The Middle East

As one of the 12 strategic sectors identified in Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, tourism plays a central role in the government’s plan to reduce the economy’s reliance on the hydrocarbons industry. To this end, Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in the sector in recent years, creating more attractions to draw tourists, as well as building hotels and expanding the national airline. Indeed, the tourism...

In tandem with the increasing diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy, the information and communications technology (ICT) industry has come to take on a more prominent role, featuring a much broader range of businesses than was the case even five years ago. Telecoms companies in the UAE are continuing to invest in the country’s physical infrastructure, which is among the most advanced in the...

Like much of the Gulf region, Abu Dhabi is largely made up of desert, and as such, agriculture accounts for only a small proportion of the economic output of the emirate – less than 1% of GDP. Despite Abu Dhabi importing the majority of its food, the sector is set to witness important developments in areas such as aquaculture, organic food and water conservation. Date production continues to be a...

While the emirate currently maintains one of the more respected educational systems in the region, the sector continues to develop and possesses tremendous potential for sustainable and long-term growth. Recent efforts have focused on upgrading the present academic system by reducing gaps between vocational education and industry and between secondary and tertiary education. Several organisations...

The city of Al Ain is sometimes known as “the Garden City”, and with good reason. While the UAE is largely composed of desert, Al Ain sits in the centre of a large oasis that it shares with the neighbouring Omani town of Buraimi and which has sustained human settlement for thousands of years. Now, diverse economic activity is offering new opportunities aerospace supplies production, food...

As government plans come to fruition, Al Gharbia – the western region of Abu Dhabi – will be a model of responsible and sustainable development for desert and arid coastal environments. Indeed, under Plan Al Gharbia 2030, the region’s economy is forecast to double in size, and the population set is to increase from 185,000 in 2010 to 450,000 by the end of the plan. Already a hive of activity in...