GCC GDP on Growth Path despite Oil Price Decline
Regional economies have been on an accelerated growth trajectory for the period 2011-14, which has been mainly fueled by record oil prices with the...
FGB, NBAD Merger Creates World’s Largest Financial Institution
FGB and NBAD announce the new name of the combined bank
New Bank starts trading on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange under ticker symbol...
Bank Chiefs Optimistic About the Future
After years of relentless focus on costs, settlements and regulations, the future of banking is looking brighter, agreed panellists in a session at the...
US Federal Reserve System Raises Base Interest Rate
The US Federal Reserve System acting as the national central bank has raised the base interest rate by 25 percentage points to 0.5-0.75%, the...
Emerging Markets Retail Banking Growth Slows
Retail bank growth across 12 emerging markets, referred to as the EM12, will slow according to a new report titled “Playing to Win, Retail...
Fitch affirms ratings of 11 UAE Banks
“The affirmation of the banks' Long-Term IDRs, Support Ratings and Support Rating Floors, except for Emirates Islamic Bank PJSC (EI) and Commercial Bank International...
Layoffs in UAE banking industry on the rise
According to recent Reuters and Bloomberg reports, layoffs within UAE's banking industry are on the rise despite that the majority of banks reported strong...
UAE banks agree on “mini insolvency law” to help struggling SMEs
UAE banks have agreed to halt criminal prosecutions for bounced cheques drawn by small to medium-sized business customers under a “rescue initiative" launched by...
GCC banks report single digit profit growth
Net earnings of GCC banks under Global Investment House's coverage increased 4.7%YoY to USD5.3bn in 4Q15. Net profit of banks in the UAE increased the...
Pride and Frustration in Gulf Banks
Staff in Gulf banks are both proud of, and frustrated by, their work, according to Hay Group. Research conducted in the region by the...
Middle East banks to get richer
Banks in the Middle East seize opportunities for global expansion
Bank M&A transactions set to outpace GDP growth in emerging markets
World trade flows, increased gross...
Retail loans expected to lift earnings for UAE banks
Commenting on the Retail loans expected to lift earnings for UAE banks, Clint Dempsey who is is a Principal Associate in the Banking and...
GCC banks report marginal growth in profitability, with UAE leading
Net profits of GCC banks under our coverage increased 1.3% YoY to USD4.4bn in 3Q13. On a YoY basis, net profits of banks the...
UAE Central Bank kicks off Direct Debit System
Further to the earlier communication in April 2013, the Central Bank of UAE announced that the registration of the Banks & Finance companies into...
Dubai banking on support towards a stronger recovery
The increased domestic banking sector support to Dubai Inc has brought exposure to the public sector as percent of capital to the highest level...
UAE Central Bank to introduce the Direct Debit System
The Central Bank of UAE has announced the introduction of the ‘Direct Debit System' in the UAE with effect from 15th June 2013, according...
UAE Central Bank announced mortgage-loans limits
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates last week approved the decision to increase the recently proposed mortgage-loans limits. Initially, the proposed mortgage...
Middle East banking industry registered 6.9% increase in 2012, says study
According to a new study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the banking industry in the Middle East settled at single digit revenue growth...