The Middle East

The composition of Bahrain’s GDP compared to the five other GCC member countries, shows that while the energy sector remains the single largest contributor to national production, at just under a quarter of GDP, Bahrain is leading the way on economic diversification. An IMF discussion paper on economic diversification in GCC countries,...

With over nine hours of sunshine a day for eight months of the year, Bahrain would appear to be an obvious location in which to pursue solar power as a renewable energy option. Looking to harness this readily available resource, the country has already taken its first steps in establishing a renewable energy strategy and is creating a watchdog...

The large amount of business ceded by Gulf insurers to domestic, regional and global reinsurers has, for many years, been a hot topic in the sector. The downside risks of this market characteristic are frequently rehearsed at industry conferences and regulatory seminars: Middle Eastern insurers, it is argued, have grown accustomed to the easy...

The Islamic banking sector might be outstripping its conventional counterpart in terms of growth, but the rapidly developing industry still faces a number of challenges which ordinary lenders are not confronted by. One of the most salient of them is the question of liquidity, which has existed as a potential impediment to growth since the...

For decades, Bahrain has been a regional centre for insurance, with domestic and international firms taking advantage of the country’s robust yet accommodating regulatory structure to pursue business both locally and in rapidly emerging regional markets. The nation’s insurance industry faces increased competition on two fronts: at home, a...