Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook Turning the corner Growth across the Middle East and North Africa has slowed further this year, but it should recover in 2018 and 2019. In the Gulf, the drag on GDP growth from this year’s oil production cuts will fade... 5th October 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi downturn deepens, blockade hits Qatar’s economy Official GDP data show that the contraction in Saudi Arabia’s economy worsened in Q2 and our GDP Tracker suggests that downturn deepened further at the start of Q3. We expect a recovery to get... 2nd October 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Saudi Arabia returns to the international bond market Saudi Arabia returned to the international bond market this month in order to plug its twin budget and current account shortfalls. A total of $12.5bn of dollar debt was issued, split into three... 28th September 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update The end of the Saudi driving ban & the economic impact The Saudi government’s decision to lift the ban that prohibits women from driving in the Kingdom is clearly a positive step for women’s rights and could potentially have a significant economic impact... 27th September 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Aug.) Saudi inflation remained in negative territory in August but with the government gearing up for a fresh round of subsidy cuts as well as the introduction of a new value-added tax, inflation is likely... 20th September 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Few signs of a bonus boost to Saudi consumer spending The worst of the downturn in Saudi consumer spending appears to have passed, but there’s no sign yet that the reversal of civil service benefit cuts earlier this year has boosted the recovery. With... 19th September 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s tourism recovery likely to be slow-going After a dreadful few years, Egypt’s tourism sector has shown tentative signs of a recovery. Government hopes that the sector can quickly return to its pre-2011 heyday are well wide of the mark, but a... 13th September 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi Arabia rejigging reform plans as opposition mounts Reports that the Saudi government is planning to dilute its reform plans may be the first sign that the power and influence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is starting to wane and that broader... 7th September 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Intrigue in the House of Saud Changes at the top of the royal family have paved the way for King Salman’s son, Mohammed bin Salman, to accede to the throne, with some suggesting that an abdication and succession could take place... 30th August 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Qatar crisis reaches an impasse The diplomatic crisis between Qatar and regional powers seems to be in deadlock. Saudi Arabia and its allies revised their demands in July to something that appeared to be more palatable for Doha, but... 24th August 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update MENA equities continue to struggle Equity markets across most of the emerging world have risen over the past month but those in the Middle East and North Africa have fallen back, continuing their underperformance this year. Stocks in... 23rd August 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi downturn deepened in Q2 Our GDP Tracker suggests that the downturn in the Saudi economy deepened in the second quarter and we expect GDP to fall at an even steeper pace over the second half of the year. Over 2017 as a whole... 22nd August 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi economy sees temporary recovery after Q1 slump Our GDP Tracker suggests that the pace of contraction in Saudi Arabia’s economy eased between March and April. However, that is likely to be temporary, and we expect Saudi GDP to fall at a steeper... 2nd August 2017 · 1 min read
Frontier Markets Wrap Frontier recovery still on track The recovery in frontier economies continued over the first half of this year. GDP growth averaged around 2.0% y/y in Q1, twice the rates seen in mid-2016. It would have been stronger still were it... 31st July 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Worst fears over Qatar crisis fade Diplomatic efforts have failed to bring an end to the stand-off between Qatar and the so-called Anti-Terror Quartet (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain). Encouragingly, though, there are signs that... 21st July 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Update Four key risks facing the oil market The oil market’s attention is firmly on rising production in the US and the outlook for stocks there. However, there are a number of risks elsewhere which are potentially being overlooked and which... 20th July 2017 · 1 min read
