The Middle East

Since 2008 Dubai’s tourism sector has once again become a major economic contributor, following a downturn in the global economic crisis. In 2011 the industry attracted more than 9.3m tourists – up about 10% from the previous year – and contributed some 31% of the emirate’s total GDP. In the last couple of years political upheaval in the region has seen visitor numbers to popular tourist...

Dubai’s real estate market is poised for improvement in 2013, as the emirate works to regain its reputation as a leading regional destination for investment. Recovering from the losses suffered in the aftermath of the 2008-09 global economic downturn - when property prices fell by as much as 50-60% - the residential real estate market is now forecast to greatly benefit from rapid population...

The combination of Dubai’s central location and advanced infrastructure have attracted trade operators from around the world, and the emirate continues its legacy as a shipping point between East and West. In 2011 transportation, along with logistics, tourism and trade, accounted for 60% of Dubai’s GDP, the result of a number of recent investments. Authorities have initiated a $523m plan to build...

The UAE is one of the largest insurance markets in the Gulf region, and Dubai takes an impressive share of the country’s total premiums. There is still plenty of room for growth in life and general, with the period ahead likely to see more of this potential realised. More specifically, Dubai is moving toward compulsory health insurance, and there are signs that the infrastructure and real estate...

With global Islamic financial assets worth some $1.2trn at the end of 2011 and growth of 150% over the previous five years, Dubai has long been eager to take a bigger share of this rapidly expanding market. Indeed, the emirate has long been home to some of the region’s stand-out Islamic banks and insurers, with its sukuk – Islamic bond – market also of highly prominent international standing....