The Middle East Economy

The Guide features hotel listings for business and leisure travellers, along with numbers for ministries, embassies and useful points of contact. It also has helpful information and tips for first-time visitors.

The government has overseen Al Ain’s development in line with the policies laid out by the current ruling family of Abu Dhabi, which is committed to maintaining the traditional character of their ancestral home. Al Ain’s heritage and the area’s many natural attractions have made it a popular tourist destination for Emiratis and foreigners alike. Under Plan Al Ain, Jebel Hafeet and the surrounding...

Accounting for the majority of the emirate’s oil and gas reserves, Al Gharbia generates more than 44% of Abu Dhabi’s GDP, with economic output exceeding $31bn per year. In the coming years, it is set for substantial investment as the government looks to rejuvenate the region and ensure that local talent is retained and plays an integral role in development. As such, over the next two decades, a...

As the largest and most populous of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, Abu Dhabi plays a central role in the federation’s economy. Following the roadmap laid out in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, its long-term economic development plan, the emirate has succeeded in nurturing new economic sectors and seems to be on track to meet its goals. The oil and gas sector accounted for 56.5% of...

The UAE celebrated the 42nd anniversary of its establishment in 2013. Over this relatively short period of time, the country’s capital, Abu Dhabi City, has developed rapidly to become a thriving metropolis. Although the emirate’s economy remains largely based around the exploitation of its considerable hydrocarbons resources, it has also made admirable progress diversifying into new sectors, such...