The Middle East

Increasing revenues and reducing spending have been established as the core objectives of Bahrain’s economic policy, with subsidy reduction across the board likely to be a common theme in 2016. After energy, the financial sector continues to be the second-largest contributor to GDP, accounting for 16.5% of the total in 2014. This is followed by manufacturing which comprised 14.4% of GDP....

The kingdom of Bahrain has been ruled as a constitutional monarchy since 2002 under the leadership of Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The country pioneered the Middle East’s oil production in 1932, thus establishing the region’s initial framework for the petroleum industry. The energy sector remains a pillar of the kingdom’s economy, accounting for the bulk of government revenues but a...

Oman offers a diverse as well as highly competitive telecoms sector, with two full-network operators and three virtual network operators catering to a market of 4m people. Despite this, however, the sector has continued to expand on the back of rising subscriptions and increasing mobile penetration rates. Growing market maturity has led to operators looking to boost take-up of mobile internet...

The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Oman and contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time or regular business and leisure visitors alike.

This chapter contains an overview of the legal framework within which local and international investors operate in Oman, including a look at the business environment for foreign investors, the different types of corporate entity recognized in Oman and a rundown of the various incentives available for inward investment. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Paul Sheridan, Managing Partner,...