Abu Dhabi merges ADQ into new wealth fund L'IMAD: What to know Under the new structure, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, will oversee a broader swath of the emirate’s investment holdings. United Arab Emirates
UAE Central Bank approves first US dollar-backed stablecoin: What to know The approval marks a milestone in the UAE’s development of digital currency infrastructure and positions USDU as the Gulf country’s first USD-denominated currency for digital assets. United Arab Emirates
Iran internet blackout estimated to cost $37M+ daily, crippling businesses and society The ongoing digital disconnection is severely stalling commerce, draining millions of dollars daily and pushing many businesses toward collapse. Iran
Can Iran’s promised economic reforms quell unrest? The Iranian government has made several economic pledges to protesters, though some carry risk of increasing inflation further. Iran
Lebanon protests rage as currency plunges Protesters set fire to tires and waste containers to cut major roads throughout Lebanon. Lebanon
Is Turkey’s wealth fund becoming a crisis shelter? More company rescues could be imminent in Turkey after the sovereign wealth fund acquired the control of a leading mobile phone operator at the expense of further borrowing. Turkey
Lebanon’s central bank to inject dollars as currency crashes The Lebanese pound trades at roughly 6,000 to the US dollar on the black market; Lebanese officials take action to try to get the parallel market under 4,000 to the dollar. Lebanon
Protests erupt across Lebanon as government scrambles to rein in crumbling currency Following the sectarian protests that took place a few days ago, Lebanon's crumbling currency united the Lebanese in a cross-sectarian protests in various Lebanese cities. Lebanon
Syrian government freezes assets of Assad cousin The move to seize the assets of the businessman is the latest in a dispute that began to heat up late last year. Syria
IMF emergency financing for Egypt mitigates coronavirus crunch The International Monetary Fund has approved a nearly $2.8 billion loan for Egypt to address its economy, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. Egypt
New banking regulations threaten press freedom in Turkey Recent measures seeking to limit damaging information on the financial system pose new threats to press freedom in Turkey. Turkey
Lebanese bank official arrested for alleged currency manipulation Lebanon's central bank denied the allegations; the Lebanese pound's value has decreased significantly amid the ongoing economic crisis. Lebanon
Lebanon to seek IMF assistance to help with economic crisis The prime minister said Lebanon would seek $10 billion in loans from the international financial institution after passing a reform bill. Lebanon
Israel’s largest bank admits to helping taxpayers use offshore accounts, facilitating FIFA conspiracy Bank Hapoalim agrees to pay the United States more than $900 million in connection with the two cases. Israel
Oman’s sovereign wealth fund under pressure Ahead of the prospect of a high budget deficit in 2020, assets held by the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) plunged by about a third to $14.3 billion. Oman
Banks can't save Gulf economies Because of the way they are set up, GCC banks will have a hard time providing the funds that could help jump-start regional economies as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll. Legacy: Gulf
