The Middle East

As Abu Dhabi's leadership visited Washington to solidify US support for their nuclear power plans, government officials in the emirate delayed the tendering of the project in order to give bidders more time.

Qatar's telecommunications sector is becoming increasingly competitive, both domestically and on the international stage.

Sharjah has long identified the transport industry as being a potentially major component of its development, as well as being a foundation stone for growth in the broader economy.

Like the majority of stock markets around the world, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has endured an element of uncertainty since the onset of the global financial crisis. However, with the index on an 11-week high, and positive trading signals for the first half of the year, the capital's bourse can look to the future with a degree of optimism.

Dubai's transport sector is about to enter a new era, with the launch of the initial stage of the world's largest fully automated metro system scheduled for early September.

Having gone through a period of consolidation and foreign investment, with many of the industry's leading firms taking on overseas partners, and having apparently ridden out the worst of the global financial crisis, Turkey's insurance sector appears to be again gaining momentum.