Middle East Loans

Dubai’s Emirates NBD is making a quick return to the offshore loan market, inviting banks to bid for an up to $400m term loan.

Hitesh Asarpota, a managing director at Emirates NBD Capital, has taken over loans syndication, in addition to his current responsibilities.

Oman, one of the most fiscally challenged sovereigns in the Gulf, is set to raise a $2.85bn commodity linked pre-payment facility. Natixis and Société Générale are expected to lead the transaction, according to bankers.

Emerging market loan volumes continue to suffer with year-to-date volumes down 60% from the same period in 2018. Global economic slowdown and the fear of trade wars, combined with the increasing appeal of the bond market, are dampening the prospects of recovery in the syndicated loan market in 2019.

Eagle Hills Diyar, a real estate developer headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has signed a 10 year $374m-equivalent loan, in dollars and Bahraini dinars, with a selection of Middle Eastern banks. The proceeds will be used to fund three buildings in its waterfront development in Bahrain.

Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, has refinanced a $1.75bn loan, increasing it to $2bn after receiving heavy oversubscription.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and Union National Bank (UNB) have officially merged, and acquired Al Hilal Bank. The merger creates the third largest lender in the United Arab Emirates, and comes amid a boom in banking M&A across the Gulf.

The US real estate investment trust Reality Income is planning a £300m bond sale to part finance its acquisition of 12 properties in the UK linked to grocer J Sainsbury’s.

UAE alternative investment and asset management firm, Gulf Capital, has closed a $136.12m-equivalent revolving credit facility.

Trading of Saudi Aramco’s $12bn bond has slowed considerably since it was priced on Tuesday last week, but all five tranches have failed to rebound to reoffer, and the longer ones were 1.5 points down by Wednesday afternoon this week.

Bank are having to dig deep and increase their country lending limits to manage the vast amount of business expected to come from the Gulf as government expenditure across the region grows. The next big deal off the rank will be from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is expected to tap the loan market for a bridge loan of up to $11bn in coming months, bankers said, following its highly successful debut deal in September. Mariam Meskin reports.

Dubai-based property firm Damac has raised £175m to finance the development of its first luxury real estate project in London, Damac Tower. The deal comes amid prolonged Brexit uncertainty and a slump in the UAE’s real estate market.