Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Suez Canal & al-Sisi re-elected, Kuwait’s Emir, Qatar budget

Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea have already caused traffic through the Suez Canal to fall, which will put a dent in Egypt’s revenues and could intensify the country’s external strains...

21st December 2023 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack

Middle East and North Africa Chart Pack (Dec. 2023)

Our Middle East and North Africa Chart Pack has been updated with the latest data and our analysis of recent developments. Economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa will strengthen a little...

18th December 2023 · 1 min read

Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook

Another year of sluggish growth

Economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa will strengthen a little in 2024 but is likely to come in well below consensus expectations. OPEC+’s cautious approach to oil policy will keep a lid...

13th December 2023 · 22 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

COP28 and OPEC+, Saudi secures 2030 World Expo

While COP28 is getting underway in Dubai, attention may be drawn instead to events in Vienna today, where OPEC+ has reportedly agreed to reduce its oil production by a further 1mn bpd. This would...

30th November 2023 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack

Middle East and North Africa Chart Pack (Nov. 2023)

Our Middle East and North Africa Chart Pack has been updated with the latest data and our analysis of recent developments After a sharp slowdown this year, GDP growth across the Middle East and North...

28th November 2023 · 1 min read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

OPEC+ drama ensues, Saudi-China currency swap

The surprise delay to the OPEC+ meeting to next week has only added to speculation that the slide in oil prices in recent months and the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict could prompt the group to...

23rd November 2023 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Update

How credible are the region’s currency pegs?

Persistent balance of payments strains brought pressure on some of the region’s non-oil producing countries who employ fixed exchange rate regimes. FX reserves have been depleted to support currencies...

9th November 2023 · 3 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack

Middle East and North Africa Chart Pack (Oct. 2023)

After a sharp slowdown this year, GDP growth across the Middle East and North Africa will improve in 2024 as OPEC+ starts to raise its output quotas and high oil prices allow the Gulf economies to...

24th October 2023 · 1 min read

Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook

Growth prospects for 2024 improving

After a sharp slowdown this year, GDP growth across the Middle East and North Africa will improve in 2024 as OPEC+ starts to raise its output quotas and high oil prices allow the Gulf economies to...

25th September 2023 · 20 mins read

Asset Allocation Update

We think EMEA equities will continue to be a mixed bag

Equities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) have returned little in US$ terms so far this year. While they may fare better next year, we doubt they’ll outperform the wider emerging equity...

29th August 2023 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack

Middle East and North Africa Chart Pack (Aug. 2023)

Oil output cuts are driving a sharp slowdown in economic growth across the Gulf. The hit to volumes will more than offset the rebound in oil prices but, for now at least, fiscal policy is being kept...

21st August 2023 · 1 min read

Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack

Tourism’s long road to recovery

The hit to tourism in the region from the COVID-19 pandemic finally appears to be over. Receipts and arrivals are now back to, or even above, seasonal norms in almost all countries. This will be...

27th June 2023 · 10 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook

Oil output cuts driving Gulf slowdown

Economic growth across the region will be much weaker this year than last and our forecasts are generally below the consensus. We think regional growth will come in at just 1.4%, one of the weakest...

21st June 2023 · 20 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Saudi sporting fever, OPEC+ fallout, Kuwait elections

Saudi Arabia has dominated the sports headlines this week with big-money moves for global football stars a sign that the Kingdom is recycling large current account surplus. But the move does raise...

8th June 2023 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack

Gulf growth slowing

The flash Q1 GDP figures for Saudi Arabia showed the economy grew at its weakest pace in two years at the start of 2023, reflecting the cut in oil production in line with the OPEC+ decision in October...

24th May 2023 · 12 mins read