Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on the markets over the past year, especially as far as oil is concerned.
Middle East
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World
/ Middle East
/ Lebanon
Lebanon’s economic woes leave banks in limbo
March 8, 2021Record low for the country’s currency in early March sparked angry protests, and there is little sign of improvement on the horizon.
Fintechs drawn to underdeveloped Middle East and Africa markets
March 1, 2021Western Union is one of a number of major companies to seize digital opportunities in the underbanked Middle East and Africa regions.
World
/ Middle East
/ Bahrain
Bahrain freezes bank repayments as GDP shrinks
March 1, 2021Government acts as lower oil prices and the pandemic result in a rating downgrade.
Saudi mega-merger symbolises Gulf M&A trend
March 1, 2021Tie-up between NCB and Samba Financial heralds a second wave of bank consolidation in the region.
Behind the push to make banking more inclusive in MENA
February 4, 2021The Middle East and north Africa has some of the lowest access to financial services in the world, but work is underway to change this.
Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to reboot economy
January 18, 2021Gulf kingdom reportedly seeking to snatch multinationals from Dubai, as sovereign wealth fund ramps up investment.
UAE banks robust despite challenging environment
January 4, 2021Gulf country’s financial sector has withstood twin shocks to the domestic economy.
Will legal reforms boost UAE’s position as a global business hub?
November 10, 2020Wide-ranging legal changes have been designed with foreign residents and investors in mind.
IFC encourages the private sector in the Middle East and Africa
November 2, 2020IFC vice-president for the Middle East and Africa, Sérgio Pimenta, on Covid-19’s lasting impact on economies in the two regions.