EP131: The Middle East banking industry

Sanjiv Anand, Chairman, Cedar Management Consulting InternationalDespite being perceived as over-banked, the Middle East banking market offers significant growth opportunities across segments. Corporate banking remains commoditized in trade and contracting finance, but untapped areas such as manufacturing, treasury, and cross-border structured finance can drive higher income. Commercial banking is a hidden gem, with thousands of mid-sized businesses underserved due to weak segmentation, rigid credit policies, and organizational gaps. Retail banking continues to grow through cards, loans, and mortgages, but future gains lie in spend-led loyalty strategies and disciplined risk management. Priority and private banking present major upside given the region’s growing high-net-worth population, requiring better advisory services and tailored products. Islamic banking is a fast-growing, unavoidable opportunity through full models or Islamic windows. Channel innovation, business-enabling credit, and core banking automation are critical enablers. Banks that segment well, innovate, and execute decisively will win.