News
Adversity Brings Creativity
The Middle East is characterized by high youth unemployment and political and economic uncertainty, but new business and technology start-ups and young entrepreneurs are providing hope for future generations.
Middle East
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News
Best-Performing Companies In The Middle East
There are big changes at the top of the rankings this year, and there is greater geographical diversity in the list. Companies in the region are dealing with a number of serious headwinds and broader economic and market changes, which are starting to take their toll.
News
Branching Out: Adel El-Labban, Ahli United Bank
Despite tightening liquidity in the Gulf banking sector, Bahrain’s largest lender reported robust profits in 2015. After leading a slew of product launches, AUB’s group CEO and managing director believes the bank’s prudent risk management will underpin its expansion. He spoke to Global Finance at the bank’s headquarters in Bahrain.
Banking
Sovereign Wealth Funds: The Ultimate Guessing Game
Changing fortunes in the region’s oil-rich economies have made the secretive world of sovereign wealth fund asset allocation even more opaque.
Features
Saudi Arabia Dominates Project Finance
Project financing is booming in Saudi Arabia, which leads the Middle East in deals, with a total of eight in 2015, worth more than $13 billion.
Capital Raising & Corporate Finance
Aramco IPO May Be For Saudi Nationals Only
<strong>Capital Markets | Equity Offering</strong><br />
A potential partial privatization of Saudi Arabia’s state oil company, Saudi Aramco, would require the company to remove its veil of secrecy.
Banking
Cutting The Cord In Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the Gulf Cooperation Council’s largest economy, but major economic, political and social challenges threaten the kingdom’s immediate economic future. Reducing its dependence on oil and gas is now a case of when, not if.
Capital Raising & Corporate Finance
Investors Eye Irans Economic Comeback
The prospect of the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran has investors excited about the return of this market to the global economic community. But the message is: Proceed with caution.
Banking
Kuwait Shrugs Off Cheap Oil
Riding a wave of government spending, Kuwait’s financial institutions are thriving despite the drop in petroleum revenues—for now.
Capital Raising & Corporate Finance
Markaz Sees The Silver Lining
Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) has been among the Arab region’s leading asset management and investment banking institutions since 1974. Speaking with Global Finance, CEO Manaf Alhajeri explains that economically challenging times have a bright side: a chance to find value for long-haul investors.
Banking
NBK-Kuwait Speeds Ahead
The country’s dominant bank sees future growth coming from the small-business market and from regional customers.