Arab World: Banking & Finance 2012

©Alamy

In this issue

Financial services in Arab countries may not always be straightforward but appear more inviting than in the west

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Dec 12, 2012

Regional commerce undergoes fast change

Financial services in Arab countries may not always be straightforward but appear more inviting than in the west, writes Michael Peel

Muslim piligrims walk around the holy Kaaba inside Mecca's Grand Mosque

©AFP Dec 12, 2012

Islamic finance: Large groups struggle to make money out of sharia compliance

Local institutions appear well-placed to capture business, writes Camilla Hall

©Getty Dec 12, 2012

Private equity: New reality enforces need to work harder

Companies are having to take a longer-term perspective in order to generate returns, writes Camilla Hall

an Emirati couple walk past the National Bank of Dubai at a shopping centre in the Gulf Emirate

©AFP Dec 12, 2012

Gulf banks: Hangover starts to clear but lenders lack fitness

Simeon Kerr reports on a sector that is underperforming the broader markets

A woman wearing a niqab walks alongside her husband at the pool of a hotel in the Tunisian coastal holiday city of Mahdia

©AFP Dec 12, 2012

North Africa: Eurozone woes provide assets ripe for picking

European banks are looking to off load regional outlets, writes Farah Halime

Dec 12, 2012

Saudi Financial Group: Large public projects signal way to profit

Abeer Allam considers the fortunes of Saudi Arabia’s second biggest group

Women cross the busy Hamra street in Beirut

©Reuters Dec 12, 2012

Lebanon: Temporary shock on volatile faultlines has turned into trend

Bankers say things could be much worse, writes Abigail Fielding-Smith

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao on a visit to Sharjah

©Reuters Dec 12, 2012

Asian inroads: Oil link recasts business landscape

Symbiotic relationship is starting to transform the status quo, says Simeon Kerr

Dec 12, 2012

Profile: ICBC

Chinese lender seeks a broader footprint in support of expanding trade, writes Simeon Kerr

October issue

illustration of Middle East cities vying for position as the financial hub, by David Bromley

©David Bromley Oct 10, 2012

Struggle for regional superiority

Michael Peel reports that political uprisings have added a further dimension to the battle between financial centres

Oct 10, 2012

Bahrain: Hopes pinned on niche role

Even before unrest, the island’s position was waning, says Simeon Kerr

Oct 10, 2012

Egypt: Cairo has a long way to go to realise potential

Amira Salah-Ahmed reports on one of the region’s most open and welcoming markets

Oct 10, 2012

Lebanon: A safe port in politically turbulent times

Banks are waiting to see what will happen, writes Abigail Fielding-Smith

Oct 10, 2012

Saudi Arabia: Office space glut in prospect

Building plans are under review, writes Camilla Hall

Oct 10, 2012

United Arab Emirates: Dubai’s dual purpose role is cemented

Star performer gains pre-eminent position as provider of shelter from the storm, writes Simeon Kerr

Oct 10, 2012

Qatar: Campaign to attract portfolio managers

Simeon Kerr considers the QFC’s switch to a more targeted strategy

May issue

May 29, 2012

Need for funds is at its greatest

With lending hit by eurozone woes and uprisings, even oil-rich states ask who will supply funds in future, says Michael Peel

May 29, 2012

Restructuring: Debt maturity puts experience to the test

Camilla Hall reports on the complexities of sharia compliance

May 29, 2012

Sharia compliance: Banks hit by a shortage of products

Islamic lenders have limited options, says Camilla Hall

May 29, 2012

Stock exchanges: Imbalances keep Gulf region on the sidelines

Simeon Kerr reports on the constraints conspiring to keep global interest subdued

May 29, 2012

Bonds: Saudi issuance is important signal to companies

The kingdom has dominated ‘sukuk’ sales, writes Robin Wigglesworth

May 29, 2012

Investment: Uncertainty casts a cloud over FDI

The eurozone crisis has exacerbated the drop in interest, writes Abeer Allam

May 29, 2012

Stock markets: Egypt defies the odds

Sentiment in Egypt is much better than it was but bankers are watching out for devaluation, writes Abeer Allam

