Hydrocarbons revenues still form the bulk of Abu Dhabi’s GDP and while falling prices are a concern, the emirate has been moving steadily towards its economic diversification targets in line with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. The past 10 years has seen the non-oil sector expand strongly on the back of business-friendly government policies, as a result of which non-oil sector growth now outpaces that of the oil sector.
Legislation regulating Oman’s sharia-compliant insurance market has moved a step closer to being finalised after the State Council approved a draft law that will help encourage new investment in the takaful (Islamic insurance) industry.
While commercial banks have been rebuilding and expanding their bricks-and-mortar networks since 2011, the keys to reaching unbanked populations are proving to be alternative means like mobile money and microfinance institutions (MFIs). A handful of new MFIs – sanitised through fresh rules issued in 2011 – have seen strong double-digit growth in...
As larger banking groups expand their reach within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine, UEMOA), authorities at the region’s central bank have recently implemented a number of significant changes. First, they have raised capital requirements to enhance lenders’ scale. Second, they have begun...
As the established banking centre of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine, UEMOA), Côte d’Ivoire’s financial services industry has sustained double-digit growth since emerging from the national crisis in 2011. The market still faces legacy issues, such as high aggregate non-performing loans...
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