United Arab Emirates banks face a descent from the dizzy heights of last year’s boom. By Richard Dean in Dubai.

Despite the massive market correction earlier in the year, there is no sign of Gulf banks’ growth abating as they continue to reap the benefits of the region’s oil-fuelled bonanza. 

Patience and hard work is beginning to pay off for the founder and CEO of Unicorn Investment Bank, Majid Al Sayed Bader Al-Refai. Nick Kochan reports.

Saudi Arabia’s authorities have reacted to recent stock market falls by sacking their regulator and forging ahead with a new financial centre. Jon Marks explains.

High oil prices and massive liquidity have continued to produce booming profits and exceptional growth for most Middle East banks, particularly those in the Gulf region.

Following the election of a Hamas government, the Palestine Authority has been isolated by the international financial community. Nick Kochan reports on the impact.

David Lipkin reviews Stanley Fischer’s turbulent first year as governor of the Bank of Israel, and asks him about the future of the bank and the economy.

Paul Melly in Doha reports on Goldman Sachs’ decision to set up in the Qatar Financial Centre, a purpose-built entity with its own regulatory regime as well as employment and immigration laws, entirely independent of the rest of the country.

Although there has been considerable international focus on Qatar’s project finance boom, local banks are concentrating on an unprecedented retail boom, write Paul Melly and Eleanor Gillespie.

Sheikh Salem Abdul Aziz Al-Sabah, governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, tells Stephen Timewell he is optimistic about the future of Kuwait’s banking sector and economy.