Morgan Stanley’s managing director in the UAE, Georges Makhoul, tells Richard Dean how the bank has thrived since it opened for business in Dubai last year.

A sharp correction in UAE stock markets is unlikely to deal a fatal blow to Dubai’s ambitions as a financial centre.

UAE banks should see earnings rise in 2006 but the gravy train of triple-digit profit growth built on absurdly oversubscribed flotations appears to be ending. Richard Dean reports from Dubai.

Stock market turbulence should not detract fromthe huge strides being made by the wider Saudi economy, writes Jon Marks in Riyadh.

The recent drop in Gulf stock prices gave everyone a shock. But, as Stephen Timewell reports, it appears to have been the correction of a maturing market and not the precursor to a regional slump.

With the introduction of project finance instruments to complement more familiar short-term trade finance and consumer lending, Islamic banking has found a sound but innovative home in Bahrain. Jon Marks and Ian Lewis report.

Competition to draw international banks into the Gulf region is stronger than ever but Bahrain is confident that it can retain its leading edge, write Jon Marks and Ian Lewis.

Lebanon’s top two banks have boosted profits and set their sights on regional and global expansion, despite political turmoil at home. Stephen Timewell reports.

Following capital market reform, Israel’s banks are being forced to look overseas for expansion opportunities, says David Lipkin.

All eyes are on the Gulf region to see which direction it will take in choosing replacements for its long-time leaders.