Banking

UAE end-of-service savings scheme 2026: how DEWS and the federal voluntary scheme replace gratuity, contribution rates, returns and how expats opt in.

How to open a bank account in Kuwait 2026: Civil ID and salary certificate rules, Article 18 vs 22 residency, NBK, KFH, Gulf Bank and Boubyan compared.

NBB and BBK have begun negotiating exchange terms for a Bahrain bank merger that would create a lender with roughly USD 28bn in combined assets.

Opening a bank account in the UAE 2026 as an expat: documents, best banks, minimum balances, digital banks and tips to avoid fees.

How AED, SAR, QAR and other Gulf currencies are pegged to the US dollar in 2026, and what the pegs mean for expat remittances and exchange rates.

Learn how to send money from UAE in 2026: compare banks, exchange houses like Al Ansari and LuLu, and apps like Wise for the best rates and lowest fees.

GCC neobanks and digital banking platforms have collectively surpassed 15 million customers in 2026, led by UAE's Wio Bank and YAP and Saudi Arabia's STC Pay and Tabby, as the Gulf's young, tech-savvy population drives a digital finance revolution that is reshaping the region's banking landscape.

Bahrain FinTech Bay has evolved into the GCC's most advanced fintech ecosystem, built on the region's first regulatory sandbox (2017), first open banking framework (2018), and a unified Central Bank of Bahrain that has consistently moved faster than larger Gulf counterparts on emerging financial technology regulation.

Bahrain's economy in 2026 has achieved a milestone that few Gulf states can claim: non-oil sectors now account for 85 per cent of GDP, with financial services contributing 17 per cent and a fintech ecosystem that has evolved from a regulatory sandbox into a system-building powerhouse.

Saudi Arabia's SAMA has issued its first live open banking licences, transitioning from sandbox to full commercial operations, while Riyad Bank and Bahrain have completed live blockchain payment pilots — marking a turning point for GCC financial services innovation.

Bahrain FinTech Bay, the Kingdom's flagship fintech incubator co-managed by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and major Bahraini financial institutions, has reached 180...

Saudi Arabia's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) programme, the Digital Saudi Riyal, has expanded its domestic pilot from 6 to 20 participating banks, with...