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IMF-How Should GCC Countries Diversify Their Economies And Promote Inclusive Growth?
December 9, 2018--Recent volatility in oil prices underscore the need for the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates-to continue their reforms to diversify their economies and encourage strong, stable, and inclusive growth.
Two recent IMF papers examine how greater openness to trade and foreign investment and more developed and inclusive financial sectors can help attain these goals.
Mideast Stocks: Dubai plummets to multi-year lows, oil trips up Saudi
December 6, 2018--Dubai's stock market plunged to its lowest level in more than five years on Thursday as real estate stocks continued to slide while weak oil prices pressured the Saudi market.
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Mideast Stocks: Oil rally boosts Qatar, Saudi; Egypt hits one-year low
December 4, 2018--Qatar's stock market rose sharply on Monday and Saudi stocks gained, helped by a surge in oil prices, which boosted their banks and petrochemical stocks, while Egypt slumped to its lowest in a year.
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Qatar to withdraw from OPEC and focus on gas exports
December 3, 2018--Qatar said on Monday it was quitting OPEC from January to focus on its gas ambitions, taking a swipe at the group's de facto leader Saudi Arabia and marring efforts to show unity before this week's meeting of exporters to tackle an oil price slide.
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Dubai stock market: Is this just another correction?
December 2, 2018--Much of the growth seen in 2018 is due to a big rise in state spending
For over 2 decades, Dubai has prospered as one of the fastest developing international cities, attracting people and capital from across the globe. In 2009, Dubai needed a $20 billion bailout from Abu Dhabi. Dubai's economy roared back and has grown by a third since then, buoyed by foreign trade, tourism and its status as the main regional hub for business services.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi stocks' yearly moves to diverge for first time
November 28, 2018--The fates of the two biggest stock gauges in the United Arab Emirates are set to diverge this year for the first time on record.
Abu Dhabi's ADX General Index has climbed almost 13% this year, putting it among the world’s best performers. Headed in the opposite direction, Dubai's main gauge has slumped 20% and is set for its worst annual performance in a decade.
Gulf Economic Monitor: Staying the Course on Reforms
November 27, 2018-- A sustained increase in oil prices over the past two years has driven an economic recovery in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Economic growth for the GCC region is expected to reach 2% in 2018, up from negative 0.3 % in 2017, thanks in part to higher oil production and a slower pace of fiscal consolidation.
However, volatility in oil prices, manifest in recent sharp declines over the past month, and continued heavy dependence on energy sector, underscore the importance of staying the course of structural reforms.
view the World Bank Gulf Economic Monitor: Staying the Course on Reforms
Mideast Stocks-Saudi petchems lead Gulf lower on oil price tumble
November 25, 2018--Saudi Arabia's stock market led Gulf bourses lower early on Sunday after oil prices plunged nearly 8 percent at the end of last week because of intensifying fears of a supply glut.
Mideast Stocks: Qatar smarts from MSCI decision, Gulf mostly moves little
November 15, 2018--Qatar's stock market continued to suffer in early trade on Thursday from MSCI's decision to exclude two of its major stocks in a semi-annual index review, while the rest of the Gulf moved little.
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Dubai Economy Tracker signals slowest growth since March '16
November 12, 2018--This report contains the latest release of data collected from a monthly survey of business conditions in the Dubai non-oil private sector. Sponsored by Emirates NBD and produced by IHS Markit, the survey provides an early indication of operating conditions in Dubai.
Summary
Whilst the latest data signaled an improvement in the health of Dubai's non-oil private sector, the rate of growth weakened to a 31-month low. Slower improvements in activity, new work and another contraction in employment contributed to the slowdown. Contrary to the general trend, the construction sector saw a stronger expansion in the latest survey.
