Oman

Oman will boost ties with Iran, with whom it shares strategic regional interests. This may cause some concern in the US, with whom Muscat has a free trade agreement.

BMI View: The UAE looks set to be the hardest hit by infrastructural shortages, but all of the GCC states (barring Qatar) are lacking the necessary power supply: with the cost of... 2008-05-01

BMI View: The government will plough on with moves to reform public administration, leaving more ambitious political reform on the backburner. Moves on taxation may cause some controversy.... 2008-03-20

BMI View: The Omani authorities face a perilous future if attempts to stabilise oil production fail to take root and gas feedstock is insufficient to meet its industrial expansion... 2008-03-20

BMI View: Muscat appears as bereft of solutions to dealing with rising prices as any other Gulf government. The use of subsidies and price controls will only go so far to tame the... 2008-03-20

BMI View: Flush revenues leave plenty of wiggle room to plough the oil and gas surplus into productive areas of the economy. The government will gradually curb recurrent expenditures.... 2008-03-20

Sultan Qaboos will remain in near-total control of policy, ensuring a measure of stability and continuity going forward. There will be no major changes in his cabinet, though in late... 2008-03-20