Search results

Oman’s new sultan will hasten decentralisation

Location:

OMAN

This marks the first significant change of policy following the death in January of former Sultan Qaboos, after half a century in power. Qaboos’s Oman began as a highly…

Riyadh’s rapid-fire reforms may cause policy overload

Location:

SAUDI ARABIA

The outlook for the Saudi private sector.

Oman's state-society relations may slowly change

Location:

OMAN

Many welcomed the decision, believing it reflected the authorities’ acknowledgement of social realities. The decision also builds on other changes to state-society relations, such…

Kuwait’s economic reform plans will face challenges

Location:

KUWAIT

Kuwait’s sixth government in two years took office in October pledging to accelerate the slow reform of an economy that is overwhelmingly dominated by the state’s spending of…

Saudi Arabia will lead Gulf funds’ inward focus shift

Location:

GULF STATES

This echoed the strategy of the sovereign wealth funds of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states after the 2008 global financial crisis, but there are several key differences: GCC…

Gulf taxation plans will not plug fiscal deficits

Location:

GULF STATES

Taxation in the Gulf.

Kuwaiti anti-expat rhetoric could deter incomers

Location:

KUWAIT

Anti-expatriate sentiment in Kuwait.

Prospects for the Gulf states in 2020

Location:

PROSPECTS 2020

Prospects for the Gulf states in 2020.

Financing shortfall will push Oman to uneasy austerity

Location:

OMAN

A fiscal crunch exacerbated by the pandemic and associated oil-price crash has forced the authorities to step up long-term ‘Omanisation’ efforts, ultimately taking pressure off…

COVID-19 and oil shocks raise Gulf recession risks

Location:

GULF STATES

Lower oil and gas revenues are the major transmission channel of the global crisis to regional economies, but tourism, financial and professional services are also taking a major…