On the Move

Farzad Billimoria to join Barclays as Head of Private Bank for the UAE

UBS GWM names new Dubai-based NRI head

Citi organizational announcement: Head of payments for Middle East and Africa

JP Morgan AM appoints head of Mideast asset management

KPMG appoints seven new partners in the Middle East

Nomura IWM Dubai reshuffles senior leadership

Legal, Tax, Regulation & Compliance

Oman to introduce 5% income tax on high earners from 2028

UAE’s central bank maintains base rate at 4.40%

Türkiye's central bank weighs rate cut as inflation softens: analysts

Ajman Bank signs partnership with Azimut Group to offer investment advisory and opportunities to its clients

ADGM FSRA implements amendments to its Digital Asset Regulatory Framework

Kuwait to cut off utilities for unpaid bills under new law to curb debt evasion

Retail Banking

First Abu Dhabi Bank becomes First MENA Bank to join CIPS as direct participant

CBB Governor participates in HSBC GCC exchanges 2025 Conference

Arab Bank receives ‘Best Bank in the Middle East 2025’ award

Weyay Bank offers exclusive KNPC cashback for SELECT cardholders

Gulf Bank empowers female employees with Monthly Women of Wisdom sessions highlighting leadership and professional growth

Fitch affirms Commercial Bank’s rating at ‘A’ with stable outlook

Alternative Investments

Union Insurance reduces capital by 30.5% to offset accumulated losses

MSX, Estidama highlight startups incentive programme, business market in Dhofar

Why are central banks doubling down on gold reserves?

Kinetic Consulting expands Customer Experience portfolio with new partnerships

QSE displays resilience as index surges 177 points; M-cap adds QR12bn

As Dubai gold rate sticks to record high, should investors switch to banks' 'gold accounts'?

Wealth & Asset Management

Hawksford shows commitment to UAE market through DMCC agreement

Standard Chartered wins “Wealth Management Platform of the Year” award

Dubai carves a niche with wealth managers

StanChart: UAE Becoming Important Wealth Contributor

AI-Personalised Video Technology

Tim Denton of Habib Bank AG Zurich: The UAE’s Ascent as a Global Wealth Structuring Hub

FinTech

UAE employees outpace EMEA peers in cyber confidence and readiness, new Cohesity study reveals

How AI and microtools are empowering the next generation of Saudi entrepreneurs

EG Bank, Mastercard partner to boost digital payments in Egypt

Saudi digital wallet tiqmo partners with MoneyGram

UAE deepens investment in social infrastructure amid population growth and strategic reforms

Mindware expands Autodesk relationship to drive digital transformation in the Gulf and KSA

Islamic Finance

ADIB participates in the “Midday Break” initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation

Leonteq partners with Emirates Islamic on Shari’a products

Islamic finance assets up 4.1% in 2024, reaching QR683bn

Emirates Islamic to delist from DFM on June 10

Saudi National Bank issues 5-year riyal sukuk worth $461mln at 6%

Dubai Islamic Bank launches third cohort of Emirati Development Program

Research, Comment and Analysis

UAE will attract more millionaires as Emirates remains safest country despite regional war

World Bank report lauds Oman's strong economic performance

World’s largest password leak exposes 16 billion credentials

Saudi Arabia ranks 17th globally in competitiveness index as it outshines economic heavyweights

S&P upgrades Alkhaleej Takaful Insurance credit rating to A-

UAE's Binghatti Launches Asset Management Unit With $1 Billion Target

Investment Bank

Citi presses revival in banking after making gains, despite exits: IFR

Alvarez & Marsal released Q1 2025 UAE Banking Pulse

Deutsche Bank secures ADGM license, expanding presence in UAE

Beltone Investment Banking concludes EGP500mln securitized bond issuance for Jameel Finance-Egypt

Standard Chartered opens representative office in Morocco

Al Masraf reports net profit of AED 231mln in 2024

Planet SOS

Qatar-based GAB becomes the first accreditation body from the MENA region to sign APAC's MRA for GHG Accreditation

NBK wins best bank for sustainable finance in Kuwait by Global Finance

Gulf Bank completes sustainability governance infrastructure

Ahlibank reaffirms its Commitment to sustainability through the installation of solar energy systems at its headquarters

MENA’s transformative role in climate adaptation

Arab co-operation in energy sector discussed