Saudi Arabia
Four Gulf states cut rates following Fed decision
Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE have currencies pegged to US dollar
Saudi central bank fines 16 commercial lenders
Country’s largest banks fined in what may be part of crackdown on consumer finance abuses
The IFF China Report 2019
Insight and perspectives from the world's leaders, premier policy-makers and financiers
Vocalink and IBM to provide Saudi faster payments system
Instant payment system slated for launch at the end of 2020
The IFF China Report 2019: The Belt and Road Initiative
Over the past five years, China has invested more than $70 billion in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries, of which there are now in excess of 100. Leading Chinese and international policy-makers explain how BRI efforts are progressing. This section…
UAE central bank and Sama partner for blockchain project
New system will provide central financial transfer system that aims to make the process of remittance payments more efficient
Central Banking Awards: third round goes live
Prizes unveiled for economics, website, risk management, professional services, data and more
Risk manager: Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority
A multi-year overhaul of the Saudi central bank’s risk architecture has come to fruition, resulting in radical changes in behaviour
Advisory services: Deloitte
Deloitte has a growing central bank footprint, including new projects on strategy and cyber resilience in Canada, fintech in Saudi Arabia and DLT in Hong Kong
Saudi SWF seeks massive bank loan as Aramco’s IPO is delayed
PIF intends to increase its assets to $400 billion in 2020 from $224 billion in 2017
Saudi investment fund boosts technology portfolio
The fund has reportedly acquired 3-5% of US electric car maker Tesla
Saudi Arabia confirms $2 billion transfer to Yemen’s central bank
Yemeni government said to demand payment of all revenues to Aden-based central bank as famine and war continue
Saudi Arabia’s Alkholifey on economic restructuring, reserves and cyber security
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority’s governor talks to Christopher Jeffery about the restructuring of the Saudi economy, the impact of low oil prices on reserves and anti-money laundering efforts
Sama enables blockchain for cross-border payments
Pilot with Ripple will allow domestic banks to settle payments across the xCurrent network; payments infrastructure based on the Interledger Protocol
President names governor for one of Yemen’s two central banks
Saudi Arabia likely to be a key influence in appointing the new figure, says expert
Saudis deposit $3 billion to build up Yemeni central bank
Saudis are also training central bank staff, and say US and UK are supporting capacity-building
Saudi and UAE central banks freeze hundreds of bank accounts
Local sources say newly installed crown prince is moving against other senior royals
FSB’s Mena group meets in Abu Dhabi
Turkish and Qatari governors are set to chair the regional group from June 30
IMF paper examines bank lending in Saudi Arabia
Despite low oil prices, credit to the private sector “remained robust”, but an overreliance on banks financing the deficit needs to stop, author says
Sama unveils new banknote designs with updated features
Six denominations to feature new security thread and improved features for the visually impaired; new coin design also launched by Saudi central bank
SAMA governor outlines challenges facing Islamic banking sector
Unified accounting standards would “comfort” regulators and improve transparency for the industry, Alkholifey says; issues need to be addressed in order to foster growth in Islamic banking
Gulf central banks should act to boost liquidity – IMF report
Improved liquidity assistance frameworks, better forecasting and deeper Islamic liquidity markets would help ease conditions
Lagarde welcomes ‘major policy shift’ in Saudi Arabia
IMF managing director says efforts to reduce reliance on oil are “very welcome”, although Gulf countries more generally need to continue their fiscal adjustment
Sama intervenes to ease liquidity pressure on banks
Saudi central bank makes deposits worth over $5 billion at commercial banks struggling with low liquidity, and introduces new repo facilities