However, there was increased confidence after strategic measures by regional governments, including the United Arab Emirate's guarantee on bank deposits and Qatar's moves towards supporting its banking system.

BBC: Financial crisis: Global round-up

Beyond the blacked-out glass of the Dubai Islamic Bank in the upmarket area of Jumeirah in Dubai, the computer screens, currency exchange rates and paperwork all look the same, but the ten staff differ from those you'd find in most United Arab Emirate (UAE) banks.

BBC: Women-only bank in Gulf