The banking sector is a pillar of Dubai’s economy, having provided the basis for the development in the past decade. The banks serve as conduits that link Dubai to the regional and global economies, and their publicly traded shares are one of two main drivers of the local stock market along with real estate stocks. For now, the banking sector...
The past 15 years have seen major advances in capital markets activity in Dubai. The financial sector free zone, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has gone from idea to reality, and the emirate recently became the world’s largest market for sukuk (Islamic bonds). However, development has been uneven across types of...
One of the core features of Dubai’s banking system is self-reliance. In what is generally a well-capitalised part of the world, lenders have been able to minimise their participation in global lending markets, and have not historically experimented with unconventional foreign securities or worried about what would happen if international...
The year 2014 was an important one for the development of sukuk in Dubai, thanks to a series of sovereign sales from non-Muslim countries that have diversified sources, as well as proved the presence of global interest in this relatively young financial instrument. Sukuk are at the core of Dubai's economic strategy, both as a method of raising capital and as a centre for...
Dubai is growing as a financial centre that attracts investment and expertise from all points. Its Islamic banks are central to this economic narrative, as is the emirate’s participation in the international market for sukuks, a sharia-compliant alternative to bonds. Islamic finance has become a highly competitive market in Dubai and the emirate is angling to become a...
The banking sector in Dubai is part of the wider federal system covering the UAE, as banks from all seven emirates are authorised to operate across the country. The list of licensees is long, and banks are typically well capitalised and – in the current economic climate – keen for quality credit opportunities, creating a highly competitive environment.
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