Hopes are high that laws passed, but not yet implemented, will reshape the financial sector and open up business opportunities for banks in the kingdom. By Stephen Timewell in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia had a bumper year in 2003 and the economic outlook remains good. Jon Marks considers where opportunity lies for both the government and investors.

Dr Nahed Taher discusses the necessity of corporate governance and potential impact of the new Saudi Capital Market Law.

The dismantling of barriers to investment could result in foreign banks playing a bigger role in the economy, writes James Gavin.

Foreign investors are excluded, but Saudis have made fortunes on the fast-rising Saudi Stock Market in the past year, writes Mark Wallace.

Rocketing profit levels in 2003 have given the kingdom’s banks a healthy start to the year. Expectations are high for the growth of financial services.

The Gulf region has become a focus of attention for global project financiers. Saudi Arabia has come late to this, but could yet prove the biggest draw of all, writes Kevin Godier.

Root and branch reform of the Saudi insurance sector beckons rich pickings for underwriters and banks, writes James Gavin.

With more than three-quarters of Qatar’s population come from overseas, Doha Bank is focusing on expatriate customers, says Parveen Bansal.
With energy needs expanding worldwide and oil prices remaining high, the Qatari economy is booming. Under the prudent leadership of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani, the state’s development strategy is focusing on diversification of the economy away from oil, toward extensive gas reserves and industrial expansion. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries in western Europe.

Surrounding countries may be in turmoil but Jordan’s banks are laying expansion plans that include Iraq, as Rupert Wright reports from Amman.