pro-business regulatory environment, and a strategic location connecting global markets.' He added, 'Dubai International Chamber's global network of representative offices plays a major role in attracting entrepreneurs, investors, and multinational companies. Our offices contribute to strengthening trade and investment ties with priority markets while fostering business partnerships between Dubai-based companies and their counterparts across the globe.' During the first half of 2025, Dubai International Chamber continued to advance the objectives of the Dubai Global initiative, which seeks to establish 50 international representative offices by 2030. The chamber's growing global network plays a central role in positioning Dubai as a leading international business hub, attracting foreign direct investment, and supporting the global expansion of Dubai-based companies into 30 priority markets. As part of these efforts, the chamber expanded its international presence with the opening of five new offices in Dhaka (Bangladesh), Cape Town (South Africa), Bengaluru (India), Bangkok (Thailand), and Toronto (Canada). During the first half of this year, the Chamber's representative offices organised 247 business roundtables to promote Dubai as a global business hub, attract foreign direct investments, and introduce Dubai as a launchpad for expansion into global markets. This international network serves as a strategic platform linking Dubai with global business communities. It facilitates two-way investment flows, unlocks new channels for bilateral trade, and helps companies in each market tap into the opportunities Dubai offers as a gateway to the world. The chamber's offices also play a vital role in promoting Dubai's competitive advantages as a destination for business growth and expansion. They deliver actionable market intelligence and provide tailored support for international companies seeking to establish a presence in the emirate and scale into high-potential global markets.
Al Etihad
44 minutes ago
- Al Etihad
Kotak Mahindra gets SCA licence to launch fund management activities in UAE
18 Aug 2025 20:26 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Kotak Mahindra (International) Limited (KMIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, has secured a licence from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) to conduct Investment Fund Management and Portfolio Management this approval, KMIL has become the first Indian firm to receive such a licence from the SCA, a press release announcing the decision said. It marks a significant milestone in cross-border financial services and sets the stage for the launch of UAE-domiciled funds for retail investors.'We are honoured to receive this licence from the UAE regulator. It is a testament to our enduring commitment to the UAE and our vision of fostering globally integrated, transparent capital markets,' said Shyam Kumar, President and Head of Kotak International. 'India's economic momentum continues to attract global interest, and through this licence, we are excited to offer UAE retail investors access to our India-focused investment strategies – enabling them to participate in one of the world's dynamic and resilient markets. We will offer India-centric investment options to help investors diversify their portfolios.'The company said it plans to leverage the licence by launching retail-focused solutions in the UAE aligned with its successful UCITS (Luxembourg-domiciled) and India-domiciled strategies. Subscriptions for these funds are expected to open by the final quarter of approval underscores Kotak Group's approach of working with regulators worldwide to expand access to capital markets. Alongside India, the group holds regulatory approvals in the USA, UK, Singapore, Mauritius and now the UAE. Kotak International, the global business arm of the Kotak Group, connects investors with India's growth story through a range of asset management, advisory and investment offerings. With more than three decades of experience and $6.08 billion assets under management, the firm operates across key financial hubs including Singapore, London, New York, Dubai and Mauritius.
Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
UAE leads MENA M&A boom with $25.4b as regional deals hit $58.7b in H1 2025
The MENA region recorded 425 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the first half of 2025, marking a 31 per cent increase in volume and a 19 per cent rise in value to $58.7bn (AED215.6bn) compared with the same period in 2024, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights report. This performance builds on momentum from 2024, supported by regulatory reforms, policy shifts, and a resilient macroeconomic outlook. While activity slowed slightly in Q2 due to shifting global trade policies and regional conflicts, dealmaking remained robust, with diversification strategies and high-potential sectors fuelling growth. UAE leads MENA M&A activity Cross-border transactions accounted for 233 deals worth $45.9bn (AED168.5bn), representing 55 per cent of total volume and 78 per cent of total value in H1 2025 — the highest level in five years. Chemicals and technology dominated, contributing 67 per cent of cross-border deal value, led by Borealis AG and OMV AG's $16.5bn (AED60.6bn) acquisition of a 64 per cent stake in Borouge plc. Brad Watson, MENA EY-Parthenon Leader, said: 'The positive performance in the first half of 2025 underscores the strength, dynamism, and resilience of MENA's M&A market. We are witnessing record-breaking cross-border activity as investors look beyond short-term volatility, actively pursuing scale, innovation, and new market opportunities. 'The UAE, in particular, remains a magnet for global capital, supported by a stable regulatory framework and a focus on economic diversification.' The UAE and Saudi Arabia attracted a combined $27.9bn (AED102.3bn) in the first half of 2025. The UAE led with $25.4bn (AED93.3bn), while Saudi Arabia secured $2.5bn (AED9.1bn), mainly in chemicals, technology, industrials, and real estate. Inbound M&A surged 53 per cent to 107 deals, with value soaring from $6.4bn (AED23.5bn) in H1 2024 to $21.5bn (AED79.1bn). The UAE captured 50 per cent of inbound volume and an extraordinary 98 per cent of inbound value, with Austria contributing 77 per cent of inbound investment on the back of landmark chemical sector transactions. Domestic deals totalled 192 transactions worth $12.8bn (AED47.1bn), a 22 per cent rise in volume and a 94 per cent jump in value year-on-year. The largest was Group 42's $2.2bn (AED8.1bn) acquisition of a 40 per cent stake in Khazna Data Centre. Outbound activity climbed to 126 deals worth $24.4bn (AED89.6bn), up 30 per cent in volume compared with H1 2024. The UAE and KSA accounted for 87 per cent of outbound value, with notable transactions including ADNOC and OMV AG's acquisition of Canada's Nova Chemicals, and Saudi Aramco's $3.5bn (AED12.9bn) purchase of Primax in South America. Government-related entities and sovereign wealth funds contributed $21bn (AED77.1bn) across 54 deals, led by ADIA, PIF, and Mubadala. Activity focused on chemicals, technology, and industrials, aligned with national diversification strategies. Anil Menon, MENA EY-Parthenon Head of M&A and ECM Leader, said: 'Stable oil prices, ongoing infrastructure development, and a strategic focus on technology, chemicals, and industrials are creating solid foundations for sustained activity. 'As the year progresses, we expect intensifying competition for high-quality assets, particularly those aligned with national transformation agendas and offering strategic value beyond financial returns.'
