Middle East & North Africa Economics Focus Will the 'Arab Spring' bring economic transformation? The recent political turmoil, the so-called ‘Arab Spring’, could ultimately lead to a marked acceleration in economic growth for some parts of the Arab World. Egypt, Morocco and, to a lesser extent... 4th October 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Growth forecasts cut for 2012 Following recent downward revisions to our forecasts for growth across the developed and emerging markets, we have also cut our forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We now... 30th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Increasing female participation in Saudi could boost growth Saudi Arabia’s move to allow women to vote (and run) in municipal elections, and to be appointed to the Shoura Council, is an important and positive political move. But the economic benefits are... 27th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack The Arab World’s banks can weather the global crisis The Arab World’s banks are better prepared to face any fallout from the global sovereign debt problems than they were during the financial crisis in 2008. Back then, the region’s financial... 21st September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response UAE Consumer Prices (Aug.) A further drop in the cost of housing pushed last month’s overall consumer price inflation in the UAE to its lowest level since early last year. To add to the good news, food price inflation is also... 20th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt needs the IMF to avoid an external funding crisis Fresh concerns that Egypt could face a fiscal and external funding crisis over the next three years have pushed the country back to the IMF. In June, Egypt turned its back on offers of help from... 16th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Aug.) August’s data show that the drop in food price inflation has helped to offset the impact of rising housing costs in Saudi Arabia. Since the food component accounts for a quarter of the consumer price... 15th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Aug.) August’s data show that a sharp fall in food price inflation helped to push headline inflation in Egypt down to its lowest level since the end of 2007. Core inflation also fell. But, due to concerns... 13th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Too early to expect a strong rebound in the Egyptian economy The preliminary data from Egypt suggest that GDP grew by 1.8% y/y in the 2010/11 fiscal year (which runs from July to June). The output data (if not revised when more details are released on the 22nd)... 9th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia HSBC/Markit PMI (Aug) August’s PMI data show that Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector grew at its slowest rate since the beginning of 2010. What’s more, the output component hit a record low last month. However, despite... 8th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response UAE HSBC/Markit PMI (Aug.) August’s PMI data were disappointing, showing that the UAE’s non-oil private sector expanded at its slowest pace since May 2010. More worryingly, output was flat from the previous month. Meanwhile... 8th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Are the Gulf States at risk from their exposure to the US? We think that the much-reported risks to the value of the foreign assets held by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from the US economic troubles are overstated. Admittedly, the hydrocarbon... 7th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Bahrain's GDP continues to grow despite the social unrest Higher oil and manufacturing revenues helped to offset the decline in Bahrain’s services sector in the second quarter of this year. What’s more, although the country’s GDP grew by only 0.8% y/y in Q2... 6th September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Will a fall in the oil price affect Saudi Arabia’s spending plans? Concerns that the global economy may fall into recession again have increased the likelihood of a drop in the oil price, which in turn poses some downside risks to Saudi Arabia’s economy. Indeed, a... 3rd September 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s unemployment set to stay in double digits until 2013 Egypt’s second quarter unemployment data, in keeping with other industrial indicators, reflect the poor overall state of the economy. Although the jobless rate appears to have levelled off (at just... 31st August 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egyptian rates to stay on hold for the foreseeable future There were no surprises from Egypt’s Central Bank today as the benchmark interest rate was left unchanged at a record low of 8.25%. With the economy still weak, and core inflation (the bank’s... 26th August 2011 · 1 min read
