Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Tight lending conditions prevail The private sector in the oil-rich Gulf States (in particular the UAE and Kuwait) is still struggling with tight credit conditions. The region’s banks are slowly recovering from the aftermath of the... 21st June 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Does the Gulf's foreign exchange policy still makes sense? Concerns that the dollar is set to weaken further has reignited the debate on the dollar peg in the Gulf, which if abandoned would allow the region’s central banks to take control of monetary policy... 18th June 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Will Oman's additional spending boost growth? Oman has recently announced significant additional government spending over the previous commitments made in April, which is likely to have an impact on economic growth in the near term. Nonetheless... 10th June 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response UAE HSBC/Markit PMI (May) May’s PMI data show that, even though the pace of growth has slowed from April, the UAE’s non-oil private sector is still growing at a healthy rate. However, employment growth is not yet reflecting... 6th June 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia HSBC/Markit PMI (May) May’s PMI data show that employment in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector grew at its fastest rate since the end of 2009. Meanwhile, exports grew rapidly in May, which is most likely due to a boost... 6th June 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What is the economic impact of Egypt's new budget? Egypt’s government budget for the fiscal year 2011/12 (which starts in July) has focused on public sector salaries, as well as food and fuel subsidies, which is predictable given the social unrest and... 2nd June 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Can the Saudi economy manage without foreign workers? The announcement by Saudi Arabia’s government that foreign worker visas will not be renewed beyond six years will be a major blow for the country’s private sector. If the plans are implemented, there... 31st May 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update How much will foreign aid help Egypt? Recent reports of a G8 ‘Marshal Plan’, as well as pledges of financial aid and investment from the Gulf, US and Europe, have contributed to a rally in Egypt’s stock market in recent weeks, which has... 27th May 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What is the impact of a fall in tourism revenues? The fall in tourism revenues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will have serious economic implications in the near term. Even if visitor numbers start to increase (as political... 25th May 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Price pressures are mounting Rising global commodity prices have pushed food price inflation up in most Arab countries. The recent depreciation in the dollar and government fiscal stimulus have also contributed to the increase in... 20th May 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update What are the implications of expanding the GCC? The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) decision to invite Jordan and Morocco to join shows the Council’s determination to ensure the political survival of the two remaining (and friendly) Arab... 11th May 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response UAE HSBC/Markit PMI (Apr.) April’s PMI data show that the rapid growth in domestic demand has helped the UAE’s non-oil private sector record its best monthly performance since the survey began in August 2009. Nonetheless... 3rd May 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia HSBC/Markit PMI (Apr.) April’s PMI data show that even though the overall performance of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector remains strong, the pace of growth is slowing down. More worryingly, price pressures are... 3rd May 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update How will the Syrian crisis affect the Middle East? The rapidly deteriorating political situation in Syria will undoubtedly worsen the economic conditions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Admittedly, the country’s GDP amounted to less... 28th April 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Will foreign aid help Jordan’s struggling economy? Faced with the prospects of the growing social unrest, the Jordanian government had little choice but to increase food and fuel subsidies this year, and reduce taxes (on some food and fuel products)... 20th April 2011 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook Gulf countries key to regional stability The social unrest spreading through the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will result in a two-way split in economic performance across the region. In the resource-rich countries, high oil prices... 20th April 2011 · 1 min read
