Economy

Public sector salary cuts and subsidy reductions will play an important part in Saudi Arabia’s effort to close its fiscal gap. However, much attention is also being paid to the other side of the ledger, where a series of tax proposals offer a route to new revenue streams for the government. Historically, taxation has only played a small role...

Since Saudi Arabia began reducing its domestic wheat production in 2008, the issue of food security has been high on the agenda for GCC governments. The Kingdom, which was once self-sufficient in the grain and even exported to the wider region, recognised a fact that is true across the whole of the Arabian Peninsula: it is running out of water...

One of the most important issues currently facing the Middle East is the changing composition of its demographic structure. A massive cohort of young people – known as a youth bulge – is challenging policy makers, and affecting security, education, the labour market and welfare programmes, among other areas. Given the relative stability and...

A combination of factors has led to a rise in bond issuance from GCC member states in the first half of 2016. Over the period, bonds and sukuk (Islamic bonds) issued in the GCC hit $39bn, accounting for 15% of the region’s total outstanding bonds ($263bn) as of June 2016, and nearly equalling the value of issues in the whole of...

A major new financial city and investment regime, Casablanca Finance City (CFC) is in the process of being developed in Morocco’s economic capital, with the aim of transforming it into a major regional investment and finance centre.

As Morocco’s logistical and economic hub, Casablanca has traditionally been the bedrock of business tourism in the country. Now, owing to increased air connectivity and the expansion of conference and entertainment venues, the city is drawing growing interest from operators promoting it as an emerging destination for both leisure and meetings...