Saudi Arabia

Average CPI inflation ticked up to 1.8% y-o-y in 2006, as expected, up from 0.7% in 2005 and 0.3% in 2004. This was largely driven by increases in the prices of foodstuffs and beverages... 2007-01-09

The recent announcement by a highly influential Saudi cleric regarding Shi'a Muslims is an indication of growing sectarian tensions both within the country and in the region, and... 2007-01-05

Government spending looks set to remain buoyant in Saudi Arabia in 2007, with the authorities having announced their biggest budget on record, with expenditures projected to rise... 2006-12-29

Oman's decision to opt out of monetary union is significant, not so much in the act itself, but in the comments it drew from GCC finance ministers, particularly the Saudi minister,... 2006-12-13

With oil prices still at historically high levels, Saudi Arabia looks well on the way to achieving a current account surplus of 32.0% of GDP, or US$114.8bn in 2006, up from 29.1%... 2006-11-28

Concern of the Saudi authorities over the future of Iraq and the spill-over effects of any drift into full-scale civil war are growing. This was most recently indicated by the announcement... 2006-11-27

Interior Minister Prince Nayef's announcement of a 900km fence on the Saudi-Iraqi border is indicative of growing apprehension over the possible spill-over from the conflict in Iraq.... 2006-11-22

Saudi Arabia is set for another record current account surplus in 2006 of 32.8% of GDP, or US$117.6bn, following last year's figure of US$90.0bn, 29.1% of GDP. The massive surpluses... 2006-11-13

Real GDP growth in Saudi Arabia is set to come in at 6.42% this year, slightly lower than in 2005 when the economy expanded by 6.55%, as a result of negative real oil sector growth... 2006-11-08

We expect real GDP growth to come in at 6.36% this year, underpinned by robust non-oil sector growth of 9.7%. This will be supported by government spending, which is expected to grow... 2006-11-01