Economy

Kuwait's balance of payments position is unlikely to come under any pressure in the foreseeable future, despite the economy's heavy reliance on income from hydrocarbon exports. With... 2012-04-26

The HSBC/SABB Purchasing Managers' Index, which measures business activity in Saudi Arabia's non-hydrocarbons sector, ticked down to a three-month low of 58.7 in March, compared with... 2012-04-26

Recently released data from Dubai Airports showing a surge in passenger arrivals has reinforced our slightly more optimistic macro outlook on the UAE for 2012. According to the airport,... 2012-04-25

Oman's economy is set to hit a cyclical peak in 2012, and we forecast growth rates of 4.8% and 3.8% year-on-year in 2012 and 2013 respectively (compared with an estimated 4.3% in 2011).... 2012-03-23

We remain broadly pessimistic about the prospects for the Yemeni economy in 2012, as ongoing civil conflict continues to impact negatively on patterns of consumption and investment.... 2012-03-22

Bahrain's current account will remain firmly in the black in 2012. We are projecting a surplus equivalent to 4.2% of GDP this year, as high oil prices and a potential uptick in tourism... 2012-03-22

We are forecasting the UAE's budget surplus to narrow to 2.2% of GDP in 2012, down from 4.7% in 2011. Higher spending in the form of increased public sector wages will be key to adding... 2012-03-22

We retain our sanguine outlook on Saudi Arabia's growth prospects in 2012. Heavy government spending, coupled with loose monetary policy, will keep domestic consumption and fixed investment... 2012-03-22

We expect inflation in Kuwait to pick up only moderately in 2012. While rising wages and a robust growth outlook will spur aggregate demand, this effect is likely to be offset to some... 2012-03-22

Iraq's foreign reserves stood at US$60.8bn in December 2011, enough to cover 12.2 months worth of imports. Reserves have increased by 27.5% compared to 2010, when they came in at... 2012-02-24