As banks in the Middle East cope with the impact of the oil price slump on domestic economies by increasingly looking to new markets – Turkey and Egypt in particular – lenders from countries that had retreated in the aftermath of the global financial crisis are heading back into the region.
Putting Iraq back on the banking map
April 1, 2014After years of neglect, the Iraqi banking sector offers promise once again. Mobile banking, trade finance and infrastructure financing opportunities are proving attractive to existing lenders and the wave of new entrants looking to break into the market. But, before the tide can finally turn, there are regulatory issues that need addressing.
The Middle East's biggest movers and shakers in 2013
January 2, 2014A profile of the appointments who made an impact in banking and finance in the Middle East in 2013.
Filling the Islamic finance talent gap
January 2, 2014The Banker's Middle East editor talks to the chief executive of Malaysia's Inceif about its efforts to address the human resources challenge facing the global Islamic finance industry.
Tougher banking regulation needed for mortgages
November 25, 2013Central banks around the world should take note of the United Arab Emirates' new regulations on mortgage lending.
Noor CEO's big ambition for Islamic finance
November 1, 2013Hussein Al Qemzi, group chief executive officer of Noor Investment Group and CEO of Noor Islamic Bank, believes that Islamic finance has the potential to evolve beyond its niche market and become the globally accepted norm in banking. But before it can do this, it must diversify its products and services, as well as achieve greater standardisation.
Islamic project financing: a health check
November 1, 2013Three senior figures from the Islamic finance industry discuss how sharia-compliant project finance has fared in 2013 after a stellar decade, and look at its prospects – with a particular focus on sukuk – for 2014 and beyond.
The Islamic liquidity management quest
November 1, 2013While IILM's debut issuance of a $490m sukuk in August was a significant milestone for Islamic finance, it will barely dent the industry’s short-term liquidity management issues, which are hampering growth.
Islamic banks weather the storm
November 1, 2013While costs have not changed much for the top 25 Islamic standalone banks between 2006 and 2012, returns have dropped significantly. The Banker takes an overview of the key factors determining their operational efficiency.
Slower and steadier: the new stage of Islamic finance
October 18, 2013The Banker's annual Top Islamic Financial Institutions ranking shows that growth has dropped into single digits for the first time since the ranking began. This, combined with the restructuring of sharia-compliant operations at major players such as HSBC, shows an industry that is entering a new phase of maturity; a phase that is, however, still rich with opportunity.
