Michael Kuser reports on the latest developments on the Istanbul Stock Exchange and capital markets.

Shrewd exploitation of its gas reserves has catapulted Qatar to the forefront of the global project finance industry, write Jon Marks and Eleanor Gillespie.

Qatar’s law is being amended to liberalise foreigners’ ability to buy equity listed on the Doha Securities Market, boding well for the fast rising index. By Will McSheehy.

After extensive research into international taxation practices, the Qatar Financial Centre has adopted a different tax regime from the rest of the country.

The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority’s new chairman tells Stephen Timewell how the centre is establishing a one-country, two-system environment.

Qatar’s financial centre is based on a very different model to others in the Gulf, and is designed to attract big business, as Stephen Timewell explains.

Estimates suggest that the total value of investment project opportunities in Qatar in the 2004-2010 period across all sectors, from LNG to education and research to hotels, is around $110bn. And around $33bn of these are described as “open projects” which still have financing needs and are available to external investors.

Qatar is fostering a project finance partnership with the international finance community via establishment of the Qatar Financial Centre and the approval of new laws. Stephen Timewell reports from Doha.

Stephen Timewell reports on FT Business’s seminar on new opportunities in Bahrain as it develops its Islamic banking sector and regulatory powers.

Saudi Arabia’s banks are enjoying the spoils of buoyant markets, with record-breaking profits spurring ground-breaking deals. Stephen Timewell reports.