Despite persistently low international commodities prices, Dubai saw a steady GDP growth of 3.2% in 2017 and is expected to reach 3.5% in 2018, with an increased drive towards consolidating its position as a knowledge-based economy. The issuance of the Dubai Open Data Law and the creation of Smart Dubai are among the flagship initiatives...
The UAE is a major international centre in the global Islamic economy, and Dubai is key for Islamic finance in particular, hosting the stock exchange with the largest listing of sukuk (Islamic bonds) by value, as well as one of the world’s largest Islamic banks. The emirate has been seeking to further expand its sharia-compliant economy...
Dubai is home to some of the Middle East’s largest banks, as well as its major financial free zone. The emirate’s financial institutions have largely recovered from a rise in non-performing loans (NPLs) in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, and are well capitalised and liquid despite a recent rise in delinquencies in the small and medium-...
Dubai’s economy is among the most diversified in the region, thanks to factors such as a highly attractive business environment that has brought in large amounts of foreign investment. Despite producing little oil, growth has been affected in recent years by the knock-on effects of the fall in international oil prices and a consequent slowdown...
For the nations of the GCC, the drop in oil prices highlighted something many already knew – there is a pressing need for economic diversification and to further engage with global partners across different markets. To this end, countries in the region have made efforts to expand their international role and reach in recent years, with trade...
To promote a sector capable of supporting rural development, the government introduced a flexible regulatory framework for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in 2011. Since then, over 500 MFIs have registered in the race for customers, though many have gone bust or been exposed as pyramid schemes. Recently the central bank has renewed efforts to...
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