Last chance saloon?
The region has perhaps its last chance to implement real economic structural change, analysts warn [...]
Economy
World’s M&A boom ‘bypasses Middle East’
A GLOBAL boom in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has largely bypassed the Middle East where regional deals are stalling as sellers refuse to budge on valuations despite a slumping oil price. [...]
Cash-strapped Saudi lays out policy shake-up
SAUDI ARABIA, its finances hit by low oil prices, announced plans to shrink a record state budget deficit with spending cuts, reforms to energy subsidies and a drive to raise revenues from taxes and privatisation. [...]
Growth accelerator
An area roughly the size of Washington DC is being developed on Saudi Arabia’s west coast. One day King Abdullah Economic City could be home to hundreds of thousands of people employed by a raft of world-class industries [...]
Tonal shifts
The GCC has proved to be surprisingly nimble in adjusting its rhetoric to the new normal of current oil prices. Will this be enough to effect structural change? [...]
The Age of Africa?
Heads of state, cabinet ministers, business leaders, financiers and investors brushed shoulders last month in Dubai to consider the massive opportunity, and challenges, presented by Africa [...]
Unwelcome shock
Riyadh reacted to a recent downgrade by S&P with heavy criticism of the ratings agency, but S&P is far from being alone in its analysis of the Saudi economy [...]
The art of attraction
Given what it has to offer, Oman should be attracting far more tourists. A new government strategy due to be released soon could help it to make more of its potential [...]
Areas for concern, but not panic
Oman may be battling fiscal headwinds this year but its economy still retains some bright spots [...]
Kuwaiti emir urges government to cut spending
THE EMIR of Kuwait urged the cabinet and parliament to cut state spending in response to slumping oil prices, warning that any delay would increase the damage to the government’s finances. [...]
Projects
