Middle East

Hassan Abdalla's main challenge will be to contain soaring inflation and balance foreign exchange rates.

Ali H. Khalil, CEO of Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz”, speaks to Global Finance about the effects of the Ukraine conflict and advancements in fintech.

As the MENA region prepares to host the world’s major climate-change policy event, COP27, Global Finance explored the region’s sustainability commitment and sustainable finance initiatives in a discussion with experts from MENA’s leading banks.

Faisal AlHaroun is managing director of Tap Payments Kuwait and senior vice president of Tap Payments Global. He speaks to Global Finance about the evolution of fintech and its customers in the MENA region.

Tapping the millennial market pushes digital development.

Islamic financial institutions recorded a strong 2021 while continuing digital investments.

Tony Cripps, CEO of SABB, discusses the benefits of the financial sector’s ongoing transformation.

Fragmented payment systems and a lack of standardization have hindered the cash management efforts of companies in the Middle East, but this looks set to change.

Before obtaining a new license, Standard Chartered tried several times to buy out a local lender.

Kuwait responded swiftly to the pandemic, but political feuds are slowing the reform agenda and increasing macroeconomic vulnerabilities.

The industry is a prime part of Qatar’s economic-diversification strategy.

Thanks to a successful vaccination campaign and higher energy prices, the country’s future looks bright. 

Questions abound about Najla Bouden’s ability to manage Tunisia's ongoing political crisis or the risk of bankruptcy raised by the country's central bank.

Africa’s third-biggest country gets ready for digital financial inclusion. 

Bahrain welcomes foreign direct investment as a solution to its needs.

Oil-rich nations continue to diversify their income streams away from fossil fuel-based enterprises.

Lebanon's richest man takes Lebanon's toughest job.

The ranks of the wealthy continue to grow in the GCC, and with their wealth growing in complexity, too, they are demanding ever more from their wealth managers.

In the aftermath of the pandemic and plummeting oil prices, GCC banks are looking to scale abroad, acquire new customers and grow globally.

Ahli United Bank CEO Adel El-Labban discusses business and Bahrain’s current economic challenges.