The Middle East

As the Bahrain Bourse (BHB) continues along its path of institutional development, it does not do so in isolation. Both the regulator and the exchange authorities have for many years played a productive role within regional and global bodies that share many of the same ambitions in terms of market development, and the past year has seen some...

Thanks to a famously prudent yet flexible regulatory system, Bahrain’s lenders have been able to extend from a relatively small domestic base to become significant regional and global players. The extent of their reach helps them remain resilient amidst the challenges caused by regional unrest and falling oil prices over the past year. While...

Credit cards have long been a key tool for financial institutions vying for market share in Bahrain’s competitive banking sector, and from a consumer’s perspective there has never been so much choice in the local market, with conventional and Islamic banks alike offering credit options. The major local and foreign institutions operating in the...

This year marks the 22nd World Islamic Banking Conference in Bahrain, a milestone which is perhaps unmatched in the 40-year young Islamic finance industry. This year’s conference brings together many interesting themes and some of the most prominent speakers from around the world.

With fewer hydrocarbons resources than many of its Gulf neighbours, Bahrain’s status as a financial centre is crucial to its long-term economic development. One of the biggest concerns arising from the political unrest of 2011, therefore, was that is banking sector would see an exodus of brand names to other Gulf capitals. The decision by...