Abu Dhabi gives $10bn to Dubai

Abu Dhabi helped neighboring Dubai on Monday with $10 billion in surprise aid for debt-laden Dubai World, driving stock markets higher, but Dubai said creditors still needed to approve a standstill on outstanding debt. Dubai said $4.1 billion of the money received from Abu Dhabi was allocated to property developer Nakheel to repay its Islamic bond maturing on Monday. Nakheel said it would repay the bond over the next two weeks.The excess funds would be used to help government-controlled holding company Dubai World, which has asked creditors to agree to restructure $26 billion of its debt, up until the end of April 2010, a Dubai government statement said. On the start of business day, much activity was witnessed at the stock market and index went up 10 percent.