The Middle East

The economy of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) has continued to expand, and while final year-end 2012 figures for growth have yet to be released, officials say they are confident that the forecast 8% increase in GDP – the same rate as in 2011 – will be have been achieved in the emirate.

The year 2012 was one marked by ups and downs for Kuwait, with a record profit highlighting the country’s economic growth, but also exposing its perpetuating reliance on oil revenues. While the planning of new infrastructure projects and growth in the banking sector showed that the country is recovering well from the effects of the 2009 economic crisis, the political scene was dominated by tensions between the government and opposition, which left the parliament paralysed for most of the year.

The recently released Islamic Banking Regulatory Framework (IBRF), a 500-page document setting out the regulations that will govern Oman’s financial sector, is set to open the door for both conventional and Islamic banks to market sharia-compliant products. In a statement accompanying the regulations, the Central Bank of Oman described the IBRF as “a detailed and comprehensive document covering all aspects of Islamic banking”.

A bid by Qatar’s government to consolidate several years of economic expansion, while channelling a budgetary surplus towards large-scale capital works projects, helped the country achieve its aim of more moderate growth for 2012.

The Saudi Arabian economy recorded another solid year of expansion in 2012, sustained by its energy sector and a steady rise in state spending. While growth may moderate in 2013, a number of sectors, including construction and banking, look set to continue expanding.

The emirate’s economy continued its recovery in 2012, with a number of key sectors posting high growth over the past 12 months. However, there are some concerns that the rebound could happen too quickly, resulting in further difficulties in the future.