GCC central bank officials reviewed regional efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing at a key meeting held in Bahrain where they also discussed ways to boost regional financial systems, including co-operation on payment infrastructure, banking supervision and cybersecurity.
Stablecoins, digital payments, central bank digital currencies and tokenisation are reshaping the future of finance and raising important questions for regulators and policymakers, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in expanding access to SME finance, with outstanding SME credit reaching approximately SAR467.7 billion ($124.5 billion) at the end of 2025, representing approximately 33% year-on-year growth. Despite that expansion, says a new report.
UAE-based Driven | Forbes Global Properties has appointed Emre Okay as its new Group Chief Financial Officer. An industry veteran, Okay has proven expertise spanning large-cap private equity in Europe and investment banking at UBS in New York.
Bahrain’s non-oil economy continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026 despite the sharp disruption to oil exports caused by restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The non-oil activities played a pivotal role contributing 90.1% to GDP at constant prices during Q1.
DIB, a leading Islamic bank in UAE, has launched a new off-plan home finance proposition designed to support customers purchasing freehold properties from leading developers across the UAE during the under-construction phase.
Saudi food company Modern Mills has signed a SAR235 million ($62 million) credit facility deal with Saudi Awwal Bank to finance a new feed mill project and support working capital needs. It includes a SAR120 million capex facility with a tenure of eight years and a SAR115 million revolving credit facility with a one-year tenure.
More than 100 newly qualified finance professionals qualified as members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in Oman, adding to the sultanate's skilled workforce as it pursues economic diversification under Vision 2040.
Saudi-based Makkah Construction and Development Company said it had renewed an existing SAR880 million ($235 million) shariah-compliant financing facility with Bank AlJazira. It will be used to meet liquidity requirements and fund strategic projects.
More than half of people getting financial advice will accept AI playing a role in their financial planning, but only if a human being still makes the final decision, according to new research from deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations.
