Lebanon arrests fmr economy minister Amin Salam on embezzlement charges The arrest comes nearly a year after the former central bank chief was arrested on charges of embezzlement and money laundering, among other things. Lebanon
EU commission removes UAE, adds Lebanon and Algeria to money laundering list: What to know The changes to the list are still pending approval from EU member states and the European Parliament, likely within the next month. United Arab Emirates
Turkey: $30M credit card scam hits tourists in coastal resort, 20 arrested The alleged ringleader, a hotel owner identified as "H.O.," stole the money by sharing credit card details of tourists checking into the property. Turkey
As Turkey's inflation dips to 35%, will central bank pivot on interest rates? Inflation has slowed to the lowest level since 2021, sparking speculation that the central bank could resume easing monetary policy amid mounting pressure on Turkey's finance chief — but analysts caution against a rush. Turkey
Analysis Gulf wealth funds weather US stock dip, target Amazon, Bitcoin in Q1 By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Israel credit outlook lowered, budget to be amended amid Hamas war Israel’s credit rating was in trouble before the war in Gaza due to the government’s controversial judicial reform plans, and the war is affecting the country's fiscal situation. Israel
20% rise in Middle East late-stage venture capital funding despite global decline Startups in the Middle East and North Africa have so far in 2023 reported a 20% year-on-year growth, new data shows, while global funding activity of this type has seen a 49% decline from 2022. Legacy: Gulf
Analysis China's venture capital firms making inroads in Saudi Arabia, UAE Chinese venture capital investors have been pricing deals at more competitive rates and taking advantage of a widening vacuum left by Western rivals in the region. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Saudi Aramco makes first global LNG investment with US MidOcean stake MidOcean Energy is in the midst of buying interests in four LNG projects in Australia as part of its growth strategy. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Saudi Arabia fastest growing crypto economy globally amid regional drive The kingdom led globally with a 12% increase in crypto transaction volume reaching nearly $31 billion from July 2022 through June 2023, according to an industry report released Tuesday. By Salim A. Essaid
Oman's oil and gas sector drives 30% GDP growth in 2022 Oman’s hydrocarbon sector growth rate was 61.6% from 2021 to 2022, compared to non-hydrocarbon sector growth at 16.9% during the same period, according to the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) 2022 Annual Report. Oman
China development financier AIIB opens first global office in UAE Bank officials expect that the new Abu Dhabi location will help extend their reach to finance sustainable development projects. United Arab Emirates
UAE revenue jumps 31.8% in 2022 The UAE Ministry of Finance reported a 6.1% increase in expenditure last year compared to 2021, which amounted to around $116.3 billion. United Arab Emirates
Turkey’s central bank mulls giant interest rate hike up to 10% to fight inflation Alarmed by resurging price increases, central bank officials reportedly believe that a rate hike of up to 10 percentage points is an inevitable part of monetary tightening to tackle inflation. Turkey
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 will benefit Islamic finance sector, says Moody’s The kingdom has the largest Islamic banking market in the world, and roughly 83% of its total assets are Sharia-compliant. Saudi Arabia
World Bank official says Turkey's economic U-turn 'step in right direction’ The comments from the institution’s Turkey director follow the Turkish government finally raising interest rates to battle inflation. But the Turkish economy is still struggling. Turkey
Islamic finance will be 'crucial part' of climate transition: UK official The UK is seen as a Western hub for the industry due to its high presence of Islamic banks and more than 70 sukuk bonds being listed on the London Stock Exchange. Legacy: Gulf
