IslamicFinance.de

Abu Dhabi University, the Zakat Fund and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank have launched a Dh15 million Ramadan fund-raising campaign to support 300 needy students. Dr Nabil Ibrahim, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University said that generosity is a life lesson that teaches the community that today's contributions impact tomorrow's innovators. Moreover, the Ramadan campaign gives donors the chance to 'shape the future', he added.

Sharia-compliant mortgage lender Tamweel said on Monday its shareholders had approved the company's delisting from the Dubai stock exchange, paving the way for its acquisition by Dubai Islamic Bank. Dubai Islamic Bank said in January it planned to acquire all of Tamweel, in which it owned 58.2 per cent, through a share swap agreement which would see each Tamweel shareholder offered 10 DIB shares for every 18 Tamweel shares they held.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has closed a Dhs1.32bn ($360m) Syndicated Islamic Facility for Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Marine Services (GMS), the largest provider of self-propelled self-elevating jackup barges in the world. ADIB acted as the Mandated Lead Arranger, Sole Underwriter, Sole Bookrunner, Investment and Security Agent for the facility. The deal was tailored by ADIB to meet GMS' financing needs, including re-financing existing facilities and providing finance for the acquisition of 2 additional vessels. The financing will also help GMS achieve its plan to further improve and expand its fleet. The facility evidenced strong demand from local and regional banks which resulted in it being 2 times oversubscribed by 10 local and regional banks.

The global remittance and foreign exchange brand UAE Exchange today announced a new partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. To mark the beginning of this collaboration that coincides with the upcoming start of Ramadan, UAE Exchange held a launch ceremony and announced a donation in support of WFP’s school feeding program in Africa, which will help fund 100,000 school meals to poor students. The event was attended by senior officials from UAE Exchange and WFP along with special invitees and the media.

Islamic insurance providers in the UAE are struggling to generate surpluses amid cut-throat competition and overcapacity, Standard & Poor's warned in its report. The takaful industry must compete directly with conventional insurance companies that benefit from established economies of scale, have longer service track records and have more established distribution mechanisms to the marketplace. According to the report, the sector is now overpopulated with insurers. Insurance companies therefore require considerable capital investment to become established. Insurance companies are the most represented on the UAE stock markets, with 23 of the almost 100 publicly listed companies coming from the sector, but they are also some of the least traded stocks.

Nakheel's sukuk yields spiked yesterday, as the developer discusses its options on how to refinance its upcoming debt repayments. Yields for the developer on its Islamic bonds maturing in 2016 hit their highest level since November last year. Analysts said investors were responding to a lack of information over progress with the company's refinancing discussions with lenders. The recent sell-off may have hurt bond investors, but borrowing costs have returned to about the same levels as recently as nine months ago, meaning most issuers would have few difficulties selling new debt if they needed. Funds tracking the HSBC/Nasdaq Dubai UAE US dollar sukuk index have lost money this year, with total returns down 2.7 per cent year to date.

Emirates Islamic Bank contributed AED 7 million to Dubai Healthcare Authority to support Rashid Hospital in purchasing computed tomography (CT scan) machines, which will be used for medical imaging procedures at the government healthcare institution. The donation reflects Emirates Islamic Bank’s commitment towards the development of the UAE healthcare industry by working alongside government hospitals. The financial aid to Rashid Hospital follows similar initiatives by Emirates Islamic Bank to healthcare institutions in the UAE in recent years. Emirates Islamic Bank’s recent contribution to Rashid Hospital is also in keeping with its objective to support charitable causes via a dedicated Zakat Fund at the bank. In 2012 alone, the bank’s Zakat Fund contributed over AED10 million to various charitable causes.

Thuraya Telecommunications Company has secured a term financing facility through Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB). Thuraya will use the proceeds to upgrade its network infrastructure and to support further development and expansion of its product portfolio, including the highly successful Thuraya SatSleeve satellite adaptor for smartphones. According to Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya, this long-term relationship with DIB will help his company to strengthen its position as a leading MSS operator and provide it with additional financial flexibility to develop its next generation gateway and upgrade its network capacity. It also provides Thuraya with the breadth that supports its sustainable growth strategy as well as new business opportunities in key and emerging markets.

Thuraya Telecommunications has secured a long-term financing facility through Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB). Thuraya said it will use the proceeds to upgrade its network infrastructure and to support further development and expansion of its product portfolio, including a SatSleeve satellite adaptor for smartphones. Adnan Chilwan, deputy chief executive officer of DIB said in a written statement that the deal makes DIB the preferred partner for fuelling the growth of progressive companies like Thuraya.

The second issue of the quarterly CSR Al Youm newsletter, released by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry 's Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), marks the Sustainability Network's membership reaching 50 from just 2 in 2010. It also focuses on the members' sharing of their experiences on CSR, Sustainability and Corporate Governance to further support its development and adoption in the UAE. In its 'Sustainability Network Interview Series', the newsletter features Mr. Wasim Javed, HR Director, Middle East and Africa, TNT Express, who talks about his company's approach to CSR. The newsletter covers Engage Dubai's annual Give & Gain Day programme where business volunteers helped with everything from cooking classes at special needs schools to employability workshops for university students. Also, the newsletter profiles the CSR partnership in action of CHEP, Imdaad and Union Paper Mills to minimise waste to landfill and there is an article highlighting the environmental requirements of the Dubai Chamber CSR Label.

Dubai Exports , the export promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), recently showcased the emirate's expertise and resources in Islamic economic services to the business community in Toronto and Vancouver across a series of seminars. The seminars, jointly organised by Dubai Exports and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP focussed on encouraging linkages between Islamic financial and advisory firms in Dubai and their counterparts in Canada. Participants in the seminar also discussed the changes required in Canada's taxation and regulatory system regarding Islamic financial products. Opportunities are especially seen in the connection of the sophisticated financial and business communities in Dubai with leading edge Canadian technology companies and entrepreneurs in such areas as clean tech, life sciences, advanced materials and information technology, which are all shari'a compliant.

