The Middle East

The Kingdom’s stock exchange is to see its first new listing for 2013, with a green light for telecommunications firm Zain Bahrain to launch an initial public offering (IPO). Analysts are likely to follow the float with keen interest as it could serve as an indicator of how far confidence has returned to the Kingdom’s capital markets.

Despite achieving record growth in 2012, telecoms operators in the UAE have seen their profit margins affected by a new royalties programme introduced by the federal government. However, surging demand in Dubai for the latest mobile devices, particularly smartphones and tablets, as well as a more diversified range of value-added services, should result in in even greater growth and profitability in the coming years.

As the waiting list for government-subsidised housing in Kuwait has grown to more than 100,000 in 2013, projects aimed at combating the shortage will see a number of new construction projects in the coming years. Sluggish residential real estate growth and restrictive legislation have created difficulties for the sector, but new public-private partnerships (PPPs) and improved credit access could help alleviate Kuwait’s housing problems.

A move to bring the marketing and sales side of Qatar’s chemical, fertiliser and polymer operations under one umbrella is an indication of the country’s plans to build a larger and more vibrant downstream petrochemicals sector, which is expected to see increased revenues from plans to more than double production by 2020.

A number of new projects, concentrated on bolstering Oman’s infrastructure backbone, are currently filling the order books of domestic construction firms. However, some industry insiders have warned new regulations and a rising wages bill could see profit margins eroded even as activity increases.

The spate of large defence contracts recently awarded to Abu Dhabi-based firms, together with the emirate’s growing success in attracting investment for technology, has highlighted the key role earmarked for the industry in the emirate’s long-term plans to diversify its economy.