Transport

A $5bn railway plan to transform Jordan into a centre for regional trade and commerce received a major boost recently when the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) announced that it is in talks with global financial institutions to fund the mega-project.

With a young population and a growing economy, demand for residential property in the greater Kuala Lumpur (KL) area is expected to remain strong, as new transportation schemes to add to the city’s attractiveness.

Long seen as a future powerhouse in the emirate’s diversified economy, Dubai’s aviation sector is starting to live up to expectations. Local carriers have been posting strong profits and expanding their network of routes, though the risk of turbulence remains.

Having bounced back from a lean period in 2008-09, when its main airport was shut by protests and overseas visitor numbers fell following the onset of the global economic downturn, Thailand’s aviation industry is now looking to expand its ground facilities and fleet size.

Nigeria’s efforts towards improving the safety of its aviation sector, in the wake of a disastrous 2005 and 2006, have finally begun to pay dividends, as international recognition of the regulatory upgrades paves the way for greater efficiency and an improved business climate for the country’s domestic airlines. However, a concomitant proliferation of fees and charges has sparked an outcry from carriers who are continuing to grapple with an extremely competitive marketplace.

Kuwait’s ambition to become a leading trading centre for the region took a step forward earlier this month, when the foundation stone for the new Mubarak Al Kabir port was laid, at a ceremony attended by Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah.