Markets Abu Dhabi, Bahrain stock markets in talks for ‘strategic partnership’ Officials from Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Bahrain Bourse (BHB) this week held meetings to discuss developing a strategic partnership to enhance greater cross-border cooperation between the two stock market exchanges. The discussions build on a cooperation agreement signed in November 2021, which aims to achieve synergies, enhance market liquidity and promote innovative products […] May 20, 2022
Banking & Finance Open all hours: inside the Gulf’s banking revolution The UAE’s first open banking platform is helping fintech and banks bring personalised services to customers, and is accelerating the regional growth of this progressive sector The Gulf has the potential to leapfrog other regions of the world, including Europe, with its adoption of open banking as bricks and mortar branches “slowly disappear”, according to […] May 17, 2022
Analysis Banking & Finance Cryptocurrencies have their ‘Lehman brothers moment’ Despite the crash of cryptocurrency stablecoin ecosystem, retail investors still see the contraction of currencies like Bitcoin as an opportunity As billions of dollars of value are wiped off cryptocurrency markets worldwide, retail investor strategies are diverging from those in the institutional space — the former senses cheap assets, while the latter worries of a […] May 16, 2022
EXCLUSIVE Banking & Finance Could crowdfunding seed the Gulf’s next Unicorn? Democratised funding is set to breed a new generation of innovative regional businesses, say experts Crowdfunding, the alternative funding concept, represents an exciting reality in the Gulf region following a flurry of regulatory reforms. This innovative practice of funding a venture by raising smaller amounts of money from a large number of people is a […] May 9, 2022
Opinion Environment The heat is on but a green Gulf is worth the cost The benefits of a net-zero economy include job creation and healthier living, even though it would require hundreds of billions of dollars May 9, 2022
Real Estate The new boom: 5 trends shaping Gulf property markets Demand for real estate in the GCC region is outpacing supply, keeping prices high and contributing to record transaction levels in the property hotspot of Dubai. AGBI looks at the key factors influencing the markets this year. May 9, 2022
Opinion Science & Technology Old friends, new vision: the Gulf and UK are shaping the future The Gulf's ambition, energy and skill coupled with Britain's heritage in innovation creates a formidable partnership that promises exceptional opportunities May 9, 2022
Exclusive Startups Revealed: top co-working spaces in the Gulf Demand for co-working spaces is on the rise in the Gulf as business communities evolve to support the shift towards knowledge-based economies and nurture a new generation of startups driving a different way of working. Spaces are opening up across the region to accommodate a different breed of worker that prioritises flexibility, low rates and […] May 9, 2022
Banking & Finance Citi to sell Bahrain consumer business Citigroup Inc agreed to sell its consumer banking business in Bahrain to Ahli United Bank (AUB) for an undisclosed sum, the US bank said, as it exits retail operations in 13 markets across the globe. The deal includes Citi’s retail banking, credit card and unsecured lending businesses in Bahrain but excludes institutional businesses. Citi said […] May 4, 2022
Analysis Technology Musk’s Twitter free speech promise may be tested in Middle East In a region where the local media is often controlled by the state, millions of people rely on social media platforms to follow news and express their opinions. Both Twitter and Facebook showed their potential to influence real-life events during the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, when they played an outsize role in social upheaval. But […] May 3, 2022
Markets Oil drives rise in Gulf stock markets Major Gulf bourses closed higher on Wednesday, with a rise in oil prices driving the Saudi index up more than one per cent, while geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment in Egypt. Oil prices rose 1.4 per cent on a drop in US oil inventories and concern over tighter supplies from Russia and Libya. Saudi Arabia’s […] April 20, 2022
