The Middle East

Progress on two new medical facilities, located in Irbid and Amman, could add much-needed capacity to Jordan’s health sector as it copes with rising demand for health care services.

Last month Kuwait announced plans to create a new fund to manage its domestic assets, signalling a key step forward in the country’s push to privatise state-owned companies.

With several initial public offerings (IPOs) on the horizon, Oman’s Muscat Securities Market (MSM) is looking to weather global economic volatility by deepening the country’s equity offering. 

The Turkish economy remained relatively resilient in 2015, despite continued weakness among leading trade partners, instability along and within its borders, and a rising tide of Syrian refugees.

The Jordanian tourism industry is beginning to reap rewards from measures introduced in 2015 aimed at winning back regular visitors, particularly from the Gulf, and attracting other, first-time tourists.

Ramped-up investment programmes and solid private sector expansion helped sustain Bahrain’s economic growth in 2015, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years.