Kuwait

The news that sukuk issuance in the first half of this year has declined considerably, relative to the same period in 2007, confirms our long-held view that the market is not favourable... 2008-09-05

We welcome the news that the International Working Group of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IWG) on September 2 reached a preliminary agreement on a draft set of voluntary principles to guide... 2008-09-03

We welcome the news that Bahrain has become the latest Arab state to name an ambassador to Iraq. Following on from similar appointments by Jordan, Kuwait and the UAE, this move is... 2008-09-01

Recent unrest among the migrant labour workforce in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain may lend popular support to calls for greater restrictions on foreign unskilled or semi-skilled... 2008-08-26

If confirmed, the reported Kuwaiti decision to deport 800,000 'marginal workers' over the next three year would be yet another indication of the populist bent of domestic policy at... 2008-08-22

In the light of the visits to Baghdad by Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in July, King Abdullah of Jordan earlier this month, and now by Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora,... 2008-08-21

Kuwait is looking increasingly concerned about a possible US/Israeli strike on Iran. Such a development would be very negative for Kuwait for two reasons: (a) it could disrupt oil... 2008-08-20

BMI View: Kuwait's ample and expanding energy sector will protect it against low FDI and inflationary pressures. However, in the event of a dramatic drop in oil prices, negative perceptions... 2008-08-15

BMI View: Kuwait faces substantial structural challenges over the long-term, but the energy sector will continue to grow in real terms to 2018, keeping the government in surplus.... 2008-08-15

BMI View: Our political ratings for Kuwait remain high, but unrest amongst the immigrant worker community as well as rising sectarian tensions pose downside risks.