GCC Banks In Good Position For Basel III

Banks are focusing on building Tier 1 capital to meet stringent global liquidity regulations.

GCC Retail Banking Expands

Difficult conditions mean banks are spreading their retail wings to attract customer deposits and loans.

Sir Rocco Arrives In Abu Dhabi

The famous British hotelier tells Jonathan Sheikh-Miller why he’s not fazed by talk of Abu Dhabi over-supply.

Kuwait: Market Still Lacks Real Momentum

Banks are slowly recovering from the 2008 fallout, but the impact of a recent government funding drive remains to be seen.

Qatar: Punching Above Its Weight

Massive public spending and impressive GDP growth spell a bumper year for Qatari banks.

Oman: Steady As She Goes

Increased consumer lending and new Islamic banks will put the country on a solid footing for 2012.

Private Jet Usage Soars

The Arab Spring boosted private jet travel as diplomats and business leaders engaged in peace talks.

Jordan And Morocco To Join The GCC?

The Arab spring has reignited interest in Jordan and Morroco joining the GCC but not all the member countries agree.

The Demise of Independent Islamic Scholars?

After years of pressure, Islamic scholars in the Gulf are finally modernising their operations, much to the delight of Western financial organisations

What’s Your Leadership Brand?

Big brand companies are led by leaders with a strong personal brand, writes leadership expert, Tommy Weir

Getting Your Investment Strategy Right

Investors are advised to go bearish, says Matein Khalid, advisor in a royal funds office

The Future Of GCC Private Equity

The systemic risk in GCC private equity funds was grossly underestimated by investors who assumed that the region’s equity and property bubbles would last forever.

The Grand Habtoor

Khalaf Al Habtoor is sure that Dubai is once more a very sound investment.

He’s Still The One

Thomas Lundgren, boss of The One furniture chain, tells Alicia Buller how he swerved bankruptcy and burn-out to launch new stores.

The Arab Spring: Democratic Dawn, Economic Twilight

No matter the concessions to regional unrest, controlled state economies may not offer a solution in a networked global economy with unfettered capital markets.

Time After Time

Alicia Buller hangs out with Georges Kern, suave CEO of luxury watch-maker IWC Schaffhausen, at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

An End To Saudi’s Housing Woes?

With only around 10 per cent of Saudi’s currently owning their home, the new mortgage laws could be set to boost real estate firms, banks and society overall.

IPO No Go

Low liquidity and weak confidence continue to dampen the Gulf’s IPO pipeline. Stringent local market guidelines must be relaxed to improve cashflow.

What’s The West’s Problem?

Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, speaks out on his detractors and his record order book.

Gold Rush

As the global economy reels from fresh Euro and US woes, the gold price is set for a dizzying ascent.

Can This Man Save Damas?

Anan Fakhreddin, the man charged with salvaging the reputation of Damas jewellery firm, tells Alicia Buller why he’s got one of the most difficult jobs in the region.

Independence Day

The region welcomes its first non-executive director ‘match-making’ service as it strengthens corporate governance regulation.

Banking On Stability

V Shankar, CEO of Standard Chartered says the unrest is inflating banking wages but he’s confident the UAE will be the financial services powerhouse for the region.

Is The GCC Buying Out Lebanon?

Gulf real estate players are pumping money into Lebanon and playing an ever-larger hand in the nation’s landscape.

Swiss Banks Cast Their Eyes East

In the wake of the tax evasion clampdown in the West, Swiss banks are aggressively pursuing the emerging markets, says Raymond Baer, chairman of billion dollar investment bank Julius Baer.

The UAE’s Train Journey

In just over two years, Abu Dhabi is set to roll out first stages of its Etihad rail plan.

A Tale Of Two Countries

Gulf Business Investigates how the global crisis affected Oman Cyprus, two very different landscapes with similarly challenging property cycles.

Nothing Is Going To Stop Us Now

Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, speaks exclusively to Alicia Buller about Western detractors, rising oil prices, and why there’s enough future global demand to fill his record order book.

MBAs Rising

Course enrolment is on the upswing as the employment market opens up.

Is The Oil Price Rising Too Fast?

Harsh winters, quantitative easing and political unrest have pushed crude over $90 a barrel in the last three months. Rising oil prices could cause a double dip recession.