– Fintechs focused on remittances are capturing legacy lenders’ market share – The UN and other bodies are calling for remittance fees to be capped at 3% – Emerging markets have been at the forefront of mobile-first fintech growth – Cryptocurrency is also increasingly disrupting the remittances space A number of remittance-focused financial technology (fintech) start-ups are gaining…
With the world economy heading into a complex post-pandemic recovery, GCC governments have outlined a wide-ranging set of environmental targets – and shone a stronger spotlight on sustainability. At a time when sustainable finance is reaching maturity in more developed markets, regulators and financial services providers across emerging markets are working to adapt environmental, social and governance…
– A first wave of M&A in GCC banking was prompted by the 2014 oil price crash – The coronavirus pandemic has given rise to the start of a second wave – Saudi Arabia and Qatar have seen major tie-ups finalised in recent months – Covid-19 fallout and an excess of smaller banks will prompt further consolidation More than a year after the initial onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the…
The UAE was relatively well placed to withstand the sudden shock of the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to its diversified economy, record forex reserves, moderate public debt levels, high credit rating and strong net external asset position. Home to a large number of expatriate workers, the country had become the world’s second-largest source of remittance outflows before Covid-19. Despite the subsequent…
The use of sophisticated algorithms in wealth management is leading to improved efficiency and transparency in the financial services sector, benefitting both providers and clients. In particular, so-called robo-advisers are disrupting the industry and helping to boost financial inclusion. Primarily concentrated in developed markets such as the US and the UK, the technology is starting to make…
Abu Dhabi’s capital markets started 2020 on a positive note, bolstered by solid gains on the exchange’s main index in 2019. Similarly, the local debt market ended 2019 favourably, with the UAE ranking as the biggest issuer of fixed-income instruments in the GCC that year. Although much remains to be seen as global markets deal with the twin ramifications of Covid-19 and lower oil prices in early…
As one of the UAE’s two major financial centres, Abu Dhabi has played a prominent role in the development of the nation’s Islamic financial services (IFS) sector. In January 2020 Islamic banks accounted for about 18% of total banking sector assets in the country, according to the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). In the local capital markets, sovereign and corporate sukuk (Islamic bonds)…
Despite the adverse effects of a low oil price environment over recent years, Abu Dhabi’s banking sector has remained well capitalised with a high degree of liquidity. Meanwhile, its financial performance has been characterised by rising net profits and lower cost-to-income ratios. A recent phase of consolidation has significantly altered the structure of the local market, with the larger balance…
Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre and free zone, the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has sought to establish itself as a global pioneer in the development of distributed ledger technology (DLT). In June 2018 the emirate issued a comprehensive regulatory framework for virtual asset activities in ADGM, and followed it up with further detailed guidance on the regulation of stable coins…
Two of the biggest trends in global insurance in recent years are premium growth in emerging markets and the rising importance of technology across the supply chain. The latter has come to be referred to as insurtech, a potentially disruptive trend that heralds both threats to and opportunities for incumbents and newcomers alike. While technological solutions are being applied along the length…