Economy

Stronger energy revenue for much of the year and liberalisation reforms have helped Saudi Arabia’s economy rebound in 2018, though falling oil prices late in the year and the potential fallout over security issues could affect growth moving forward.

Although Myanmar’s economy has grown above the regional average in 2018, a fall in overseas investment, crop losses and a weakening of the kyat have combined to slow the pace of that economic growth. However, moves to open up sectors of the economy to foreign ownership may boost inward investment in the coming year.

Higher energy returns are expected to have led Abu Dhabi’s return to growth in 2018, with expectations of further expansion in 2019 as the government rolls out an extensive stimulus programme

Increased state spending on infrastructure and construction projects supported solid growth in Dubai’s economy in 2018, despite muted performances from some key sectors.

Fluctuations in market conditions and an increase in geopolitical tension over trade have seen Egypt delay the sell-off of shares as part of its public offering programme (POP).

Host nation Papua New Guinea has benefitted from the superpower rivalry that dominated this year’s APEC summit, accumulating a series of economic benefits associated with holding the 21-member bloc’s rotating chair for 2018.