Economy

The holy sites of Makkah & Medina attract millions of pilgrims each year, and religious tourism remains central to their local economies. The world’s largest mosque, the Masjid Al Haram, also known as the Grand Mosque, is in Makkah and is home to the Kaaba, a shrine that Muslims consider the most sacred place in the world. While uncertainty remains surrounding Covid-19’s impact on the 2020...

The revenue raised from outgoing shipments of oil fund the government’s social and infrastructural programmes, and are therefore central to the Kingdom’s economy. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 has slowed economic activity and reduced investor sentiment around the world, thus its effect on the Kingdom’s trading activity and inward investment is yet to be seen....

Four years after the launch of Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive development strategy, Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s non-oil economy is starting to see the benefits of sustained reform. Any decrease in revenue caused by lower oil prices is a significant challenge and presents a downside risk for the economy. Actions taken by the government to mitigate the effects of both the depressed oil price...

Home to an estimated 15% of the world’s proven oil reserves and as the largest economy in MENA, Saudi Arabia is a key player not only in the region, but on a global scale. Over the last few years, Saudi Arabia has attracted international attention for the momentum of its socio-economic transformation taking place under the auspices of the Vision 2030 development blueprint. In November 2020...

The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Qatar, and contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time or regular business and leisure visitors alike.