The Middle East

Over the course of 2017-18 Kuwait’s Islamic financial services (IFS) industry saw continued growth and ongoing development, shoring up the country’s long-standing reputation as a global centre for sharia-compliant banking, insurance and investment activities. Global IFS assets topped $2trn for the first time in 2017, with Kuwait accounting for 6% of these assets, having an estimated value of $...

The Kuwait stock market is undergoing a series of changes, which have the potential to trigger transformations in the market’s daily operations and long-term prospects. This commenced in 2016, with private operator Boursa Kuwait taking over operations of the publicly owned bourse, then known as the Kuwait Stock Exchange. In mid-February 2018 the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) announced it had...

As a founding member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as well as the site of approximately 7% of the world’s crude oil reserves, Kuwait has long been a major energy exporter. In 2017 the nation’s oil sector generated more than 90% of government revenues, and oil exports were equal to some 42% of GDP, the highest figure among member states, according to OPEC data...

With 6% of the world’s proven oil reserves and 1% of its natural gas, Kuwait had an estimated GDP per capita of $71,943 in power purchasing parity terms in 2017, which was the eighth-highest value for any country or autonomous region, according to the World Bank. Kuwait has also been a prudent saver of its petrodollars and has the world’s fourth-largest sovereign wealth fund, with the Kuwait...

As a member of both the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the GCC, Kuwait has numerous strategic ties. Additionally, the country is arguably the most politically dynamic in the Gulf, which has afforded it strong foundations to help tackle recent issues regarding parliamentary elections and accountability. By continuing with economic diversification efforts and reducing...