Who hired in the Middle East during January?

After the end of year lull and in spite of increasingly gloomy market prospects, there are some signs that financial firms still have an appetite to hire in the Gulf. And, it seems, the trend of international companies transferring existing employees into the region has yet to abate.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, supposedly the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, has taken on Bill Schwab to head up its real estate unit.

Alpen Capital is launching a new equity research capability in Dubai.

Arab Bank has added Sharif Fares Sharaf to its board of directors.

Arbraaj Capital, the Middle Eastern private equity firm, has bolstered its senior management team with two new recruits.

AREIT Management, a GCC focused real estate investment trust (Reit), has hired Chris Purden as chief investment officer.

Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait is starting an Islamic investment banking arm, Capinnova Investment Bank, which will be based in Bahrain.

Credit Suisse has appointed Anthony Armstrong as its new head of mergers and acquisitions in the MENA region, to be based in Dubai. He moves from the bank's Los Angeles office.

Fidessa, the financial technology firm, has hired two people as it looks to make the push into Bahrain.

First Gulf Bank has kick-started a Qatar operation, which is set to provide corporate finance advisory services and wealth management for high-net-worth individuals.

Global Investment House, the Kuwaiti bank, has announced plans to expand its investment banking capabilities to the Saudi market and will shortly be developing the team.

HSBC has shifted Andrew Dell, its London-based head of debt capital markets for central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to Dubai, where he will continue in the same role.

Moody's Analytics, the risk management arm of the ratings agency, has set up shop in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

The National Bank of Abu-Dhabi has bolstered its asset management arm with the appointment of Soner Guney as a senior equity analyst.

Standard & Poor's, the ratings agency, has relocated Farouk Soussa from its London office to take the post of head of government ratings in Dubai.