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Analysis

Specialty insurance sector adapts to regional tensions
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The Iran conflict and its consequences for maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have laid bare structural weaknesses in global insurance markets that were present long before the first strikes. Within days of the outbreak of conflict in February 2026, war risk premium surged 500%, making transit economically unviable for most commercial operators. The world’s 12 major protection and indemnity…

Analysis

Qatar's Islamic finance sector embraces digital growth
OBG
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The development of digital finance is a pillar of Qatar’s medium-term development programme, the Third Financial Sector Strategic Strategy (FSS-3). Running from 2024-30, this roadmap seeks to boost financial technology (fintech) in general, while its cross-cutting emphasis on developing Islamic finance means the FSS-3 offers support for Islamic financial technology in particular. This governmental…

Analysis

Qatar's banking regulations shape traditional and digital finance
OBG
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Qatar’s conventional financial service providers are driving the adoption of digital banking services and mobile banking applications, underpinned by increasing customer demand for contactless payments and digital wallets amid high internet penetration and smartphone use. A regulatory framework for digital banks, introduced by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) in December 2024, establishes guidelines…

Analysis

Qatar's economic reforms strengthen investment climate
OBG
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Since the 2000s, Qatar’s investor proposition has evolved considerably as authorities have aligned foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, venture capital (VC) incentives and labour mobility to bolster private-sector confidence and accelerate growth. Efforts have ramped up in recent years and in early 2025 Qatar’s prime minister unveiled the target of attracting cumulative inward investment of…

Analysis

GCC-UK agreement to boost trade and supply chains
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The UK and GCC reached a landmark agreement in May 2026 with the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA), bringing to a close four years of discussions that began in 2022. The accord, the first concluded between the GCC and a G7 economy, reflects the growing strategic importance of the relationship within both the UK’s post-Brexit trade agenda and the Gulf’s economic…

Analysis

Emerging markets see shift towards sustainability policies
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Impact investment – designed to generate tangible social and environmental benefits alongside financial returns – presents promising risk-adjusted prospects. This type of investment not only provides value for investors, but can also greatly advance the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), the impact investing market has experienced substantial…

Analysis

GCC pursues taxation reforms to strengthen revenue streams
OBG
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Since gaining independence at various points during the 20th century, the GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – have maintained a fiscal model built on oil revenue and a low- to no-tax environment. Historically, hydrocarbons revenue allowed GCC governments to fund public spending without excessive taxation, relying instead on oil and gas wealth to fund public…

Analysis

IMF forecasts economic growth with Kuwait’s non-oil sector
OBG
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Kuwait’s ambition to diversify its oil-based economy away from hydrocarbons has been in place for more than two decades. Although the ambition predates the launch of New Kuwait 2035 in 2017, the long term development blueprint represents the most comprehensive and far-reaching attempt yet to move beyond oil and fast-track growth in the other areas of the economy. Although efforts are beginning to…

Analysis

GCC targets policies for sustainable employment growth
OBG
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GCC countries have been actively pursuing workforce nationalisation policies to reduce their reliance on expatriate workers and create sustainable employment opportunities for their growing local populations. Proactive Measures In Qatar, the workforce nationalisation rate stood at 19% in 2022, with a goal to increase this to 20%, as per the Qatarisation Policy of 2013. The country is currently accelerating…

Analysis

New technologies transform traditional banking in the GCC
OBG
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Open banking has rapidly emerged as a transformative force in global finance, redefining traditional banking models by enabling secure, application programming interface (API)-driven data sharing and third party service integration. Valued at approximately $25.1bn in 2023 and poised to surge to $29.6bn by 2025 – ultimately eclipsing $306.6bn by 2035 – the global market’s projected compound annual…