May 29, 2012

Infrastructure: Question mark over who pays for projects

Lenders are finding imaginative ways to raise cash, reports Camilla Hall

May 29, 2012

Sovereign wealth funds: Attention turns to the home front

Except for Qatar, pressure to spend locally has iverted funds away from trophy investments, reports Camilla Hall

May 29, 2012

Private Equity: Heightened political risk gives opportunities to local investors

Many global firms have yet to return to the market, says Simeon Kerr

March issue

Mar 27, 2012

Political upheaval clouds future

But most Gulf states, flush with cash, have remained clear of the turbulence

Mar 27, 2012

Cybercrime: Uprisings spark an increase in malicious activity online

Tom Gara reports on increasingly appealing territory for web adversaries

Mar 27, 2012

Islamic banking: Impressive growth underscores success

Camilla Hall reports on the sector’s increasing popularity

Mar 27, 2012

Private banking: Wealthy go in search of better protection

Simeon Kerr on the need for more rigorous wealth preservation

Mar 27, 2012

Regional round-up: Gulf looks eastward in hunt for bank funds

Credit demand increased as supply fell. Camilla Hall and Simeon Kerr report

Mar 27, 2012

Egypt: Institutions confound predictions of disaster

Heba Saleh finds a resilient sector that has benefited from a series of reforms

Mar 27, 2012

Lebanon: Neighbours’ problems put expansion plans on hold

But some feel that prospects are quite strong, says Abigail Fielding-Smith

Mar 27, 2012

Small enterprises: Jobs top the list of national priorities

Abeer Allam explains the hopes that lie in entrepreneurs

Mar 27, 2012

Pay: How to compete with a generous public sector

Michael Peel on why it is always better to have a government job

In this issue

Financial services in Arab countries may not always be straightforward but appear more inviting than in the west, writes Michael Peel

Local institutions appear well-placed to capture business, writes Camilla Hall

Companies are having to take a longer-term perspective in order to generate returns, writes Camilla Hall

Simeon Kerr reports on a sector that is underperforming the broader markets

European banks are looking to off load regional outlets, writes Farah Halime

Abeer Allam considers the fortunes of Saudi Arabia’s second biggest group

Bankers say things could be much worse, writes Abigail Fielding-Smith

Symbiotic relationship is starting to transform the status quo, says Simeon Kerr

Chinese lender seeks a broader footprint in support of expanding trade, writes Simeon Kerr

Michael Peel reports that political uprisings have added a further dimension to the battle between financial centres

Even before unrest, the island’s position was waning, says Simeon Kerr

Amira Salah-Ahmed reports on one of the region’s most open and welcoming markets

Banks are waiting to see what will happen, writes Abigail Fielding-Smith

Building plans are under review, writes Camilla Hall

Star performer gains pre-eminent position as provider of shelter from the storm, writes Simeon Kerr

Simeon Kerr considers the QFC’s switch to a more targeted strategy

With lending hit by eurozone woes and uprisings, even oil-rich states ask who will supply funds in future, says Michael Peel

Camilla Hall reports on the complexities of sharia compliance

Islamic lenders have limited options, says Camilla Hall

Simeon Kerr reports on the constraints conspiring to keep global interest subdued

The kingdom has dominated ‘sukuk’ sales, writes Robin Wigglesworth

The eurozone crisis has exacerbated the drop in interest, writes Abeer Allam

Sentiment in Egypt is much better than it was but bankers are watching out for devaluation, writes Abeer Allam

Lenders are finding imaginative ways to raise cash, reports Camilla Hall

Except for Qatar, pressure to spend locally has iverted funds away from trophy investments, reports Camilla Hall

Many global firms have yet to return to the market, says Simeon Kerr

But most Gulf states, flush with cash, have remained clear of the turbulence

Tom Gara reports on increasingly appealing territory for web adversaries

Camilla Hall reports on the sector’s increasing popularity

Simeon Kerr on the need for more rigorous wealth preservation

Credit demand increased as supply fell. Camilla Hall and Simeon Kerr report

Heba Saleh finds a resilient sector that has benefited from a series of reforms

But some feel that prospects are quite strong, says Abigail Fielding-Smith

Abeer Allam explains the hopes that lie in entrepreneurs

Michael Peel on why it is always better to have a government job

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