UAE: Abu Dhabi

Home to some of the UAE’s most prominent Islamic banks and takaful (sharia-compliant insurance) operators, Abu Dhabi has long been a regional centre for Islamic financial services. Strong capital bases have raised the possibility of international expansion in recent years,...

Thanks to a competitive domestic banking market, the UAE’s relatively small population of around 9.2m and plentiful capital reserves, Abu Dhabi’s Islamic lenders are well positioned for international expansion. And in this regard, the two Abu Dhabi-based Islamic banks have already established a track record of success.

In 2012 Abu Dhabi’s insurance sector posted continued growth on the back of increased spending from consumers, corporations and the government. Across the UAE, gross written premiums (GWPs) reached Dh26.3bn ($7.16bn) in 2012, up 9.5% from 2011, according to the 2012 report from the UAE’s Insurance Authority (IA). The federation retained its...

As a close-out agreement was signed for long-held concessions in early 2014 and the government is looking for potential new partners for the development of its oil and gas fields, 2014 may see a shake-up of Abu Dhabi’s hydrocarbons industry. At the same time, the emirate has ambitious targets for increasing oil production, an aim that will...

While the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 strategy provides a clear path to growth and diversification, reaching its goals – which include an average annual growth rate of 7% until 2015 and 6% annually thereafter; significant expansion of the non-oil sector, with the aim of it accounting for 64% of GDP by 2030; and a 50% or greater increase in GDP per capita – is a...