IFP Info - News
  • Agrofood
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Environment
    • Food

    Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

    Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

    Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

    $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

    $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

    Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

    Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

    Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

    Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

    Trending Tags

    • Business & Economy
      • All
      • Business
      • Economy
      • Finance
      • Industry
      • Technology
      • Trade
      • Transport & Logistics

      Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

      Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

      Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

      Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

      Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

      GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

      GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

      New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

      Trending Tags

      • CES 2017
      • Election Results
      • eSports
    • Construction
      • All
      • Infrastructure
      • Real Estate
      Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

      Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

      $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

      $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

      Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

      Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

      Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

      Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

      Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

      Trending Tags

      • Energy
        • All
        • Oil & Gas
        • Power & Electricity
        • Renewable Energy
        Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

        Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

        UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

        UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

        Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

        Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

        Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

        Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

        Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

        Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

        JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

        JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

        Trending Tags

        • Hospitality

          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

          Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

          Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

          Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

          Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

          Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

        • IFP Events
          • Event News
          • Upcoming Events
        • العربية
        No Result
        View All Result
        • Agrofood
          • All
          • Agriculture
          • Environment
          • Food

          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

          Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

          $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

          $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

          Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

          Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

          Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

          Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

          Trending Tags

          • Business & Economy
            • All
            • Business
            • Economy
            • Finance
            • Industry
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Transport & Logistics

            Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

            Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

            Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

            Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

            Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

            GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

            GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

            New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

            Trending Tags

            • CES 2017
            • Election Results
            • eSports
          • Construction
            • All
            • Infrastructure
            • Real Estate
            Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

            Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

            $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

            $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

            Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

            Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

            Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

            Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

            Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

            Trending Tags

            • Energy
              • All
              • Oil & Gas
              • Power & Electricity
              • Renewable Energy
              Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

              Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

              UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

              UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

              Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

              Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

              Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

              Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

              Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

              Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

              JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

              JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

              Trending Tags

              • Hospitality

                Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

                Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

                Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

                Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

                Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

                Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

              • IFP Events
                • Event News
                • Upcoming Events
              • العربية
              No Result
              View All Result
              IFP Info - News
              No Result
              View All Result

              Strength and consolidation in Bahrain’s Islamic banking sector

              Oxford Business Group

              January 19, 2017
              in Finance
              0
              0
              SHARES
              9
              VIEWS
              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

              Regulators are encouraging mergers and acquisitions in Bahrain’s Islamic banking industry in a bid to cement the country’s position as one of the world’s leading sharia-compliant financial centers.

              In early December the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) repeated calls for the country’s Islamic lenders – of which there are currently six retail and 18 wholesale – to consider engaging in a round of mergers or acquisitions to hone their competitive edge in the market.

              Giving a keynote address at the 23rd Annual World Islamic Banking Conference (WICB) in Manama on December 6, CBB governor, Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, said the small size of many Islamic banks was a factor that limited their competitiveness, especially in comparison to their conventional rivals.

              The conference is not the first time the CBB head has promoted consolidation as a means of strengthening Bahrain’s Islamic banking sector. Al Maraj had previously called for streamlining the number of operators in the segment at the same event in 2015.

              The calls from the CBB governor look likely to be taken on board in the medium term, according to a report issued by financial services firm KPMG in 2016. Increased movements in mergers and acquisitions in Bahrain’s banking sector can be expected as lenders seek to strengthen their operational base and reduce their exposure to high-risk sectors of the economy, such as real estate and energy, the report stated.

              “Mergers and acquisitions will continue to be explored and small and medium-sized banks are expected to synergies to improve the chances of survival through effective human capital utilization, liquidity management and capital utilization,” the report said.

              Enhancing competitiveness is set to become increasingly important as Bahrain’s status as a financial center faces challenges from the development of financial services industries elsewhere in the region that rival those of the kingdom, according to the report.

              These challenges could weigh more heavily on the Islamic component of the Bahraini banking sector, given the increased emphasis on this segment in other Gulf states.

              Mergers in motion
              One bank that has already heard the CBB’s call is Gulf Financial House (GFH), the regional sharia-compliant lender listed on the Bahrain, Dubai and Kuwait exchanges.

              GFH is in the process of acquiring Bahraini lending bank Alkhair, according to its chief executive Hisham Al Rayes. The sale should be concluded some time in the first quarter of 2017, he told Reuters on December 6. Negotiations for the Alkhair acquisition opened in October, after GFH announced its interest in the smaller bank in August.

              The process of consolidation in the local market could be advanced still further in 2017, with Al Rayes stating that GFH was also looking to conduct a merger with another unnamed Bahrain-based bank in the new year.

              Maintaining the edge
              While operators in the sector are being encouraged to consider mergers and acquisitions, Bahrain’s Islamic banking segment is already working from a position of considerable strength, according to the newly released “Islamic Finance Development Report 2016”.

              The report, prepared by Thomson Reuters and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector and issued on December 8, ranked Bahrain as the leading Islamic finance market in the Gulf and MENA region and second out of 124 economies globally, coming in behind only Malaysia.

              The assessment was based on the Islamic Finance Development Indicators (IFDI) – an annual measure of the overall development of the global Islamic finance industry. The IFDI assesses five key pillars of the banking industry: quantitative development, knowledge, governance, corporate social responsibility and awareness.

              Ranking highly across all criteria, Bahrain was rated as the global leader in governance due to its strong and well-established regulatory environment.

              This environment is set to become even stronger, with the CBB working to further improve accountability and risk management practices, as highlighted by the bank’s governor in his address to the WICB in 2016.

              As part of this process, the CBB has proposed implementing the requirement that Islamic banks be subject to annual external sharia audits of their operations. This would replace the generally accepted practice of having sharia compliance audits conducted in-house.

              Under the proposal put forward by the CBB, the external sharia experts conducting reviews of Islamic banks would have to be approved by the central bank.

              These and other measures, such as tightening up requirements over disclosures of potential conflicts of interest, and reinforcing transparency and accountability, are aimed at maintaining Bahrain’s reputation as having one of the world’s strictest sharia-compliant jurisdictions.
              Oxford Business Group
              19 January

              Previous Post

              Iran to operate mobile service network in Syria

              Next Post

              Kuwait to spend US$15.6 billion on infrastructure in FY2017-18

              Next Post

              Iranian government earmarks $462 million for rail expansion

              News Letter

              Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox!

              *we hate spam as much as you do

              Filter By Country

              IFP Info – News

              The latest Middle East Business News & Events brought to you on a daily basis from multiple credible news portals around the world

              Follow Us

              Categories

              • Agrofood
              • Business & Economy
              • Construction
              • Covid-19 Updates
              • Energy
              • Event News
              • Hospitality
              • Interviews

              Countries

              • Bahrain
              • Egypt
              • Iran
              • Iraq
              • Jordan
              • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
              • Kuwait
              • Lebanon
              • Oman
              • Other Africa
              • Other GCC
              • Other Middle East
              • Qatar
              • Syria
              • United Arab Emirates
              • Worldwide

              Newsletter

              Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox!

              *we hate spam as much as you do

              • About
              • Advertise
              • Privacy & Policy
              • Contact

              © 2023 IFP Group - All Rights Reserved / www.ifpexpo.com

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Agrofood
              • Business & Economy
              • Construction
              • Energy
              • Hospitality
              • IFP Events
                • Event News
                • Upcoming Events
              • العربية

              © 2023 IFP Group - All Rights Reserved / www.ifpexpo.com