The Middle East

Increased levels of public-private cooperation are likely to bring high-tech solutions and better practices to Oman’s health care sector, particularly with regard to increasing ethical standards and monitoring insurance providers.

Sharjah’s real estate sector is a buyer’s and renter’s market at the moment, with prices falling since the beginning of the year and more residents reporting satisfaction with the affordability of housing. Increased residential and office space competition from neighbouring emirates, however, means that maintaining occupancy rates will be a challenge, at least in the near term.

While Turkey’s stock market, like most around the world, has witnessed reversals over the year so far, especially in recent months, it has remained a solid long-term investment, out-performing its emerging market peers.

With low prices translating into sustained growth in subscriber numbers, Jordan’s highly competitive mobile phone market now has a penetration rate of over 108%. To keep that number increasing, industry players are calling for a sales tax on smartphones to be rescinded, while also launching new mobile phone-based services.

Saudi Arabia’s insurance industry is making impressive strides, with policy take-up growing, premiums increasing, and the sector’s regulatory body strengthening. However, penetration rates still have a considerable way to go if they are to reach those of developed markets.

The first sale of an Islamic finance portfolio since Qatar’s decision to ban conventional lenders from conducting sharia-compliant banking operations is a harbinger of what’s to come as the Islamic finance sector begins to benefit from the ruling. The domestic segment, however, may have to contend with greater competition from foreign Islamic banks keen to enter the lucrative market.