The Middle East

Despite a challenging regional environment, Jordan continues to move ahead with the reform process it began over a decade ago. The process has focused on building consensus for reforms that are home-grown and sustainable, the results of which are starting to materialise. Jordan’s gradual and evolutionary approach aims to put in place an efficient system of checks and...

The last year was a good one for the Jordanian construction sector, which registered an 8.3% expansion in 2013 compared to the previous year’s relatively static performance. Much of this improved showing can be attributed to increased state spending on large infrastructure projects and sizeable tranches of foreign investment, both of which have provided a fillip to...

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan covers a total area of 89,342 sq km and shares 1635 km of land borders with the neighbouring states of Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as well as 26 km of coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba in the south.

For most of the world’s large securities markets, increasing trading volume and value – liquidity – is a priority. In Bahrain, where more activity in securities trading could be a valued complement to the capital markets services and capacities already in place, officials are in the midst of a multi-pronged strategy to make it happen. This includes...

In many respects, Bahrain’s capital markets offer the variety and depth expected for a financial sector of its type. There are two securities exchanges, a local funds industry growing in size and sophistication, and liquidity management tools in the form of government-debt securities, which are issued on a regular basis. In recent years, the kingdom...

ETIQUETTE: It is customary to exchange handshakes when introducing yourself; however, it is important to allow members of the opposite sex to extend their hand to initiate the handshake. It is also not uncommon to see men greet each other with kisses on both cheeks. The dress code during business...