On the Move

FTI Consulting appoints Aurélien Vincent to lead financial services practice in the Middle East

Bonyan appoints Dar Ventures’ Aboushadi as board member

Horváth strengthens Energy practice leadership in the Middle East

Dubai-based Hoxton Wealth appoints Rob Aberdein to build international legal services arm

Arab Financial Services appoints Mahmoud Ismail as managing director, Egypt and Group head of acquiring products

Standard Chartered hires Ole Matthiessen to lead new global transaction services and digital assets team for Corporate & Investment Banking

Legal, Tax, Regulation & Compliance

Saudi commercial registrations reach 1.89m as 71k new businesses launch in Q1

Short-term exits from the UAE could trigger unexpected tax exposure for expats, SJP warns

Amid budget pressures, Nigeria moves to borrow $6 billion from Citi, Abu Dhabi Bank

Qatar Central Bank issues Government Ijara Sukuk worth $800mln

DFSA and Ministry of Economy and Tourism sign MoU

Egypt's cabinet approves 2026/27 budget with $96.7bln of spending

Retail Banking

Mashreq becomes first UAE bank to offer instant digital cross-border accounts for non-resident Egyptians

Saudi banks hold assets totaling $1.33trln, driven by robust demand for corporate financing

Saudi bank assets climb to $1.35tn as lending expands: SAMA

Doha Bank wins dual honours at Euromoney Awards

Doha Bank wins dual honours at Euromoney Awards

Emirates NBD raises $2.25bn in show of investor confidence during war

Alternative Investments

Dubai gold jumps Dh11 in a day after ceasefire talks lift global prices

Saudi PIF anchors King Street fund targeting MENA

Saudi real estate sector offering $6.3bn opportunities to global investors: Knight Frank

Emirates NBD launches business support package to help SMEs manage costs and cash flow

Dubai’s ultra-prime rental market sets new benchmark with Dh20 million Marsa Al Arab Villa lease

Second Primark store set to open in Dubai at City Centre Mirdif

Wealth & Asset Management

KFH – Bahrain wins Euromoney Magazine Best Private Bank in Bahrain 2026 award

Lighthouse Canton sweeps Euromoney 2026; Named best independent wealth manager across Asia, Singapore and UAE

Global Finance Names The World’s Best Islamic Financial Institutions 2026

UAE attracts global wealth as private banking enters new growth phase

NBK Wealth wins ‘Best Private Bank in Kuwait 2026’ from Global Finance

HNWIs hold $87trln in wealth; UAE attracts 9,800 new millionaires in 2025: report

FinTech

Saudi Arabia issues first Major Payment Institution licence to Lean Technologies

Egypt explores expanding SAP investments, digital skills programmes

Saudi AI company Humain partners with Turing to launch world’s first enterprise AI agent marketplace

How Doba's AI Platform Consolidation Is Setting a New Standard for eCommerce Infrastructure

Qatar offers fertile ground for robotics and automation, says top retail industry executive

UAE a frontrunner in AI ambition and readiness across the GCC

Islamic Finance

ADIB mobilises $5.53bln in sustainable finance in 2025

KFH–Bahrain introduces new Eid banknote withdrawals via extreme teller machines for the first time

Ithmaar Bank continues to provide banking services to its corporate clients

Sharjah Islamic Bank’s General Assembly approves 20% cash dividend and capital increase in the golden jubilee year

GCC banks are well buffered against Iran conflict credit risks

Suez Canal Bank, Alameda partner to integrate premium banking, healthcare services

Research, Comment and Analysis

“No layoffs at Danube Group,” says Rizwan Sajan

BankDhofar’s SME growth strategy is designed to empower entrepreneurs

Salary cuts amid regional tensions? What UAE employees need to know

Why gas prices are surging after Qatar LNG attack

UAE denies claims of capital controls, reaffirms free movement of funds

BIBF CEO: Bahrain’s Financial Sector Continues to Operate with Strong Resilience and Efficiency

Investment Bank

HSBC says it’s committed to commercial, investment banking in Egypt amid reports it’s inching closer to exiting retail franchise

Citi signs deal to sell 24% equity stake in Banamex

UmniaBank reports strong performance for 2025 with net profit of MAD57m

Intesa Sanpaolo Strengthens Its Focus on the Middle East: Imi Cib Solidifies Its Role as a Strategic Partner in the Gulf Region

Goldman Sachs opens Middle East headquarters in Saudi Arabia

Cantor establishes Abu Dhabi office

Planet SOS

Sustainable Finance Awards 2026: Middle East

Egypt: CBE catalyses banking sector’s shift toward sustainable finance

National Finance continues advancing Oman’s development agenda through its sustainable finance offering

ADIB strengthens ESG ratings with MSCI and sustainalytics

Sustainability Forum Middle East announces GARMCO as forum partner for its 2026 edition

EBRD invests US $40 mil in Infinity to accelerate renewable energy growth across Africa