Hisham Ezz Al-Arab is CEO of Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt’s largest privatesector bank. He discusses Egypt’s efforts to boost private-sector investment and how CIB helps clients navigate a changing global economy. Global Finance: How has the private sector’s role in Egypt’s economy changed in recent years, and where is the greatest untapped potential? Hisham Ezz…
Businesses throughout their growth cycle confront a vital decision concerning how to raise capital, through either the use of debt or equity. Both debt and equity have distinct pros and cons and long-term consequences for a business. It is crucial for founders, investors, and decision-makers who are trying to navigate current financial markets to understand…
Still modest in size, the regional private credit market is growing fast, boosted by sovereign capital and regional and global direct lenders. Private credit—nonbank lending to business—is a long-established practice in the US and Europe. Globally, the market has exploded from approximately $300 million in 2010 to a projected $2.8 trillion by 2028. In the…
The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, and the climate-related provisions of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive together represent the most comprehensive attempt yet made to embed environmental considerations into the architecture of financial markets. For asset managers, institutional investors, and corporate finance teams, these regulations have introduced obligations that are…
The UAE has carefully crafted a position for itself as a hub for digital assets. Can the good times last? The United Arab Emirates (UAE) positions itself as a center for digital assets, a market that may be worth up to $500 billion over the next few years by some estimates. Dubai and Abu Dhabi…
In Brief Outcome: US metal tariffs are increasing costs for domestic producers while imported goods remain competitive. Mechanism: Tariffs target raw materials, not finished products, creating a cost imbalance. Implication: US businesses absorb higher costs while foreign competitors gain a pricing advantage. This policy was meant to protect US industry. It may be doing the…
Home Executive Interviews Liquidity CEO Discusses UAE’s Strategic Advantage Despite Regional Turmoil Liquidity CEO Ron Daniel says UAE operations remain resilient despite war risks, as Israeli firms expand after Abraham Accords normalization Following the Abraham Accords, which normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries in 2020, more than 600 Israeli companies have begun…
Remote work was supposed to make companies more productive. Instead, many are seeing the opposite. Despite constant communication, faster tools, and more flexibility, productivity is quietly declining — and many organisations don’t fully understand why. Why Is Remote Work Productivity Falling? Remote work productivity is falling because work has become more fragmented, decision-making is slower,…
Home Executive Interviews Iran Conflict Sparks Risk, And Opportunity, For Egypt: CIB CEO Hisham Ezz Al-Arab As the regional conflict involving Iran intensifies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a halt, business leaders across the Middle East are considering both the risks and potential opportunities. Hisham Ezz Al-Arab suggests that…
Alternative investments attract attention when they combine income potential with a tangible asset that does not reprice minute-by-minute like public markets. Bali fits that profile because local real estate sits inside a tourism-led economy, where pricing power and liquidity depend on location fit, demand depth, and operational infrastructure across the area. According to AirDNA, Bali…