The Middle East

International ratings agencies and analysts have given Qatar’s banking sector a clean bill of health, though the central bank is keeping an eye on non-performing loans (NPLs), as well as monitoring inflationary pressure.

Saudi Arabia’s petrochemicals industry is about to get a massive boost, with a new $20bn plant in the works and extensive state spending on infrastructure set to further improve the nation’s logistics backbone. Before the full benefits are realised, however, the sector may have to endure a down period as the recovery of the global economy continues to falter.

The central bank (CB) took several measures in August in an effort to reverse the sharp decline of the lira against global benchmark currencies. Since November 2010, the lira has lost approximately one-quarter of its value, and slid 13.5% against the US dollar so far this year, as international investors have steadily removed their money from Turkish markets.

Abu Dhabi is looking to increase the role industry plays in its burgeoning economy, stepping up investments in leading manufacturing sectors with an eye to building export markets in the medium term and laying the foundation for a more advanced industrial base in the longer run.

As the number of Kuwaiti students leaving the country to continue their education continues to increase, a trend that looks set to continue, those students who choose to stay at home will likely be affected by a recent decision to boost enrolment at state-run Kuwait University (KU).

Since issuing a decree to establish an Islamic financial services sector in May, Oman has seen a flurry of activity as banks have started gearing up to move into the new market. As well as the establishment of new Islamic banks, the sector is also seeing an upsurge of sharia-compliant services at convention institutions as well as movements in other financial services to offer Islamic products.