Middle East

UAE AND QATAR REMAIN FRONTIER MARKETS, MSCI SAYS   By Gordon Platt   Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will have to wait at least six more months before index provider MSCI will consider upgrading them to emerging markets from ...

LONG-TERM VISION   By Justin Keay   Kuwait’s development in recent years has been driven by the state, with little FDI. However, upcoming elections promise a new government that could improve the business climate for foreign investors.   When protesters ...

SANCTIONS ON IRAN INCREASE   By Gordon Platt   Two days after the storming of the UK embassy in Tehran on November 29 to protest increased British sanctions on Iran, the US Senate unanimously passed new economic sanctions against Iran and ...

    THE ARAB SPRING’S COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES   By Gordon Platt Countries in the region are evaluating the economic outcome of social and political upheaval—both the opportunities and the challenges.   Commercial International Bank, Egypt’s largest private sector bank, ...

SUCCESSOR NAMED IN SAUDI ARABIA   By Gordon Platt   The death of crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia was followed with the naming of conservative prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the interior minister, as king Abdullah’s ...

NEWSMAKERS: ISRAEL   By David Lipkin   Former French finance minister Christine Lagarde may have secured the top job at the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF), but some fund insiders are still gunning for Stanley Fischer, governor of the Central ...

DUBAI’S NEW BUSINESS LAW COULD STIMULATE INVESTMENT   By Gordon Platt   A new law governing corporate activity in the UAE should cut red tape for investors and make it easier for companies operating in the emirate’s free zones to ...

Global Finance names the Safest Emerging Market Banks 2011 in the Middle East NEW YORK, November 3, 2011 — Global Finance magazine ( GFmag.com ) has named the top 12 “Safest Emerging Market Banks in the Middle East” in an ...

WAIT AND SEE   By Justin Keay   Lebanon has tumbled from its economic boom in 2010. Investors are holding back to see how the new government fares. So far, its reform progress is less than impressive. But with the ...

RESPONSIBILITY AND REFORM   By Gilly Wright   Responsible fiscal and monetary policies and a host of reforms aimed at liberalizing the economy have allowed Israel to become one of the world’s most attractive places for foreign investment. But change ...

BAHRAIN: PROTESTS IMPACT THE ECONOMY   By Gordon Platt   Political unrest in Bahrain in February and March may have cost the economy as much as $2 billion.   New governor at Dubai International Financial Centre Essam Fakhro, chairman of the ...

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Angola José de Lima Massano Grade: B The performance of Angola’s economy depends more on oil prices than on monetary policy. José de Lima Massano, former CEO of Banco Africano de Investimentos, was appointed central bank ...

Global Finance ranks the 50 Biggest Banks China Breaks Into The Top 10 NEW YORK, September 7, 2011— Global Finance reveals its annual ranking of the World’s 50 Biggest Banks , as measured by total assets. The world’s biggest banks ...

IRAN SIGNS GAS PIPELINE PLAN WITH IRAQ AND SYRIA   By Gordon Platt   Iran is inching forward with its proposal for an “Islamic pipeline” to Europe.   South Pars field to connect with Europe Iran, which has the second- ...

Global Finance names the World’s Best Global Banks 2011 NEW YORK, August 22, 2011 – Global Finance magazine (GFmag.com) has announced its World’s Best Banks 2011 Awards. The annual listing includes the best bank worldwide for corporate, consumer and private ...

Global Finance names the World’s Safest Banks 2011 in the Middle East NEW YORK, August 18, 2011 — Global Finance magazine (GFmag.com) has named the top 10 Safest Banks in the Middle East in an exclusive survey to be published ...

Global Finance names the World’s 50 Safest Banks 2011 NEW YORK, August 18, 2011 – Bank stability is an ever-more pressing concern for the world’s corporations and investors. It is within this context that Global Finance announces it’s 20th Annual ...

Global Finance names the World’s Best Internet Banks in Middle East/Africa 2011 NEW YORK, July 22, 2011 – Global Finance has announced the First Round winners in the “World’s Best Internet Banks” competition in Middle East/Africa. This is the 12th ...

GCC REGIONAL REPORT: MARKING A MILESTONE   By Gordon Platt   The regional group faces new challenges as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.   The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 25 with quiet flag-raising ceremonies ...

GCC REGIONAL REPORT: BACK FROM THE BRINK   By Gordon Platt   Upheaval in the region and beyond is encouraging banks to bolster their balance sheets before launching any aggressive lending programs.   Banks in the GCC have recovered from the ...