The Report: Saudi Arabia 2018

Key initiatives include a privatisation programme which would see the divestment of a number of state-owned giants, such as the partial listing of Aramco, the creation of the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund and the increased participation of women in the job market. The Kingdom has played a key role too on the international stage in 2017, becoming the first country to host President Trump, a visit which resulted in renewed trade and investment commitments on both sides. Meanwhile the country’s importance as a trading hub continues to grow thanks to both the various infrastructural upgrades that are taking place to its ports and airports, as well as its its geographical advantage as a connector of three continents and its proximity to the Red Sea – through which 10% of world trade travels.