
- GCC Islamic banks to see stability in 2018
- REITs drive Saudi market growth
- Zimbabwe targets Middle East for tourist arrivals and tourism development
- Fintech challenge competition for African start-ups launched
- DFZC launches initiative to stimulate and accelerate e-commerce growth
- RAKEZ encourages entrepreneurship with new Freelancer Permit
- ADGM and Shanghai Stock Exchange collaborate on ‘Belt and Road’ exchange
- Careem cyberattack affects 14 million users
- Abu Dhabi's Mubadala halts Abraaj investment deal talks
- ADFD finances AED708 million housing complex in Afghanistan

Banker Middle East 100 2015
BME 100
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8
Data & tools
The analytical framework of this report isbased on the following headings:
• Capital adequacy analysis
• Management capability…
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12
Country analysis
Our Capital Adequacy analysis shows that Middle East Banks have managed to keep an average margin of 19 per cent across the five years between 2010…
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46
Getting rated
A credit rating is assessment of credit-worthiness that can have significant bearing on the cost of capital to the institution being rated, we look…
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Leading Kuwait for over 75 years
In an exclusive interview with Banker Middle East, Richard Groves, CEO of Ahli United Bank Kuwait, looks back at the bank’s triumphs and provides…
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Adopting the highest standards of cybersecurity
Mohammed Abukhater, VP Sales—MEA at FireEye International (Middle East) discusses potential cybersecurity threats to banks and strategies to address them…
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How private banks are utilising blockchain
WEALTH Arabia speaks to Dr. Veronica Lange, Head Group CTO Innovation Switzerland, Executive Director, UBS, about how the institution is taking advantage…
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Green developments in Islamic finance
The global increase in environmental awareness has led to a marked rise in the appetite for green bonds and this an opportunity for green Sukuk issuances says…
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Private equity—riding the wave
In an exclusive interview with Banker Middle East, Campbell Steedman, Managing Partner and Chris Skipper, Partner, both at Winston & Strawn highlight…
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Bonds and Sukuk: structuring fixed income instruments in the GCC
The GCC bond and Sukuk market is generally sound, says Philipp Good, CEO and Head of Portfolio Management at Fisch Asset Management, speaking to Banker Middle…
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Oman: new beginnings
Banker Middle East considers how the world’s oldest independent Arab state must adapt to a new world.
The…
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Creating a world-class business landscape
In a bid to increase investment flows into the country, Egypt has introduced two new regulations to complement the investment laws it passed last year.
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VAT: Towards a single unified economy
In an exclusive interview with banker Middle East, Amit Dua, President and Global Head at SunTec, says that the implementation of VAT may facilitate inter-GCC…
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Tokenomics: meet the new face of value innovation
Reza Dari, CEO of Global Investment Bank, provides an exclusive insight into the power of distributed ledger technologies and how the bank is leveraging it.
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Creating opportunities for the UAE along the Belt and Road Initiative
Independent real estate consultancy, Knight Frank, presents the prospects for real estate along the Belt and Road Initiative for UAE—the hub of the belt.
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VAT: where do we go from here?
Riccardo Ubaldini, Partner for international tax law at BonelliErede deliberates on the implications of VAT on the economies of UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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Telescopes and governance of Arab banks
Alissa Amico, Managing Director at GOVERN discusses the corporate governance regulations and culture of financial institutions in the Arab world.
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Digital transformation to boost Middle East economy
Digital transformation is set to revolutionise business processes, according to JAGGAER MENA/Tejari, a leading global strategic procurement provider.
Businesses…
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The rise of GCC bonds
On the back of strong foreign investor demand, Banker Middle East looks at how the appetite for GCC debt is expected to continue in 2018 despite precarious oil prices and geopolitical…
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Improving market sentiments
Vijay Valecha, Chief Market Analyst at Century Financial Brokers, provides Banker Middle East a comprehensive review of financial markets since the start of 2018.
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Saudi banking's first lady
In an exclusive interview, Banker Middle East speaks to Rania Nashar, Chief Executive of Samba Financial Group and the first female CEO of a listed Saudi Arabian commercial…
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Market's wild ride not over yet
Hussein Sayed, Chief Market Strategist at FXTM, comments on the market’s volatility.
Investors across the globe are finding it difficult time currently…
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Challenges on the path to achieving impact
Management need to be clear and fully committed to their objectives, says Tariq Hameed, Senior Director at Alvarez & Marsal's Financial Institutions Advisory Services…
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Al Rajhi Bank: Looking to the future
In a conversation with Robin Amlôt, Consultant at CPI Financial, Steve Bertamini, CEO of Al Rajhi Bank, talks about the bank’s performance in 2017 and its plans in the…
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Getting regulation ready
In an exclusive interview, Banker Middle East sits down with Patrick Gearon, Partner at Charles Russel Speechlys, to discuss the regulatory environment surrounding financial…
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Deepening GCC-Asia petrochemical ties
Hetain Mistry, Managing Analyst—Petrochemicals at S&P Global Platts, suggests a rapid re-think of the playbook for Gulf exporters to sustain a competitive edge.
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Banking's new horizon
Tony Long, CEO of CPI Financial, shares his thoughts on the future of banking.
