Stephen Timewell reports on the fruits of a new found spirit of co-operation between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Stephen Timewell in Dubai reports on the mould-breaking merger plans of the UAE’s first and fourth largest banks.

The market for Islamic banking is forecast to grow at double the rate that conventional wholesale banking will grow in the next five years. Unsurprisingly, banking centres around the world are scrambling to establish footprints in the market. Natasha de Terán investigates how London is positioned.

A new Islamic bank has opened for business in London, bringing the number of standalone, wholly Islamic banks in the UK to three. Is the market big enough? Michael Imeson reports.

Banks retain a voracious appetite for Middle East project finance, which continues to generate new milestones as margins get ever tighter, write Kevin Godier, Mark Ford and Nadine Marroushi.

Competition remains controlled but foreign players are finally getting their feet in the door, adding healthy variety to Kuwait’s banking sector, writes Nadine Marroushi.

One of the richest Gulf states, parts of Kuwait’s economy are booming, but politics and bureaucracy still hold back growth, write Nadine Marroushi and Jon Marks.

Qatar’s financial sector may be in for a shake-up as the country begins to fulfil the potential offered by huge oil revenues, writes Stephen Timewell.

As its gas boom continues, Qatar is attracting prestigious financial institutions interested in project finance and local wealth. Stephen Timewell reports from Doha.

Foreign banks are finding that the lure of Iran’s large population, oil-rich heritage and privatisation opportunities may outweigh the risks, writes Karina Robinson from Tehran.