The Middle East

The retail market in Kuwait is characterised by a fairly large luxury segment, as well as a large mid-market segment. This reflects the country’s high GDP per capita and young population. In general, Kuwaitis tend to occupy well-paid positions in the public sector, while much of the work in the private sector is undertaken by expatriate...

The growth witnessed across Kuwait’s retail sector in recent years looks set to continue as additional outlets open their doors in newly available retail spaces. High-end malls offering luxury brands, in particular, are proving popular with Kuwaitis, who rank among the GCC’s most affluent consumers. Analysts expect 2014 to be another strong...

As one of the world’s most affluent societies, Kuwait is home to a growing and diversifying retail sector. With strong economic fundamentals and a steady increase in consumer purchasing power, retail in Kuwait is on a sure foundation.

The economy of Kuwait stands on the threshold of entering a major new phase in its development. Up to now, it has been based largely on the export of raw hydrocarbons or ancillary products such as petrochemicals. Now, however, a large programme of public investment is re-energising the economy across the board, and industry is set to be a...

As part of Kuwait’s effort to diversify and grow its economy, authorities are launching two initiatives that are set to expand trade with East Asia. First, Kuwait is looking to increase its oil production from around 2.9m barrels per day (bpd) currently to 4m bpd by 2020. This will also boost production of associated gas, which can be used as...

Strong economic growth, rising personal incomes and increased access to next-generation technologies have created significant opportunities in Kuwait’s IT industry. While the country is working to keep up with some of its regional peers in IT uptake, its market holds considerable untapped potential as the government pushes to expand fibre-...