The Middle East

Recent years have seen increasing signs of the emergence of what has been dubbed a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), also known as Industry 4.0. This revolution relies on machine-to-machine communication, also sometimes known as the internet of things (IoT), 3D printing and artificial intelligence.

In 2008, for the first time in history, more than half of humanity was living in urban areas. Perhaps the most remarkable observation about this trend is the speed at which it has happened: as recently as 1900 urban areas accounted for 13% of the global population. Towns and cities are seen as the crucibles of opportunity for many rural...

Real estate development is a significant contributor to the Bahraini economy and 2017 saw the sector post its strongest growth rate in years, though activity slowed in the first half of 2018. Nevertheless, a major government initiative to expand the stock of affordable housing has stimulated activity in the sector. In addition, rising demand...

Bahrain International Airport (BIA) will soon be housed in a new international air terminal which is currently being constructed at an estimated cost of $1.1bn. This project is a recipient of finance from the Gulf Development Fund, which plans to channel $10bn altogether into Bahrain.

The aviation sector is experiencing rapid growth worldwide, propelled by booming tourism industries, lower air fares and the push for greater connectivity in an increasingly globalised economy. Middle-class expansion has also spurred growth in air travel, as more people are able to afford flights for holidays or business-related travel....

Bahrain is home to a dynamic transport sector, including one of the Gulf’s oldest airlines and a causeway linking the kingdom to Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest economy. A second such link is in development, and soon the kingdom will also be connected by rail to the (GCC) train network.