Arab World: Banking and Finance

Resurgent economies in the Arab region are luring international lenders, but rising oil prices mean reforms have stalled and a crackdown on dissent in Saudi Arabia has prompted concerns

© Reuters

Banks’ loan books are recovering, but industry analysts say hydrocarbons remain too important

Lending to the government is still a mainstay of domestic banks’ revenue

The crisis may have helped the country diversify leaving it in better shape than before

As some apply for licences, political crackdown prompts concern about stability

Sharp fall in oil prompted reforms and spurred interest in tie-ups

Western banks that sold out stand to miss out on emerging opportunities

Arab Spring turmoil helped ADFG to become more opportunistic