On the Move

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

Dubai Investments appoints Nishant Shah as the chief financial officer

HDB renews Hassan Ghanem’s mandate as CEO for 2026-2029

QBurst deepens Middle East commitment, appoints Shivkumar Subramaniam to lead from Dubai

Legal, Tax, Regulation & Compliance

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

No consent, no cut: The UAE salary rule employers can’t ignore

Saudi: SAMA issues updated oversight framework of payment systems and their operators

DCD and Mbank partner to strengthen financial stability for Abu Dhabi families

PM, regional, global partners push for de-escalation

QCB: Normal Office Work to Resume Across Financial Institutions Starting Tuesday

Retail Banking

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

Khaleeji Bank commends Sattam Algosaibi’s efforts during his tenure as chief executive officer of the bank

QIB named Best SME Bank in the Middle East and Qatar by Global Finance

National Bank of Bahrain reopens branch network

Qatar: Commercial Bank launches CB Connect

Bahrain vulnerable as conflict tests GCC banks

Alternative Investments

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

Dubai gold extends three-day gain after worst month since 2008

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s Targets Greater Third-Party Capital in Upcoming Five-Year Strategy

ADES Holding Co. reports $218m net profit

Saudi wealth fund PIF aims to draw more third-party capital in new five-year strategy

Private markets draw more Middle East capital as companies stay private

Wealth & Asset Management

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

Millionaires leave UK, flock to UAE in largest shift in modern history

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

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

IsDB announces $2.41bn in new financing for development sectors

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