Country Report
Kuwait: Banking on Transformation
Interview withSulaiman Al-Marzouq, head of treasury at National Bank of Kuwait,about changes in Gulf economies and NBK’s role in development.
Middle East
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Country Report
Q&A w/Al Ahli: Stability Despite Conditions
Michel Accad, who took over as CEO at Al Ahli Bank Kuwait in May 2014, talks toGlobal Finance about why the Kuwait banking system remains solid despite falling oil prices and other pressures.
Capital Raising & Corporate Finance
UAE Bank Going Digital-Only
In early 2017 the Commercial Bank of Dubai will launch CBD NOW, the UAE’s first digital-only bank. The new bank is based entirely online and will offer all the services a regular bank does.
Capital Raising & Corporate Finance
Egypt Floats Currency, And It Sinks. Then Rises.
The Egyptian pound was floated this fall, and quickly lost half its value. But the reform is part of restructuring Egypt's economy to encourage foreign investment.
Country Report
Israel: Focused On The High End
Israel'seconomy depends on foreign trade,and that presents a challenge under current conditions. Policymakers remain focused on high-tech while keeping an eye on global political developments.
News
Lebanon: New Leaders Seek To End Economic Agony
After two years of a political vacuum, Lebanon finally elected Michel Aoun president. Under the constitution, however, the head of state has little power, and his election sparks little hope.
Country Report
Qatar Builds New Financial City
Qatar has begun construction of a new financial city which aims to be the country’s Wall Street or Canary Wharf.
Country Report
Qatar Loosens Guest Worker Rules
Qatar plans to spend more than $200 billion on infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, railways, and ports, and has loosened guest worker sponsor requirements to facilitate recruitment.
Country Report
Qatar: Road to Knowledge Economy Paved With Debt
Oil-rich Qatar is spending heavily on infrastructure, even as it goes deeper into debt, claimingthe massive spending is aimed at creating a knowledge-based economy.
News
With SoftBank, Saudis Build $100 Billion Tech Fund
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has joined with Japan's SoftBank Group tolaunch what could become a $100 billion fund to focus on technology investments.
News
Arab Banks Struggle to Maintain Correspondent Relationships
According to a recent IMF, World Bank and Arab Monetary Fund report, 40% of Arab banks are experiencing “a significant decline” in the scale of correspondent banking relationships. The report shows 167 terminated accounts in 2015 compared to 71 in ...
Banking
Pakistan Returns to Sukuk Market
With mounting payment obligations and a worsening balance of payments, Pakistan has returned to the Islamic bond market after a two-year hiatus. In early October, Pakistan mopped up $1 billion through a dollar-denominated Islamic bond with a five-year tenure.