UAE breaks ground on 50 MW solar plant in CAR, expanding Africa footprint Abu Dhabi’s financial footprint has expanded across Africa, making the UAE the continent’s fourth-largest source of foreign capital. United Arab Emirates
Norway's wealth fund vows to stay invested in Israel after selling shares in 11 firms In a press conference on Tuesday, the fund said it had sold the stake in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd, a group that provides services to the Israeli military, including the maintenance of fighter jets. Israel
Mideast private equity down 38%, but higher-value deals dominate Saudi Arabia was the region’s most active market with 13 transactions, followed by the UAE with 12. Saudi Arabia
Wealthy flock to UAE, fueling Dubai’s 32% company surge: What to know Gulf states are diversifying their economies away from reliance on oil, and the UAE is leading the charge, with the country on track to welcome nearly 10,000 high-net-worth individuals this year. United Arab Emirates
A closer look into Lebanon’s fixed currency Lebanon's fixed exchange rate has been a pillar of stability for two decades. However, poor economic conditions threaten its sustainability. Lebanon
Turkish regulator aims to hasten banking sector recovery as loan market remains weak A Turkish regulator instructed banks to write off $8.1 billion in bad debt, but analysts question whether the delayed move will suffice when it comes to reviving the nation’s troubled loan market. Turkey
Palestinian officials encourage competition among banks The Palestinian government in Ramallah will begin allowing Palestinian banks to compete with Bank of Jordan branches in the territories to collect citizens' payments for licenses and taxes owed to the Ministry of Transportation. Palestine
Ankara’s economic measures risk scaring off foreign banks Foreign-capital banks operating in Turkey are growing uneasy over economic measures aimed at pushing lenders to toe the line with government policies. Turkey
Will Egypt launch its own official digital currency? As Facebook announced it might not launch its digital currency as previously announced, experts in Egypt are debating whether the country should regulate digital currency. Egypt
Russia, Lebanon seek synergy in projects to rebuild Syria Moscow and Beirut each see potential benefits in working together to secure lucrative reconstruction contracts in Syria. Lebanon
Will Palestinian private sector rescue national economy? Business owners are trying to launch an initiative to lend the financially struggling Palestinian Authority as much as $200 million, but this effort has yet to take shape. Palestine
Iran’s central bank tightens grip on national payment system Iran’s central bank is increasingly closing loopholes in the country’s payment system that allowed for destabilization of the monetary and foreign currency markets. Iran
Egypt's parliament considering banking system draft law Egypt’s new Central Bank of Egypt draft law could raise the minimum capital requirement for banks tenfold. Egypt
Central Bank: 2019 will be difficult for Tunisian banks Tunisia's financial and political quarters worry about an imminent liquidity crisis threatening the banking sector. Tunisia
Will open market operations signal new chapter in Iran’s financial leadership? The Central Bank of Iran will soon engage in open market operations for the first time, but lingering structural issues and the possibility of government meddling threaten the effectiveness of such a measure in curbing money supply and inflation. Iran
Will Gaza contractors be able to resolve their crisis? The losses incurred in the construction sector in the Gaza Strip since 2007 have prompted the Palestinian Contractors Union to plan a September exhibition with the goal of promoting this sector; success in this endeavor, however, may hinge on the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
