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Financial Services Sector Research Highlights

Report: Saudi Arabia’s MSEs and freelancers are driving employment and economic diversification

Micro-sized and small enterprises (MSEs) and freelancers are expanding rapidly in Saudi Arabia, contributing to employment generation, economic diversification and the Kingdom’s competitiveness...

Saudi Arabia’s digital payments sector drives Vision 2030 goals

In this Market Profile video, we explore how Saudi Arabia's rapidly evolving financial technology (fintech) sector, anchored by Vision 2030, is accelerating the Kingdom's digital transformation...

Report: Saudi Arabia’s fintech evolution – digital payments, inclusion and Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy places digital transformation at the centre of economic diversification. Financial technology (fintech) solutions, particularly digital payments, are helping to expand...

Report: Sustainable finance and ESG adoption advancing across Kuwait and the GCC

Kuwait is strengthening its role in the GCC’s transition towards sustainable finance and low-carbon economic growth, in line with Kuwait Vision 2035 and regional environmental, social...

Special Reports on the Financial Services Sector
Cash Transformation Report

Report: How has public-private collaboration boosted digital and cash transformation in the Bahamas?

Public-private collaboration aimed at boosting digital payments and reducing cash usage in the Bahamas has made gains in a relatively short timeframe. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, policymakers...
ESG Intelligence Report

Report: The financial sector's central role in tackling ESG issues in Mexico

Environmental, social and governance issues are a growing focus in Mexico, particularly social inclusion and transparency, followed by other governance and environmental matters. The financial sector has...
ESG Intelligence Report

Report: The future of sustainable finance in Kuwait’s banking sector

The regulatory landscape for Gulf financial service providers is changing, with growing awareness of the need for banking institutions to adopt sustainable finance frameworks and responsible lending...
Focus Report

Focus Report: Post-pandemic trends and opportunities on African stock exchanges

Although stock exchanges on the continent were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, recovery is starting to take shape. The crisis underlined the need to build resilience and diversify the investor base...

Report: How has public-private collaboration boosted digital and cash transformation in the Bahamas?
Report: The financial sector's central role in tackling ESG issues in Mexico
Report: The future of sustainable finance in Kuwait’s banking sector
Focus Report: Post-pandemic trends and opportunities on African stock exchanges
 

Sultanate of Oman’s finance and leasing sector fuelling economic diversification

In this Growth Perspectives video, OBG shows how the finance and leasing sector is contributing to the Sultanate of Oman's economic diversification efforts. Amid global economic headwinds, the sultanate...

The Report: Saudi Arabia 2025
OBG
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Banking Sector Analysis

The Saudi banking sector sits at the core of Vision 2030. Saudi banks are playing a growing role in supplying credit for headline-grabbing giga-projects while also rapidly expanding support for small and medium...

Financial Sector Analyses

Overview

Vision 2030 drives expansion for banking lenders in Saudi Arabia
OBG
plus

The banking sector sits at the core of Vision 2030. Saudi banks are playing a growing role in supplying credit for giga-projects while also rapidly expanding their support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are important vehicles for Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and bring more women into the labour market. Thanks to well-organised roadmaps, most notably the Financial Sector Development Programme (FSDP), governmental entities and private commercial banks have managed to successfully execute...

Analysis

Vision 2030 reforms support Saudi Arabia's small businesses
OBG
plus

A major target of the Financial Sector Development Programme (FSDP) has been improving financial inclusion in Saudi Arabia, especially for women. Since the World Bank began recording data in 2011, men have consistently been above the global average when it comes to bank account ownership, with 73% of Saudi men having accounts in 2011 compared to the global average of 55%. By 2024 this gap had narrowed, with 82% of Saudi men having bank accounts compared to 80% globally. The most impressive growth has been...

Overview

Record listings in Saudi Arabia's capital markets signal transformative phase
OBG
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With initial public offerings (IPOs), bond and sukuk (Islamic bond) issuances surging and further buildout by the Kingdom’s non-oil economy, Saudi Arabia’s capital markets are currently going through an expansionary period. This change is a key pillar in the Kingdom’s long-term development plan, Vision 2030, which seeks to make the country a regional and international financial centre as part of its broader economic diversification strategy. The full weight of the Kingdom is therefore now behind this drive, which will see the...

Interview

Mohammed Al Rumaih, CEO, Saudi Exchange
OBG
plus

On expanding investor participation and strengthening market foundations

Overview

Reforms in 2026 will reshape Saudi Arabia's insurance sector
OBG
plus

View Article in Online Reader Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Share In recent years, Saudi Arabia’s insurance sector has shown strong premium, revenue, asset and equity growth. With a new insurance law on the way as of January 2026, the sector continues to both widen and deepen, while hosting two of the Middle East’s largest insurers: Bupa Arabia and Tawuniya. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is home to the world’s largest sharia-compliant insurance, or takaful (Islamic insurance) market...

Interview

Shabab bin Saad Al Ghamdi, Secretary General, Council of Health Insurance
OBG
plus

On system modernisation and strategic reform

The Report: Qatar 2025
OBG
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Banking Sector Analysis

Qatar has one of the most well-capitalised and secure banking sectors in the Gulf, with its leading lender, Qatar National Bank, among the world’s largest-50 banks by market capitalisation. Central to the...

Driving innovation and sustainability in Qatar's banking sector

Shahnawaz Rashid, Executive General Manager and Head of Retail Banking, Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ)

In this Global Platform video, Shahnawaz Rashid talks about the strategies for driving innovation and sustainability in Qatar's banking sector. Qatar has developed strong infrastructure, including roads...

Financial Services in Emerging Markets

Economic View

Homam Hashem, CEO, Financing Guarantee Program for SMEs (Kafalah)

On the role of banks in supporting SMEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Economic View

Ahmad Jamal Zidan, General Manager, Arab Bank Syria

On adopting policies centred on stability and economic recovery

Economic News

Libya creates framework in pursuit of monetary stabilisation
OBG
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Libya’s public finances have long been characterised by institutional division with authorities in the east and west of the country pursuing separate budgets and development agendas. This fragmentation had previously fuelled inflation and widened hard currency deficits. In November 2025 the Libyan House of Representatives and the Tripoli-based High State Council signed the agreement on the Unified Development Programme, a framework intended to consolidate spending channels and unify development priorities across...

Economic News

Abdulkader AlHussrieh, Governor, Central Bank of Syria
OBG
plus

On reinforcing investor confidence by developing a functioning interbank market and deepening financial intermediation

Economic View

Ali Alragae, Secretary-General, Libyan Insurance Federation

On boosting penetration and the diversification of Libya’s insurance portfolio

Economic View

Mohammed Ali Addarrat, Chairman, Libyan Foreign Bank

On the changing commercial ecosystem and how governance reforms are evolving to align with international standards

Economic View

Kwabena Asante-Poku, Coverage Director, Ghana - British International Investment (BII)

On increasing finance for SMEs, women-led businesses and infrastructure development in Africa

Economic View

Eman Mojali, CEO, Bahrain National Insurance

On building a regulatory framework and consumer awareness to support growth

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