Given the importance of expatriate workers in the UAE, remittances are a key part of both the economy and the financial services sector. They are also an aspect of the global financial system that has received greater attention of late. Remittances now surpass the value of total foreign development aid and are fast approaching that of foreign investment, according to a...
Banks are poised to face competitive conditions in the UAE’s lending market in 2014 and 2015, due to factors including new regulations, supply-demand dynamics and the sheer number of players looking to lend. The end result is likely to be muted credit growth and a contraction of net interest margins. Loan growth came in at 9.6% in the first 11 months of 2014, on course...
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.
The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) has seen strong expansion of forex trading activities in recent years, driven by growth in Indian rupee futures and a successful diversification strategy. In a bid to capture a larger share of global forex trade, the exchange launched several new products in 2014, including diversified rupee instruments and new emerging...
The administration of Sharjah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, continued to implement its long-term economic plan in 2014, with major progress points including the government’s first international sale of sukuk, the sharia-compliant equivalent of bonds, and a partial opening of the real estate sector to foreigners. Efforts are ongoing to enhance...
The adoption of a technique called performance-based budgeting (PBB) could help Dubai’s government boost its efficiency, fulfil a government-wide mandate to leverage information and communications technology, and get the most out of its public spending. This process has the potential to save millions of dirhams, essentially by helping to anticipate costs more accurately...
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