The Banker has identified 13 banks to keep an eye on in the coming year based on a variety of factors. Established in 2013, following a directive authorising Islamic institutions in Oman, Bank Nizwa is the country's first standalone Islamic bank and one to watch in 2013.
Middle East
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Banks to watch in 2013, EFG Hermes
February 1, 2013The Banker has identified 13 banks to keep an eye on in the coming year based on a variety of factors. Following its 2012 merger with Qatari investment bank QInvest, Egypt-based EFG Hermes will be a bank to watch in 2013.
Social banking in the omnichannel era
February 1, 2013Banks are no longer just competing with each other, they are also at war with a growing number of retailers and innovative start-ups that employ social media tactics to offer sought-after services. The Banker brought together a panel of banking experts to discuss the issues. This round table was sponsored by Cisco, but independently written and edited.
Oman hopes to open Islamic finance floodgates
January 28, 2013Oman's late introduction to Islamic finance will work in the favour of the country's bank, as they can learn from the examples of others, says HE Hamood Sangour Al-Zadjali, governor of the country's central bank.
Arab Bank's new chairman looks to maintain leading role
January 2, 2013Sabih Al-Masri, the new chairman of Arab Bank, talks about his plans for the lender, the benefits of cross-border activity and his vision to help the Arab world grow.
Putting Mena's private sector in the driver’s seat
January 2, 2013In light of the growing demographic bulge in the Middle East and north Africa, regional governments must focus on generating new employment opportunities. At the top of their agenda should be growing the role of the private sector and prioritising the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, both of which can be achieved by much-needed regulatory reforms and a rethinking of the economic landscape.
Kuwait CBG's six steps to regulatory best practice
December 13, 2012Kuwait's central bank governor says that maintaining an effective regulatory framework is a difficult and time-consuming task that requires constant attention and frequent fine-tuning. As the global economic crisis has shown, however, there is little alternative.
Jordan: a brighter future or more of the same?
December 12, 2012Ongoing regional instability has taken its toll on Jordan’s banks, which are feeling the impact of a sharp slowdown in the real estate and construction sectors. But with the central bank receiving praise for its response to the crisis, what are the country’s prospects for recovery?
Iraqi banking sector fails to profit from oil riches
December 3, 2012Iraq's banking sector is struggling to put its ever-increasing assets to work, a situation not helped by the fact that it is dominated by inefficient state-owned institutions. Can an influx of foreign banks – and the technology and expertise they bring – help transform the sector, or will development hinge on the state-owned banks' ability to reform?
The Banker Awards 2012 – Middle East
November 29, 2012The Bank of the Year winners from the Middle East.