The Arab world has captured the wrong kind of attention in recent years as the Arab Spring uprisings and their aftermath have dominated global headlines. However, The Banker's Top 100 Arab Banks rankings show a banking industry that is well capitalised and well run.

The central bank governor of the United Arab Emirates says the country is looking to the tools in its macroprudential toolkit to increase the economy’s resilience to any future shocks. 

Countries in the Middle East and north Africa are muddling through as they respond to the chaos brought about by the Arab Spring. So what can they do to increase growth and improve their business environment?

As Dubai has grown, so has its role in the global transaction services industry, with the emirate now serving as the nerve centre of all trade taking place across the Middle East and north Africa. And as Dubai sets out its stall to become the next renminbi hub, this role only looks set to grow.

Investor confidence in the United Arab Emirates has returned to a position of strength, posting impressive profits on the back of GDP growth. However, the country's central bank is pushing through legislation to prevent a repeat of the mistakes that led to its economic collapse in 2009.

Stanley Fischer's time as Bank of Israel governor has coincided with dramatic changes in global thinking about the role of central banks. He looks back on how his work has evolved, and what still needs to be done to secure the future.

Israel has a well-regulated banking sector that came through the financial crisis in good shape, but margins are tight and its largest banks are searching for ways to improve growth and returns.