The past year has seen the performance of Kuwait's banks vary. All, however, are hoping that the government-approved $100bn development plan will help breathe new life into the sector.

Saudi Arabia's banks largely enjoyed a profitable 2010 and are looking to 2011 with renewed optimism. Though the lessons of the past few years mean that a cautious approach will be adhered to, the sector's future certainly looks bright.

Saudi Arabia stuttered during the global financial crisis, but never plumbed the depths of the world's more developed economies. Now, the country's leaders are eyeing a more prosperous future, with a key focus being on educating and employing its youth and women.

Qatar's decision to ban conventional banks from operating sharia-based finance units within its financial jurisdiction has left observers concerned the central bank has set the wrong kind of precedent, one that is likely to create uncertainty in banking throughout the Middle East.

Rising oil prices and restructured debt deals have lifted the mood about the economic outlook for the United Arab Emirates. 

Hit hard by the credit and property bubbles that were at the epicentre of the global financial crisis, the United Arab Emirates' banks have since managed to shore up their stability and start to devise strategies for future growth. 

The global interest in HSBC's recent IPO for Palestinian telecoms company Wataniya Mobile was not only a big success for the young telco, but also for Palestine in general, as it showed that the territory is a safe and potentially lucrative destination for capital markets.

A frenzy of M&A activity in the Middle East in previously unexplored territories and sectors could see the region challenging China and India's emerging economic might. Writer Hafsa Kara