Magazine
Issue 202, October 2025
IMF- World Bank Annual Meetings 2025 – Washington DC
Featured Articles
The Architect of Financial Integrity – Chahdan Jebeyli and the Global Language of Compliance
From the courtrooms of Beirut to the main table Boardrooms of global banks, Chahdan Jebeyli has spent four decades helping Arab banks elevate their adherence to law, international Standards, ethics, […]
Beyond the Hype: How Developing Economies Are Using AI to Advance Growth and Inclusion
Emerging markets see AI as opportunity.AI tools unlock growth and inclusion.Arab banks can gain through smart adoption.Across many emerging economies, a quiet but unmistakable shift is taking place: populations, institutions, […]
Adnan Al Ismail: A Four-Decade Journey Bridging and Serving UAE Banking and the Arab Financial Community
How four decades of steady leadership, cross-border experience, and institutional commitment shaped one of the UAE’s most respected banking professionals.Beginnings in a Young Banking LandscapeIn the late 1980s, long before […]
Resilience, Realignment and Representation: Inside the 2025 IMF–World Bank Meetings
From a security-ringed IMF headquarters on 19th Street to packed hotel ballrooms around DuPont Circle, Washington, D.C. once again became the nerve center of global economic diplomacy as finance ministers, […]
US-MENA Private Sector Dialogue (PSD) 2025: Advancing Financial Compliance in a Rapidly Evolving Global Landscape
On October 10, 2025, the Union of Arab Banks (UAB) convened the 12th edition of the U.S.–MENA Private Sector Dialogue (PSD) at the headquarters of the Bank of New York […]
Issue 201, September 2025
The Status of Digital Assets
Featured Articles
Rising Up To the Global Challenges, How IMF Is Coping and Needed Reform
BY DR SOHA MAADIntroductionA monetary fund is a financial institution that provides support to countries and regions to help stabilize their economies, especially during times of crisis. It typically offers […]
The Status of Digital Assets: Risks, Regulation, and Innovation in the U.S., Middle East and Beyond
When rules chase markets that never sleepThe hidden risks behind digital promiseA financial future coded, not writtenIntroductionIt is just after dawn in New York City. A corporate treasurer waits for […]
Trade Bank of Iraq: Anchoring Trade, Building Trust
From its foundation in 2003 to its role today as Iraq’s leading trade-finance institution, the Trade Bank of Iraq has grown into a cornerstone of the national economy—balancing public mission […]
From Risk to Resilience: How Banks Can Reinvent Credit Risk Management in Construction Finance
Introduction: The Stakes Couldn’t Be HigherWhen a billion-dollar construction project falters, the impact ripples far beyond unfinished buildings or delayed roads. For banks, it can mean distressed loans, strained relationships, […]
Rethinking Risk and Strategy in a Time of Global Uncertainty
In the contemporary global environment, decision-making has become a more formidable task than at any other time in recent memory. Senior executives, central bankers, and policymakers are increasingly confronted with […]
Issue 200, August 2025
66 Arab Banks Among the Top 1,000 World Banks
Featured Articles
RED SEA GOVERNANCE
BY DR SOHA MAADIntroductionThe governance of the Red Sea is multifaceted, involving both strategic and geopolitical dimensions. A Red Sea governance framework involves infrastructure and technology governance, financial and risk […]
66 Arab Banks Among the Top 1,000 World Banks
IntroductionThe year 2024 was marked by persistent global challenges: geopolitical volatility, inflationary pressures, and uneven economic recovery across developed and emerging markets. Despite this turbulence, the Arab world once again […]
Currency Dominance in the Digital Age: Integrity, Technology, and the Future of Money
For more than eight decades, the United States dollar has stood unrivaled as the backbone of the international financial system. Its supremacy has been underpinned by the United States’ economic […]
Trump’s Tariffs and India’s Economic Future
The announcement of new tariffs by United States President Donald Trump on a broad spectrum of Indian imports has generated considerable attention across global financial and economic circles. For India, […]
Issue 199, July 20245
Arab Banks Awards & Commendations of Excellence 2025
Featured Articles
Who’s Winning in AI—China or America?
