Middle East Archives

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Economics, Policy & Regulation

MIDEAST: REDUCING HYDROCARBON DEPENDENCE

Middle East | Emerging Markets Regional Review The drop in oil prices is likely to affect public spending in the rentier states of the Persian Gulf, and pressure is mounting on governments to reduce economic dependency on hydrocarbons.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

QATAR: MIDDLE EASTS RICHEST COUNTRY KEEPS ON SPENDING

Qatar | Country Report Qatar shows no signs of slowing its internal and external investment. The IMF says Qatar’s real GDP growth should average 6% to 7% in the medium term, supported by public investments, and will likely remain the fastest-growing in the region

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

QATARI MONEY TALKS IN FOREIGN CAPITALS

Qatar | Country Report The QIA, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with $170 billion of assets, was initially rebuffed, but regardless of the outcome of the deal, it has other fish to fry.

Banking

TURKISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE: CHANGING PERCEPTIONS

At a roundtable in Istanbul in September, leading figures from Turkish banks, including the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Turkey, came together to discuss developments in the economy and financial sector.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

LEVANT: LONG-TERM PROSPECTS OUTWEIGH INSTABILITIES

Regional Focus | The Levant Offshore energy reserves, a stable banking sector and infrastructure gaps all present opportunities for foreign investment in the Levant region.

Awards

SAFEST ISLAMIC BANKS IN THE GCC

Al Rajhi retains its crown as the Safest Islamic Bank.

Banking

SUKUK ISSUANCE SURGES FORWARD

Market Report | Global Islamic Finance Despite lower volumes in 2013, sukuk issuance is on track for a record year.

Banking

BRIDGING THE CHASM

MARKET REPORT | ISLAMIC TRADE FINANCE Offering inventory financing to commodity traders brings much-needed liquidity to the Islamic trade finance market.

Award Winners

BEST INTERNET BANKS 2014 ROUND 1

In this first installment of a two-part series, Global Finance identifies the top online corporate and consumer banks by country and then by region, according to product or service category.

Country Report

MENDING EGYPT’S DAMAGED ECONOMY

COUNTRY REPORT | EGYPT Pressure is building on Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to deliver economic gains. Falling investment and a sharp drop in tourist arrivals have weakened growth over the past three years. But a rapid return to pre-2011 expansion levels appears unlikely.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

MOROCCO: STABLE, AND WELL-SITUATED

FRONTIER MARKETS REPORT | MOROCCO Morocco boasts solid outward FDI, geopolitical stability and proximity to key markets, but corruption is commonplace.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

SAUDI EXCHANGE OPENING WILL INCREASE RIYADH’S IMPORTANCE

CAPITAL MARKETS | MIDDLE EAST EQUITY Riyadh, the Saudi capital, has already built a new financial district, named after King Abdullah, but its 42 new skyscrapers stand largely empty. That could change following the decision by the government in July to allow foreign financial institutions to invest directly in listed shares, starting in the first half of 2015.