The future. It’s always interesting…
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2018: a better year for GCC banks
Banker Middle East looks at how improving economic conditions and strong capitalisation underpin the resilience and stability of financial institutions.
Industry…
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The new black
Oil may finally stop dominating the conversation in 2018, thanks to the UAE’s safe-haven status, sound banks and diversified economy.
The UAE has faced…
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VAT challenges for UAE insurers could hurt 2018 performance
Although the relevant authorities have made it clear over the past few months that all insurance policies—with the exception of life insurance—are subject to the levy,…
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Is there value in emerging market bonds?
Craig Mackenzie, Senior Investment Strategist at Aberdeen Standard Investment, explains that value is in emerging market bonds rather than US equities.
One…
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Plugging the finance gap
Speaking to Banker Middle East, George Traub, Managing Partner at Lumina Capital Advisers provides an insight into the realities of mid-market capital dearth.
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Bruised dollar not finding support
Hussein Sayed, Chief Market Strategist at FXTM, comments on the extent of the dollar’s decline over the last week.
Many…
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Prioritising future solutions
In an exclusive interview with Banker Middle East, Simon Eedle, Regional Head, Middle East at Natixis, discusses his vision for the bank’s future.
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Steady rising global oil prices to be key driver of growth in the GCC
As we transition from 2017 to 2018, many economies in the Middle East, especially those in the GCC, will achieve several milestones in 2018. In UAE, households and firms will adapt to…
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Dollar stumbles into New Year, Gold extends gains
Asian stocks were mostly higher during early trading on Tuesday, after an unexpectedly upbeat survey of Chinese manufacturing activity in December stimulated risk appetite, according…
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Technology: an unstoppable force
In an exclusive interview, Banker Middle East sat down with Diebold Nixdorf’s Chief Executive Officer, Andy Mattes, and Habib Hanna, Managing Director, Middle East and…
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Bitcoin future trading kicks off while investors await central banks decisions
Trading bitcoins entered a new phase today, after Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) listed the first futures contract on the cryptocurrency, writes Hussein Sayed, Chief Market Strategist…
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2018 IT security predictions–attacks, investment areas and cybersecurity strategies
It’s that time of year again when we look back at what has motivated the market for IT security solutions in the last year, in order to develop our plans for the next year. With…
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Digital Trends of 2018
As we near the end of 2017, the surge in all-things-digital is showing no signs of stopping, according to Alexander Rauser, CEO and Founder of Prototype Interactive.
The inevitable…
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Future proofing organisations with zero-trust approach
Repeated onslaughts of cybersecurity attacks are driving businesses to relook at their security policies end-to-end, and to make them more future-ready for digital environments, explains…
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How blockchain technology is changing the security landscape in the banking sector
Blockchain, the technology that is used in the popular cryptocurrency bitcoin, is revolutionary in many ways–it addresses multiple challenges associated with digital transactions, such as double…
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Innovation in Islamic finance is better cultivated from the roots than the branches
Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority provides his insights on innovation in Islamic finance, ahead of the Global Financial Forum this week.
Islamic finance refers to financial services that adhere…
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Reinventing the wheel
Qais Al Khonji, CEO of Genesis Projects and Investments, sheds light on the crucial realities of investment and economic diversification in this region.
Since the 1960’s, oil has been…
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Are we there yet?
Tariq Qaqish, Managing Director—Asset Management at Menacorp, lays down his projections for the second half of 2017.
The longest bull market of over eight years with no meaningful correction…
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Championing Palestine
As long as regional political tensions continue, economic recovery in Palestine will forever be an uphill battle.
Thrown into recession in 2014 by the Gaza war, the Palestinian economy has nonetheless…
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Fool-proofing the IFRS 9
Unified standards and effective implementation of integrated reporting is crucial for long-term success in the GCC, asserts Michael Armstrong, FCA and ICAEW Regional Director for the Middle East, Africa…
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FXTM: What to watch for
Hussein Sayed, Chief Market Strategist at FXTM Key discusses the key events to watch in the week ahead.
The US dollar and stocks made a fantastic run towards the end of last week…
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Breaking old habits
Saudi Arabia continues to grapple with oil dependency and unemployment as it pursues its long-term diversification agenda.
Saudi Arabia’s economy is expected to contract slightly in 2017…
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Crossing boundaries
Alande Mustafa Safi, Managing Director of Paragon Business Group, talks about the burgeoning potential down under and his vision for 2018.
Paragon Business Group is the parent company and the…
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FXTM: What to expect from the BoE
Today’s Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announcement is the main event of the week, according to Hussein Sayed, Chief Market Strategist at FXTM, adding…
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After BoC hike, will the ECB announce the end of QE?
Currency traders were in action on Wednesday, with a couple of unanticipated events causing some wild swings in FX markets, according to Hussein Sayed, Chief Market Strategist…
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Data analytics: is this the future of audit?
The possibilities for data analytics technology to change audit are enormous. Whether it’s identifying fraud, financial or business operational risks, big data and analytics could help auditors…
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Politics are not the only risk on the horizon
Toby Nangle, Head of Multi-Asset, EMEA and Maya Bhandari, Multi-Asset Portfolio Manager at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, examine the risks looming on the horizon for financial markets and details…