If you’re looking for a clean scoreboard with a final whistle, this isn’t that kind of contest. “AI leadership” isn’t one race—it’s five or six overlapping ones: frontier models, compute […]
Arab Banks Awards & Commendations of Excellence 2025: Celebrating Leadership, Innovation, and Impact
A Tradition Reinforced in Beirut On the evening of July 18, 2025, the city of Beirut—renowned for its resilience and cultural vitality—hosted the Arab Banks Awards & Commendations of Excellence […]
EU Budget 2026 Swot Analysis and Wider Impact
BY DR SOHA MAADIntroductionThe European Commission has proposed a 2026 EU budget of €193.26 billion, with an additional €105.32 billion expected to be disbursed under the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument. This […]
Brics 2025 Expansion and Its Impact on Global Trade and Technology
BY DR SOHA MAADBrics 2025 at a GlanceThe 2025 BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Summit in Rio de Janeiro marked a transformative moment for the bloc, showcasing […]
Issue 198, June 2025
An Exclusive Interview With Mr. Mathieu Greppo
Featured Articles
Sustainable Industrialization in the Euro-Mediterranean Region as a catalyst for economic transformation, financial inclusion and sustainability
The integration of lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) into global and regional value and supply chains has significantly contributed to the economic development and poverty reduction of the last 30 years. […]
More Than a Hotel: The Phoenicia Standard in Shaping Hospitality Excellence and Inspiring National Confidence
An exclusive interview with Mr. Mathieu Greppo, General Manager of InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, on leading with vision, delivering value, and reinforcing resilience amid Lebanon’s economic revival. Editorial Introduction In a […]
Gulf and United States Ties in 2025 Focus on Defense and AI
BY DR SOHA MAAD Introduction This article sheds light on 2025 Gulf and United states ties. The article overviews the Gulf United States Summit and Saudi United States investment forum […]
Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking What Economic Success Truly Means
GDP growth hides rising inequality and risks Wealth concentration weakens democratic institutions True prosperity demands smarter, broader metrics For over half a century, gross domestic product (GDP) has reigned supreme […]
Issue 196, April 2025
The Dept Dilemma: A Tipping Point For The Global Economy
Featured Articles
The Debt Dilemma: A Tipping Point for the Global Economy
Global debt is rising—and risk is growing.Developing economies face a dangerous debt trap.Arab banks must lead with fiscal discipline.Since 2020, the global economy has endured an unrelenting series of disruptions—from […]
Islamic Finance and Climate Resilience: A Strategic Opportunity for the Arab World
Islamic finance fills climate funding gapsArab banks can lead global resilience effortsSukuk and waqf unlock sustainable solutionsAs climate-related disasters escalate and traditional funding mechanisms prove increasingly inadequate, the call for […]
Crypto Policy Threat to EU Sovereignty
BY DR SOHA MAAD
Issue 195, March 2025
The Debt Time Bomb
Featured Articles
The Debt Time Bomb: How Rising Global Debt Threatens Financial Stability
Introduction: The Growing Shadow of DebtIn 2024, the global economy faced unprecedented challenges as total global debt reaches an alarming $318 trillion, equating to roughly 333% of the world’s GDP. […]
De-dollarization: The Global Shift Towards Alternative Currencies
IntroductionFor nearly eight decades, the U.S. dollar has served as the bedrock of international trade and finance, a position fortified by post-World War II economic structures and geopolitical alignments. Today, […]
Fragmentation of Globalization: The New Era of Economic Blocs and Supply Chain Realignment
The intricate fabric of globalization, woven tightly over decades, is now unraveling at an accelerated pace. While globalization once promised interconnected markets, open trade, and reduced barriers, recent geopolitical shocks […]
Issue 194, February 2025
A New Era for Gulf Economies: The Emerging Post-Oil Growth Model
Featured Articles
DeepSeek’s Rise: A Game-Changer in the AI Industry and Global Markets
By Dr. Wissam FattouhSecretary General, Union of Arab Banks and World Union of Arab BankersThe emergence of the Chinese company DeepSeek has sent ripples across the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, […]
Big Techs Policies and Threats Meta Alignment with Maga
By Dr. Soha Maad INTRODUCTION The alignment of Meta Big Tech with MAGA, Donald Trump Make America Great Again policy, entails potentials and threats to the global Big Tech industry […]
Issue 193, January 2025
Tariff Policies and Global Trade
Featured Articles
DeepSeek – China Invasion of AI Big Tech Market
By Dr. Soha Maad
Tariff Policies and Global Trade: Strategic Considerations for the Arab Financial Sector
Balanced tariffs drive economic growth.Tariff shifts reshape market dynamics.Strategic banking secures regional prosperity.In recent years, the discourse on tariffs has taken center stage as policy makers in major economies reassess […]
Dr. Emad Bukhamsin: A Visionary Leader among Kuwait’s Top Economic Figures in 2024
When industry insiders in Kuwait learned that Dr. Emad Bukhamsin had been chosen among the country’s top economic figures for 2024, few were surprised. His reputation for strategic foresight, tireless […]
Balancing Ambition and Operational Readiness: Northvolt’s Case and Its Implications for Financial Decision-Makers
Rapid expansion exposes hidden operational risks.Integration mastery secures sustainable growth.Bankers: manage complexity to ensure success.In today’s dynamic business environment, even well-resourced companies can face unforeseen challenges that lead to dramatic […]