Putin threatens Kyiv decision-makers after striking energy grid    Lulu opens new store in Al Fakhriyah, Dammam as it further strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia New Lulu stores are set to open in Makkah and Madinah    Defending the Truth: Saudi Arabia and the 2034 World Cup    Culture minister visits Diriyah Art Futures    Saudi Arabia calls for enhanced international cooperation to address water sector challenges    Survey: 60% will use Riyadh Metro to go for work or school    GCC Preparatory Ministerial Meeting discusses developments in Gaza and Lebanon    RCRC Chief: Riyadh Metro, featuring environmental sustainability, will improve quality of life and revolutionize transportation    Saudi Arabia hosts over 13 million foreign residents from 60 countries, says human rights official    Al Taawoun seals AFC Champions League Two knockout spot with 2-1 win over Al Khaldiya    Israel to appeal against ICC warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant    Trump nominates Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia    Al-Jasser: Riyadh Metro to accommodate one million passengers daily    Elon Musk publicizes names of government employees he wants to cut    Israelis survey damage and mull return to north as ceasefire begins    Al Hilal advances to AFC Champions League knockout stage despite 1-1 draw with Al Sadd    Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies    Most decorated Australian Olympian McKeon retires    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    'Pregnant' for 15 months: Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Abu Dhabi mulling bank, financial sector mergers
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 08 - 11 - 2008

The global credit crisis will make Abu Dhabi assess the feasibility of existing investment projects, the chairman of Emirates Holdings said on Friday, adding the oil-rich emirate was also considering mergers in its banking and financial services sector. Hussain Al-Nowais, a board member of the Abu Dhabi Economic Development Council as well as of other governmental institutions in the UAE capital, said the financial crisis signaled it was time to review some of the city's positions.
“I think the credit crisis will help us reflect and make sure the projects we are proceeding with are attractive and feasible,” he told Reuters on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum meeting in Dubai.
“I think it's a good time to reflect our strategy ... help us to consolidate,” he said, adding: “The fundamentals of the economy are strong.” Asked whether Abu Dhabi might consider consolidation in its banking and financials sector, Nowais agreed. “Yes, it's a good idea,” he said.,
“You will hear about this soon,” he said. “There are ideas being discussed,” he said.
Speculation has been rife, amid the credit crunch, that banks in the region will consolidate as they grapple with tight lending conditions and slower project financing.
Shares in Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) soared in late September as investors bet it would fall into the arms of larger rival National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), which would create the biggest lender in the United Arab Emirates with a combined market value of around $12.5 billion.
Both banks denied plans to merge were in the offing.
ADCB is 65 percent government-controlled while NBAD is 70.5 percent government-controlled.
The energy-exporting Gulf was briefly spared by the global credit crisis but an exodus of foreign capital in the past month has aggravated tight lending conditions, forcing Gulf central banks to intervene to keep the economy functioning.
Experts say the economic boom in the region, fuelled by a sustained rise in oil prices since 2002, may have peaked as lending conditions worsen, putting a crimp on property projects, although steady growth powered by oil revenues is assured.
Emirates NBD, the largest Gulf Arab lender by assets, was formed last year in an $11.3 billion merger between Emirates Bank International and National Bank of Dubai, which like ADCB were part-owned by the government.


Clic here to read the story from its source.