On the Move

Former EFG Private Banker Joins Swiss EAM JAR

Geneva CIO takes senior family office post at Barclays

CIB reappoints Hisham Ezz El-Arab as CEO for three-year term

Fasset appoints Behnam Gurban-Zada to lead CIS expansion and strengthen Shariah finance

Sherif El-Beheiry appointed CEO of National Bank of Egypt’s UAE operations

Standard Chartered’s Rola Abu Manneh says UAE banking services continue uninterrupted

Legal, Tax, Regulation & Compliance

UAE central bank launches resilience package for supporting stability of banking sector

UAE Central Bank approves resilience package to support banking sector

Central Bank of Bahrain confirms financial sector stability, operational readiness

CBK urges public to report unlicensed financial activities

Should you move your savings amid Iran war? Organise and wait, says expert

Bahrain’s state oil company declares force majeure on its shipments after Iran attack

Retail Banking

'Citi not leaving Middle East': Bank says decision to close some offices is temporary

Khaleeji Bank continues to provide services through branches and digital channels

Standard Chartered confirms uninterrupted operations across the Kingdom

Eskan Bank affirms service continuity and customer commitment amid regional developments

Standard Chartered issues statement in response to evacuation notice at Dubai office

Khaleeji Bank continues to provide services through branches and digital channels

Alternative Investments

Australia-Saudi Business Chamber forms emergency committee to safeguard trade flows

Dubai Investments real estate projects advance in line with planned handover schedules

Al Masraf profit before tax rises by 31% to a strong AED 336mln in 2025

SoftBank’s PayPay prices IPO below range at $16 a share

Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADIA backs France’s Ardian in real estate secondaries push

Invictus Investment publishes 2025 ESG report

Wealth & Asset Management

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

The rise of UHNW women in the GCC: What to look for in a fiduciary partner

FinTech

AI is already deciding your bank calls, flights and bills in the UAE

Ooredoo Qatar launches Eid Device Festival 2026

UAE FinTech sector set to reach $5.71 billion by 2029

UAE’s crypto adoption surges as banks shift from pilots to production

Technology with a Banking Licence: Makram Hamadeh on Infrastructure, Access and the Next Generation in the UAE

ADCB confirms restoration of retail mobile banking services

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

Egyptian banks seen resilient to Iran conflict shocks, Fitch says

85% of banks’ corporate clients plan to engage with a non-bank financial institution within the next year

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates issues silver commemorative coin in celebration of Emirati Children’s Day

Private markets for individual investors: Opportunities and risks

Investment banks in GCC continue operations, weigh in on capital market outlook

Global banks tighten security in Gulf hubs after new Iran threat

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