I've been an expat for 26 years, and I'm more than happy with a down-to-earth Nationwide International Isle of Man bank account - I also retain a UK Nationwide account.
Deposit accounts pay diddly-squat at the moment, and personally I'm not at all sold on having to deposit GBP60k(?) with HSBC at a pitiful rate of interest just to get a few dubious benefits.
You mentioned MENA - may I ask where exactly?