On the Move

Saudi Arabia Business Tycoon Abudawood to join Merit Incentives Group as a Chairman of the Board

Partners Group announces appointment of Abdullah Alshamlan as Head of Kuwait

Conyers Welcomes Middle East Specialist David Holloway

Al Baraka Islamic Bank elects new board, chairman

Janus Henderson appoints investment specialist to further strengthen presence in the Middle East

AXA Egypt announces the appointment of Walid Samy as Managing Director of AXA Life Insurance Egypt following FRA approval

Legal, Tax, Regulation & Compliance

UAE warns of shift to yuan amid dollar shortages

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Mashreq hold open dialogue with 82 private sector representatives to support their financial resilience

Bahrain, Bermuda sign protocol amending double taxation agreement

Syria Central Bank, World Bank Agree on Technical Assistance to Strengthen Reserves Management

Dubai signs MoU to integrate SMEs into property sector growth

UAE revises tax penalties: 5 changes businesses must know

Retail Banking

UAE launches digital platform to track essential goods prices

Africa’s corporate banking push hits integration headaches

NBB announces 3-month financing and credit cards deferral options

ABHI partners with GCC Exchange to enable instant wage access and seamless remittances across the UAE

Oman’s Bank Muscat posts 9% rise in Q1 profit on lower impairment

BankDhofar named ‘Best Trade Finance Bank 2025’ at Global Banking & Finance Awards

Alternative Investments

NBB joins forces with BLME to provide UK property loans

Kuwait-based OJO Group’s ARC Advisory strengthens regional footprint through strategic collaboration with Sarat Investments Holdings

Saudi Arabia backs stronger global action on illicit finance: SAMA governor

MENA ECM deals plunge 91% in Q1 amid weak deal flow - LSEG

Qatar’s banking assets touch QR2.17tn in February: QNBFS

Saudi PIF assets surge six-fold to $900bln

Wealth & Asset Management

QIB named Qatar’s best private bank by Euromoney

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

FinTech

The Family Office launches Wealth Mermaid, a pioneering AI wealth assistant

United Arab Bank Accelerates Digital Evolution with New Corporate Banking Suite

Egypt promotes fintech, investment opportunities during IMF/WBG Spring Meetings

UAE strengthens its AI media ecosystem as Galaxy Corporation launches operations in the country

AI-led compliance demand rises in MENA as azakaw named IDC innovator

Saudi Arabia issues first Major Payment Institution licence to Lean Technologies

Islamic Finance

Al Baraka Islamic Bank launches alBarakat 2026 scheme

Sharjah Islamic Bank posts 19.4% profit growth in Q1

Warba Bank announces new management structure

GCC Islamic banks show resilience amid geopolitical tensions

ADIB mobilises $5.53bln in sustainable finance in 2025

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

Research, Comment and Analysis

Markets swing between rallies and sell-offs as Middle East talks remain uncertain

Are markets looking beyond the Middle East conflict?

IMF cuts MENA growth forecast to 1.1% on Iran war

UAE banks steady as central bank support cushions impact of regional tensions: S&P

Dubai’s real estate transactions surge 31% to reach $68.6bln in Q1 2026

EY Academy launches AI-powered project delivery programme in GCC

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