The Middle East

The last 10 years have seen Abu Dhabi’s visitor appeal grow rapidly thanks to the government’s prioritisation of tourism and culture as part of the emirate’s long-term strategy for economic diversification. With an array of high-end accommodation already in place and Louvre Abu Dhabi shining as the emirate’s latest addition to a growing number of attractions, sector authorities are looking to...

A regional pioneer in the provision of both health care and medical insurance, Abu Dhabi continued to lay the foundations in 2018 for a more robust model of primary care and achieved new milestones in transplant surgery. Driven by the construction of new hospitals, clinics and specialised facilities, there is a strong pipeline of public and private sector investment in new facilities,...

Billions of dirhams are being spent each year on education in Abu Dhabi by the emirate’s leaders, investors and families, with the aim of equipping new generations with the skills necessary to lead the transformation of the public and private sectors, and drive the development of a knowledge-based economy. Standards in schools and universities are closely monitored to ensure a quality learning...

Sixty years after Abu Dhabi’s first oil discovery at the Murban Bab oilfield, industry is proving to be an engine of growth and economic diversification in 2019, as Emirati entrepreneurs explore and nurture new opportunities to reduce reliance on the volatile energy sector. Their efforts to diversify include vertical development into downstream industries such as petrochemicals, plastics and...

Although it has become a strong contributor to economic diversification, Abu Dhabi’s real estate sector is being put under pressure by slower growth, brought on by low global oil prices that started in 2014. Spending cuts since 2015 have been reflected in capital value, with rental rates declining to their lowest levels since 2013. However, the slowdown has masked encouraging developments in...