After many years in the shadow of the UAE, Saudi Arabia’s start-up and venture capital ecosystem is growing rapidly.

This year, the awards have taken a more granular approach, in an effort to celebrate innovation across individual sharia-compliant banking activities, while also recognising the best Islamic banks on a regional and global level. 

The director of the IMF’s African department speaks about the economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa, the funding squeeze faced by much of the continent, and the necessity of increased spending on climate change adaptation.

Credit growth is set to ease in 2023 as the country’s mortgage market cools, while tighter liquidity increases funding costs, writes John Everington.

Mohammed Bin Abdullah Elkuwaiz, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority, on the surge in local listings, and the regulator’s plans for tokenised and virtual assets.

Halfway through the country's Vision 2030 programme, Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in its economic reform programme. Yet efforts to further boost the private sector and attract foreign investment face stiff challenges.

The governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait talks about the impact of slowing economic growth on the local banking sector, CBDCs and other digital initiatives, and the country’s nascent green finance initiatives.

Rising interest rates are set to support profitability even as soaring inflation undermines asset growth.