Speaking at the Middle East Investment Conference in Dubai, Ibrahim Warde, adjunct professor at Tufts University in the United States and a noted author on Islamic finance, argued that since the 1990s Islamic finance has gained much more international acceptability but that it continues to grapple with the fundamental form-versus-substance debate. With the current size of the Islamic finance market at over $1.3 trillion, Warde believes that it is not an exaggeration to say that in the world of finance, the fastest growing segment is Islamic finance.

Dubai World has sold one of its UK assets as part of its efforts to repay creditors. A unit of Toronto-based investment company Brookfield Asset Management has bought logistics warehouse developer Gazeley from Dubai World subsidiary Economic Zones World (EZW). However, they did not disclose the value of the transaction. Proceeds from the sale of Gazeley are expected to go towards the repayment of a $1.2 billion loan secured by associate firm JAFZA in June last year. EZW had pledged up to US$300 million for JAFZA from the proceeds raised by the Gazeley sale, and should the sale be completed, funds will be used to part-repay the bank facility. The sale is the first major divestments of a foreign asset by Dubai World since it agreed on a debt deal with creditors in 2011. The restructuring agreement promised full repayment to creditors through a series of disposals of overseas assets.

The initiative to transform Dubai into the world’s capital of the Islamic economy is progressing steadily towards the goals as scheduled, said Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai’s Islamic Economy Higher Committee. During its meeting, the committee viewed the work of its major teams tasked with implementing the initiative. The meetings provide an opportunity to discuss the role of these sectors in the implementation of the initiative, he added. All strategic partners and experts are included in these meetings and workshops so as to exchange views and ideas on the initiative, and reach a form of fruitful and constructive cooperation. Dubai’s Islamic economy platform includes finance instruments, insurance, contracts arbitration, Islamic food industry and trade standards (halal food), and quality management standards.

Mashreq Al Islami recently launched a range of Islamic banking solutions for business banking clients. In addition to personal banking products, the bank now offers flexible business solutions to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across all their business needs. SMEs can benefit from multiple finance options while staying true to Sharia'h principles. Mashreq Al Islami 's Business Banking offers Small and Medium Enterprises a comprehensive suite of Islamic business solutions including Islamic business finance of up to AED1.5million, Islamic business current accounts offering a range of banking solutions on multiple business accounts, attractive and customized Takaful for life cover and savings plans, as well as Islamic treasury solutions.

Al Hilal Bank has announced that it will continue its sustainability efforts of switching off the lights in its branches and offices after working hours and will add a new green initiative in commemoration of World Environment Day on June 5, 2013. Since dimmer screens save energy by as much as 20 per cent, the bank will promote and offer dark-themed backgrounds and screensavers via strategic websites, emailers, Facebook tabs and Twitter links. Through its online campaigns for its ‘Go dark’ initiative, Al Hilal hopes to encourage more organizations and individuals to support simple actions that protect the environment. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on the 5th of June and organized by UNEP - theUnited Nations Environment Programme. This year’s event was held under the theme ‘Think.Eat.Save.’ and was hosted by Mongolia.

Emirates Islamic Bank has launched a range of special Shari'a compliant offers for commercial vehicle, machinery and equipment financing especially designed for the small and medium enterprise sector (SME). The programme is part of the bank's long term strategy to support companies in the SME sector. Under SME Vehicle financing, the bank will offer small businesses, finance for new commercial vehicles starting at 4% profit rate (flat) and at 5% flat rate for used vehicles. Similarly, under Machinery and Equipment category, finance will be offered starting at 5.25% flat rate for new machinery & equipment and 6.25% flat rate for used ones. The bank already provides financing solutions aimed at helping businesses manage cash flow, asset acquisition and expansion requirements.

Noor Islamic Bank (Noor) is targeting Dhs5bn of lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over the next five years with the launch of Noor Trade. This Shari'a compliant banking service is specifically tailored for SMEs that contribute significantly to the UAE's trade flows. In support of its Noor Trade strategy, Noor has opened its first dedicated trade branch in Almas Tower, home of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT). A second similar branch is scheduled to open in Deira, in July. Under the Noor Trade brand, clients will have access to fully Shari'a compliant financial services, including cash management, trade, and working capital solutions, along with consumer, treasury and takaful products packaged at preferential rates based on eligibility criteria.

Family business members from North Africa, the Levant and the GCC recently gathered in Dubai for an interactive roundtable session to discuss the multiple roles played by women in family-owned businesses. Organised and hosted by Tharawat Family Business Fórum, the roundtable was an opportunity to exchange experiences and thoughts on the subject, and to analyse the development, challenges and opportunities encountered by women in family businesses. The attendees from leading regional businesses explored the variety of roles that women play with relation to the family business, be it as managers, owners or family members and custodians of family harmony. The speakers shared their insights and thoughts with an audience and engaged in interactive group work to explore the topics further.

Dubai Islamic Bank Group (DIB) today announced that its Long Term Issuer ratings have been affirmed by Moody’s at Baa1 and the outlook has been moved to “Stable”. The confirmation of DIB’s ratings reflects the recent capital injection and the expectation that asset quality pressure will ease which, in turn, should support profitability, according to Moody's. Morover, the systemic importance of the bank to the banking sector and the government ownership of 34% were also cited as some of the factors for the decision. Moody’s also affirmed the long term issuer ratings of Tamweel, which is a subsidiary of the bank (86.5% owned by DIB) at Baa3 and with the recent move by DIB to take over the company, Tamweel’s outlook on ratings has been upgraded to “Positive.”