“What’s up in X?” will be a series of more casual looks at jurisdictions that might not be proper, full-on offshore jurisdictions but are nonetheless interesting. The previous one was Djibouti. This article will not touch on Northern Cyprus. I am saving that for another day. Türkiye O Turkey. To…
Some months ago, I was in Oman for a period of several weeks. I had been in Oman before but only shorter stays in Muscat. This time I had a chance to see more of the country, and it’s a beautiful one. It’s definitely one of the most open and…
Has it been another year already? It sure looks like it. I have pondered ways to approach this in the best way possible. In previous years, I have almost exclusively listed banks that stood out during the year but I think that might not be the optimal approach. A list…
Time to spice things up a little. Today, we’ll take a look at Lebanon, its full Arabic name (الجمهورية اللبنانية) literally meaning the Lebanese Republic. Hated and loved for a banking secrecy so strict it makes Swiss bankers blush, its quasi-tax-haven status, and the tolerance for Hezbollah. This beautiful country is…
Lacking any significant oil reerves, the Kingdom of Bahrain has been forced to find other sources of income. It has built up sturdy tourism and financial services sector. Bahrain’s strength as a financial center and strong Islamic banking tradition has enabled it to become a major petroleum producer. History The islands that…
Visiting Iran is an absolute pleasure. Persian (and really all Middle Eastern) hospitality is deeply rooted in the culture and the people are curious about foreigners. Getting in is relatively easy, compared to many of its neighbours and neighbours’ neighbours. Most nationalities can either enter visa free or apply for…