Hoteliers are looking to benefit from the extraordinarily high demand created by Makkah’s continuing flow of pilgrims, who represent 90% of the city’s hotel guests. The demand stems not only from the fact that pilgrim numbers look set to increase, but also from a government drive to improve health and safety standards during the...
Articles & Analysis | A place for weary pilgrims: The city’s hotel offering is expanding from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2013
Articles & Analysis | Going local: The government is trying new strategies to get more nationals into the workforce from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2013
For all its economic success, its public works projects, forests of new economic cities rising from the desert and concerted efforts to infuse new resources into all levels of education, Saudi Arabia has yet to turn the corner on the its long-standing dilemma of how to get greater numbers of nationals into the workforce. For the...
Interviews & Viewpoints | OBG talks to Karel De Gucht, EU Trade Commissioner from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2013
What has been the biggest hurdle in the negotiations of a GCC-EU Free Trade Area? When do you expect the process to be concluded?
Articles & Analysis | Building momentum: Hydrocarbons provide funding for further diversification from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2013
Flying in the face of ongoing global economic malaise which has seen many Western economies struggling to regain their composure, Saudi Arabia continues to post strong economic growth on the back of its thriving petroleum sector anchored by a steady political and financial base. Although higher-than-expected oil demand played a...
Interviews & Viewpoints | OBG talks to Muhammad Al Jasser, Minister of Economy and Planning from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2013
What do you believe is the single most important challenge facing the economy in the next decade and how should it be dealt with?