Yemen Crisis Is First Big Test For Saudi Arabia’s King Salman

Yemen is at risk of breaking up with the ascent of the Houthi movement.

New Heir To Saudi Throne Is Relatively Liberal Outsider

Crown Prince Muqrin, 69, will be the first Saudi monarch born after the Kingdom struck oil in 1939.

New Saudi King To Focus Economic Policy On Jobs As Oil Sags

King Salman is likely to rely on stability and continued progress, say experts.

Dubai International Airport: Flying High

A bustling hub for global aviation, Dubai International Airport has not sat idle when it comes to large-scale investments in expansion and upgrades.

Oil’s Plunge To Siphon Gulf Petrodollars From Global Markets

Governments will probably liquidate some of their fund assets to cover budget deficits as their revenues fall; if Brent stays at its current level around $50.

Is Saudi’s Stock Market Ready For An Upgrade?

In 2014, bourses in the UAE and Qatar were upgraded to emerging markets status. Could the opening of Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul see it follow?

Austerity? Not For Us, Say Rich Gulf States As Oil Slides

Consumers are still spending, companies are investing, and governments are announcing record budgets for 2015.

Aviation Pushing Through The Crisis

The global aviation sector’s growth trajectory remains intact despite headwinds.

Dubai Islamic Bank Sukuk May Open Window For Gulf Bond Issues

The plunge in Gulf stock markets, which were overvalued and dominated by panicking retail investors, made bond issuers stay out of the primary market.

The Gulf’s Great Oil Slump

With oil prices plunging to historically low levels, is the GCC insulated from a scathing impact?

AirAsia Crash Makes Case For Ejectable Black Boxes

ICAO wants to develop a global system to improve plane tracking and ensure accident sites are found quickly.

High Noon On The Gulf Coast: Canada, Saudi Oil Set For Showdown

Saudi Arabia is offering crude at discounted prices in an attempt to defend its remaining share of the regional market, which has shrunk by more than half in recent months.

Revamped US Oil Hedges May Test OPEC’s Patience

Many US firms are racing to revamp their policies, cashing in well-placed hedges to increase the number of future barrels hedged, according to industry consultants.

gender gap 2022

Women, Work, And Economics

Is womenomics taking root in the gulf enough to break the region’s glass ceiling?

Asia: Pricing-War Hotspot For African, Gulf Oil Producers

High freight rates benefit Gulf sellers to Asia.

Crowded Skies In Southeast Asia Put Pressure On Pilots, Air Traffic Control

Pilots who have flown the Indonesia to Singapore route say it’s not unusual for delays to requests to increase altitude to avoid bad weather.

Are Security Concerns Restraining Cloud Computing’s Growth In The Middle East?

While cloud computing is expected to grow in the Middle East and Africa, concerns about security are pushing against that trend.

Saudis Counting On $745 Billion To Defend Riyal Peg: Currencies

The country’s current-account surplus will remain the world’s fourth-largest by the end of 2014 even after oil’s decline, economists say.

Slumping Oil Won’t Derail $500bn Gulf Infrastructure Plan

The World Bank estimates up to $500 billion will be spent by Gulf countries on infrastructure by 2020, as governments seek to improve the lives of citizens and create jobs.

Saudi Rulers Reconsider Ties To Wahhabi Clergy

Radicalisation of Muslims in the Kingdom has led to domestic attacks and the involvement of Saudis in jihadist movements.

Sultan’s Absence Raises Worries Over Oman Succession

Analysts fear that any power struggle after the sultan’s death within his Al-Said family – or between the royal family and army leaders – could rattle the country.

Why Are Oil Prices So Unstable?

Deep price cycles are inherent in capital intensive industries like oil and mining, writes Reuters columnist John Kemp.

Is E-Commerce The Best Bet For Middle East Start-Ups?

Although opportunities are abound, many entrepreneurs underestimate the challenges of starting up online.

How Yemen’s Houthis Control Sanaa And Alarm The West

Widely seen as a failed state, Yemen remains one of the gravest threats to stability in the Gulf and beyond.

Gulf Bonds Diverge As Oil Plunge Separates Strong From Weak

As oil plunges, the region is dividing into three classe in investors’ eyes with Kuwait and Qatar emerging as the strongest.

Saudi Arabia Builds Start-Up Culture With State Oil Money

Saudi Aramco’s Entrepreneurship Center has funded 43 ventures in the past three years.

Differences Persist Despite Unity Pledges At GCC’s “Happy Summit”

Differences still exist between the six GCC states over issues relating to Egypt, Libya and Iran.

Dubai Tram: Game Changer?

Will the Dubai Tram persuade more residents to switch to public transport and have a wider impact on the economy?

Oil’s Swoon On OPEC Is Rare Boon For A Few Hedge Funds

OPEC’s decision has provided the commodity fund industry- which has been steadily shrinking over the last few years- with a much needed boost.

Why Dubai’s Property Firms Are Delving Into Hospitality

Real estate firms in Dubai are developing hotels and hotel apartments as they seek to tap into the rising number of tourists.