RBL Bank Shareholders Approve Emirates NBD Deal at Extraordinary General Meeting
RBL Bank shareholders voted at an EGM on 12 November to approve the amalgamation of Emirates NBD's India branch into RBL Bank and authorise a preferential share allotment to the Dubai lender.
Oman's Central Bank Approves 16 New Fintech Licences as Active Firms Reach 42
The Central Bank of Oman has approved 16 new fintech licences, lifting the total number of active firms to 42 as the Sultanate's fintech market is projected to reach RO 1.1 billion (about $2.9 billion) in 2025.
Qatar Central Bank Cuts All Key Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points
Qatar Central Bank reduced its deposit, lending, and repo rates by 25 basis points each, bringing the deposit rate to 4.10% and the lending rate to 4.60%.
CBE Imposes Record EGP 1 Billion Fine on FAB Misr Over Beltone Holding Credit Violations
Egypt's central bank hit First Abu Dhabi Bank Misr with a EGP 1 billion penalty — reportedly the largest ever levied on a single bank — over credit facility violations tied to Beltone Holding.
Tabby Reaches $4.5 Billion Valuation in Saudi Arabia Secondary Share Sale Backed by HSG and Boyu Capital
Saudi BNPL firm Tabby's implied valuation reached $4.5bn after a secondary sale to HSG, Boyu Capital and others, with no new capital going to the company.
South Africa's FirstRand Acquires 20.1% Stake in UAE Digital Finance Platform Optasia for R4.7 Billion
FirstRand has agreed to acquire a 20.1% stake in Dubai-based Optasia for R4.7 billion (about $277 million) ahead of the fintech's JSE listing.
Piper Sandler Agrees to Acquire Abu Dhabi Merchant Bank MENA Growth Partners to Establish GCC Hub
US investment bank Piper Sandler has agreed to acquire Abu Dhabi merchant bank MENA Growth Partners, establishing a strategic GCC investment banking hub expected to close in Q1 2026.
Emirates NBD Agrees $3 Billion Deal for 60% Stake in India's RBL Bank
Emirates NBD's $3 billion investment in RBL Bank is described as the largest ever FDI in Indian financial services and the largest equity raise in Indian banking history.
Bahrain Fintech Forward 2025 Conference Delivers 38 Partnership Agreements
Bahrain's Fintech Forward 2025 conference generated 38 strategic alliances and partnerships, and saw a Google Cloud Universal Ledger pilot of instant payments between Bahraini banks demonstrated.
First Abu Dhabi Bank Issues Second Blue Bond, Bringing Its Blue Bond Total to USD 70 Million
First Abu Dhabi Bank issued a USD 20 million 3-year blue bond on 9 October 2025, its second such instrument, lifting total blue bond issuances to USD 70 million within two months.
MNT-Halan Raises EGP 3.4 Billion in Seventh Securitised Bond Issuance Under EGP 8 Billion Programme
Halan Consumer Finance, the consumer finance arm of Egyptian fintech MNT-Halan, raised EGP 3.4bn ($71.4m) through its seventh securitised bond issuance under a three-year EGP 8bn programme approved by the FRA.
Islamic Development Bank Raises EUR 500 Million in Five-Times Oversubscribed Green Sukuk
The Islamic Development Bank priced a EUR 500 million 5-year green sukuk on 8 October 2025, achieving five-times oversubscription and completing its 2025 funding programme.