Saudi Arabia

With public expenditure rising and a general improvement in international economic conditions in recent years, growth estimates across the region for the six GCC member states are expected to be in the 4-5% range, with the non-oil-and-gas economy also taking the lead, once again outstripping hydrocarbons in terms of the rate of expansion.

With every GCC member state investing in transport, the region is currently undergoing something of a road and rail boom. In the first three quarters of 2013, about $30bn in railway construction contracts were awarded across the GCC, while some estimates suggest as much as $200bn could be spent on regional rail development initiatives over the...

Home to an estimated 15.9% of the world’s proven oil reserves and the single largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa, Saudi Arabia is a key player in the region and around the world. Since it was officially founded in September 1932, the Kingdom has poured its considerable resources into a series of large-scale economic development...

Hydrocarbons are not the only underground resource to yield billions of dollars of profit in Saudi Arabia. The mining of metallic ores, phosphates, bauxite and construction materials is an area of growth which the government hopes will become the third pillar of the economy, after oil and petrochemicals.

The emergence of two mining cities in Saudi Arabia could galvanise further private sector investment both upstream and downstream, with a host of new rail linkages set to sweeten the deal.

As the single largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa, and home to an estimated 16.1% of the world’s proven oil reserves, Saudi Arabia is a key player in the region and around the world. Since it was officially founded in September 1932, the Kingdom has poured its considerable resources into a series of large-scale...