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SABB Completes Merger With Alawwal Bank

SABB Completes Merger With Alawwal Bank
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SABB Completes Merger With Alawwal Bank

SABB Completes Merger With Alawwal Bank

The Saudi British Bank (SABB) announced that it had completed its merger with Alawwal Bank to join all products and services provided to customers.

Through the integration, SABB will support economic growth across different fields in Saudi Arabia by financing the biggest infrastructure projects.

Both banks were legally merged in June 2019 to form the first integration in terms of scale and complexity in Saudi Arabia.

The Chairman of SABB, Lubna Olayan, said: "As a stronger, more diverse and now fully integrated bank, we are even better positioned to be the bank of choice for a wide range of innovative banking and finance services and to support the exciting transformation of the Kingdom and our economy."

For his part, SABB's Managing Director, David Dew, said: "Our increased balance sheet and capital means we can better support our customers and deliver greater shareholder value."

SABB will also strengthen its partnership with HSBC to enable its customers to have access to the international banking network and introduce new standards in digital services to Saudi Arabia.

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IMF Team Makes First Syria Visit Since 2009

Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
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IMF Team Makes First Syria Visit Since 2009

Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)

An IMF team visited Syria for the first time since 2009 to take part in efforts to rebuild the economy after years of civil war and the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the lender said Tuesday.

The International Monetary Fund's trip to Damascus took place from June 1 to June 5, and its team sought to discuss authorities' priorities and how to help achieve them.

Syria's economy and the country are a wreck after 14 years of war under Assad, who was ousted in December.

"Syria faces enormous challenges following years of conflict that caused immense human suffering and reduced its economy to a fraction of its former size," said Ron van Rooden, who led the visit.

Around six million people have fled the country while another seven million have been displaced internally, he noted.

"Output has plummeted, real incomes have fallen sharply, and poverty rates are high," he said, adding that state institutions have also been weakened with much infrastructure destroyed.

"There is great urgency to address these challenges and achieve a sustainable economic recovery," van Rooden said in a statement at the end of the mission.

Much of Syria's infrastructure has been destroyed by the war, which began with a bloody crackdown on peaceful anti-regime protests.

Longtime strongman Assad was ousted in a lightning offensive by opposition factions in December, and Syria's new government has sought to rebuild diplomatic ties, including with international financial institutions.

Last month, the IMF said it had held useful discussions with Syria's economic team.

The Fund's last comprehensive review of the health of the Syrian economy was done in 2009, before the outbreak of the war in 2011.

In April, Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced that they would settle Syria's debt to the World Bank totaling about $15 million.

The World Bank suspended operations in Syria when the war began. The settlement of its arrears will allow it to resume accessing the bank's financial support and technical advice.