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Remittance decline will further sap Yemeni resilience

Location:

YEMEN

A significant contributing factor is likely a sustained decline in remittances from workers in Gulf states, related to long-term policy changes as well as recent pandemic policy…

Aid to the Middle East will fall far short of needs

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MIDDLE EAST

The UN is seeking an additional USD10.3bn in donations to combat the pandemic worldwide, with around one-fifth earmarked for the Middle East.

Rising Lebanese chaos may hinder elites and protesters

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LEBANON

COVID-19 cases have spiked in the wake of the devastating August 4 explosion that destroyed parts of Beirut, causing mass casualties and forcing the resignation of Prime Minister…

Gulf states' health reforms will hit unskilled workers

Location:

GULF STATES

This followed Abu Dhabi's decision in June 2016 to boost mandatory insurance premiums for expatriates' basic healthcare entitlements. Nationals must also now make a co-payment…

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…

More jobs for Middle East women could boost growth

Location:

MIDDLE EAST

It launched the annual forum of ‘Top CEOs’, reflecting rapid changes in Riyadh’s policy over the past year. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to increase female…

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…

Kuwait’s government may seek to centralise power

Location:

KUWAIT

The government is also curtailing legislators’ right to cross-question ministers, especially the prime minister -- a distinctive feature of the Kuwaiti system that has long given…

Kuwait faces a deferred liquidity crunch

Location:

KUWAIT

The impact of the pandemic and especially lower oil prices hit the government budget hard, since more than nine-tenths of revenue comes from oil sales. However, the country also…

Prospects for Iran to end-2020

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PROSPECTS H2 2020

Politicians will increasingly look to presidential polls due in 2021, further weakening the incumbent. The external environment remains largely unfavourable.