The Middle East

With a strong and well established financial services sector, Bahrain’s role in expanding the global reach of sharia-compliant financing looks set to broaden further through three developments firmed up in July. Two new partnerships were announced last month that will expand the number of Islamic Financial Services (IFS) institutions in the kingdom, while an agency already active in the sector is furthering its work to globalise the industry.

Kuwait is seeing significant activity in its construction sector this year, with contracts worth $17.5bn already signed or on offer. There are also a number of large-scale projects already underway and at the stage of moving from the drawing-board to the development stage, adding further momentum. However, raw material supplies, including cement, are in short supply and could cause delays and cost increases.

Sustained growth in Oman’s tourism industry is expected on the back of rising interest in the destination together with favourable economic conditions driving up disposable income and improved connectivity.

A renewed focus on developing the tourism and industrial sectors has driven a construction boom in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and led to the development of a host of industrial, residential, commercial and retail spaces. To support this growth, the government has at the same time invested in basic electricity, water and sewer networks.

A combination of aid and investment from its Arab peers and stronger regional trade ties is proving instrumental in helping Jordan draw a line under several years of sluggish growth.

An increasing number of Kuwaiti lenders are moving away from traditional banking in a bid to tap into a booming market for Sharia-compliant financial products in the region - a move that could soon see Islamic financing overtake conventional banking in the Gulf state.