The Middle East

Dubai’s banking sector, which forms part of the wider UAE banking system, has continued to recover since the global financial crisis. Banking sector assets climbed 13.1% in 2013, from $487bn to $552.5bn, while deposits rose from $318bn to $348bn, a 9.5% advance, and capital adequacy ratios remained strong, at 18.3% overall. New regulations designed to protect financial institutions from...

With Dubai’s economy growing by 4.6% in 2013, and the emirate posting a GDP of $88.65bn, opportunities in various sectors, including Islamic finance and infrastructure and hospitality development, are drawing the attention of investors. The emirate is building up its reputation as an international centre for Islamic finance and under a new Islamic finance master plan it intends to focus on...

Continued recovery from the effects of the 2008 global financial crisis has set Dubai on a robust growth path moving forward. Dubai’s population stood at 2.27m as of mid-2014, and as of the end of 2012, Emiratis made up around 11% of the population, while expatriates accounted for the remaining 89%. The emirate is pushing ahead with efforts to develop sharia-compliant industries in the region...

The Bahraini constitution guarantees access to health care for all nationals. The government budget allocation for health care rose from $1.4bn in fiscal year 2011/12 to $1.8bn for 2013/14, while the sector currently contributes 2.5% to GDP, a figure set to grow to 7% by the end of the decade. Attitudes towards health issues among the local population shifting in recent times; an increased...

The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Bahrain and contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time or regular and business and leisure visitors alike.