The Middle East

Massive investments in infrastructure make for an excellent outlook for Qatar’s construction sector. The nation’s rising population, growing economy, increasing diversification and the forthcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup are all contributing factors.

Looking to build on recent successes, Bahrain’s insurance sector is reaching out to potential clients through greater use of tools such as bancassurance. The sector is also hoping plans for increased infrastructure spending will boost the call for coverage for the construction and industrial sectors.

Plans are moving ahead for Kuwait’s country-wide metro system, which is hoped to address the growing issue of congestion and create a better environment for growth in commercial, business, industrial and residential markets.

The health care sector in Jordan is poised to benefit from two recent agreements promising to increase the number of medical tourists visiting the country’s hospitals, which offer some of the highest quality services in the region.

Narrowing the current account gap and correcting the underdevelopment of the Anatolian provinces are just two of the goals of the Turkish government’s latest investment incentive scheme, announced in early April. The plan, which specifically aims at replacing intermediate goods imports with locally manufactured products, has won accolades from the private sector and business organisations.

Interest in Dubai’s bond market is undergoing a revival, with enthusiasm tracking the steady rebound of the emirate’s economy. There are still some lingering concerns, however, over whether all bonds can be repaid on time or if another round of rescheduling will be required.