The Middle East

Ras Al Khaimah saw its tourism industry hit a high note in 2014, with revenues surpassing Dh1bn ($242.9m), bolstered by the addition of new rooms and a rise in the number of hotel nights spent by visitors in the emirate. 

With the aim of creating a niche for itself as a top student destination in the Gulf, Bahrain hopes international students will fill up to 35% of all university places over the next decade, according to projections from the national education plan.

A quick scan down the list of strategic projects currently getting underway in Qatar reveals not only the enormous scale of construction, but also the size of the state’s project financing commitments.

From the QR136.5bn Qatar Rail roll out to the comparatively modest QR20bn and QR30bn sums attached to Education City, Musheireb, Barwa City and the World Cup stadiums...

Falling demand and rising competition for feedstock, alongside a national push to bring the price of raw materials closer to market rates, are combining to put pressure on Saudi Arabia’s petrochemicals industry.

Jordan’s decision in 2012 to begin a phased withdrawal of electricity subsidies was undoubtedly a good one from the point of view of the kingdom’s public finances. 

Extensive investments in gas recovery technology look set to reduce Qatar’s carbon footprint, with newly opened facilities aiming to boost production and earnings whilst minimising wastage.