Country Risk Rating

Inflation remains a major concern - the CPI rose by 13.7% y-o-y in Q307 - and the authorities are feeling under pressure to cushion the effect of price increases on the general public.... 2008-01-03

Despite its stated commitment to improving educational standards and building new specialist technical universities, Saudi Arabia continues to send its most promising students abroad... 2008-01-03

A diplomatic quarrel between Iran and Iraq erupted recently following comments from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that a 32-year-old agreement that defines the two countries' borders... 2008-01-02

Our short political risk rating remains unchanged, in spite of a recent spate of riots in Shi'a dominated areas, by over 500 demonstrators demanding compensation for alleged human... 2008-01-02

BMI is concerned about the worsening ties between Sana'a and Washington. Yemen was prompted on 5 December to deny reports that an al-Qaeda fighter convicted of taking part in the... 2007-12-14

There are no signs of instability ahead, and our political risk outlook is favourable, reflecting the absence of Islamist militantism. Sultan Qaboos will press on with his personal... 2007-12-14

Work on the planned 40-kilometre causeway between Qatar and Bahrain will begin by May 2008, following the signing in October 2007 of a preliminary agreement between the two Gulf states... 2007-12-07

The Annapolis summit presents Saudi Arabia with a real opportunity to re-establish its presence as a heavyweight in the region, even if, as we expect, it does not yield any significant... 2007-11-27

The UAE's strong regional ties were recently highlighted by a meeting between the President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al-Nahayan and GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad al-Attiyah.... 2007-11-27

In line with our downbeat view of social stability in Iran the Defender of Human Rights Centre, an Iranian rights group, said recently that the government has cracked down on political... 2007-11-27