Best bank
HSBC
HSBC?s strength across all business lines, as well as its size and presence, make it the best bank in the region. It is not only the best debt house and best at risk management, it is also a leading cash management bank, retail bank and Islamic bank.
HSBC is strong in all the biggest regional markets, such as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, through its affiliate Saudi British Bank, the best bank in Saudi Arabia for the second year.
Arch-rival Citigroup, although still a powerful force, seems to be fading from prominence.
There is, though, no shortage of competition. BNP Paribas, with its solid franchise in markets such as Lebanon and Iran, is increasingly a force to be reckoned with.
The French bank was one of the most active debt houses in the region and is a leading regional foreign exchange market player. It was also recently granted a licence to operate in Saudi Arablia along with Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan.
But no bank in the region can yet claim to be as strong in as many markets or products as HSBC.