Israel’s impressive ecosystem of hi-tech start-ups is increasingly taking on financial technology, with bold ambitions and an eye to the larger potential offered by the US, Europe and Asia. 

The president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development talks about the bank’s role in promoting private-sector development in north Africa and the Levant following the Arab Spring. 

The best of the best are celebrated as The Banker crowns the global Bank of the Year, and hands out the laurels for our regional winners and the lender that has excelled the most when it comes to financial inclusion.

The cream of the crop for 2014 from the Middle East.

Hussain Al Qemzi, CEO of Noor Bank, discusses the long-term prospects for the Islamic banking sector, describing the valuable role it can play in promoting greater cross-border co-operation and operational harmonisation. 

Banks across the Arab world are prospering, according to The Banker’s Top 100 Arab banks ranking, thanks to the health of the financial sector despite ongoing political and security risks in some areas.

Jordan has endured a demanding few years in light of the challenging political and security environment in the Middle East. However, a series of policies introduced by the Central Bank of Jordan and the country's government are already making headway in tackling these challenges.

A year into Karnit Flug’s tenure as governor of the Bank of Israel, James King looks at the impact of her stewardship on the broader economy.

A difficult macroeconomic environment has hardly dented the performance of Israeli banks, which are pushing ahead with new plans for longer term growth by honing their strategies in sectors including hi-tech and energy.

From financially motivated cyber crime to politically influenced cyber warfare, the virtual threats to financial institutions are multiplying. Companies must respond by arming themselves against such attacks or else they risk losing their footing on the new digital battleground.