Over A Bump

This month we release our latest lists revealing the Middle East’s biggest players in banking and Fintech. These come at an odd time for both sectors. March was a bit of a crazy month for the global banking industry, with worries about a new financial crisis circulating and some key acquisitions swopping in to prevent mayhem in the markets. According to Forbes, over $300 billion was wiped off U.S. bank stocks in March. This was largely caused by ramifications from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the largest U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, followed closely by the collapse of specialist bank Silvergate and crypto-focused Signature Bank.

By March 20, New York Community Bancorp had inked a deal to acquire Signature Bank, and on March 26, First Citizens Bank agreed to buy $72 billion worth of SVB’s assets at a $16.5 billion discount from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In an unrelated deal, on March 19, UBS agreed to buy Zurich rival Credit Suisse for $3.2 billion in a deal arranged by the Swiss government, the central bank, and market regulator, following over 12 months of turmoil that saw Credit Suisse lose more than 75% of its value, according to Reuters. Experts are now reporting that the worst is over and a global crisis unlikely, which should be coming as a relief to, well, pretty much everyone.

While the banking and finance industry continues to seek stability and growth, it is also navigating a digital transformation, with more tech-based companies than ever offering banking and investment services via apps. According to a white paper released by Mastercard at the end of 2022, the global Fintech market was worth $112.5 billion in 2021 and is estimated to hit $332.5 billion by 2028. As of the end of 2022, there were more than 470 Fintech unicorns globally. MENA alone is expected to have 45 Fintech unicorns by 2030.

In terms of which countries in the region are incubating these startups, the power seems to be shifting. In our list of the Middle East’s 15 Top Fintechs in 2021, six of the 15 companies were based in the U.A.E., followed by four in Egypt, three in Kuwait, one in Jordan, and one in Saudi Arabia. In this year’s 2023 list, which features 30 companies, Egypt dominates with eight entries, followed by Saudi Arabia with six, and the U.A.E. and Kuwait with five each. This is being helped by central banks and governments increasingly implementing legislation and initiatives offering more support and regulatory provisions to encourage financial innovation.

All in all, it’s an interesting time for money managers. I hope you enjoy learning more about the movers and shakers in MENA.

—Claudine Coletti, Managing Editor

Innovating Since 2010

APRIL 2023 ISSUE 127

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