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Effective Management of Water Resources in Arab World Key to Future Growth and Stability
August 28, 2018--New report outlines risks associated with region's water challenges and the policies needed to address them.
Water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region can either be a destabilizing factor or a motive that binds communities together, according to a new joint report from the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, with the difference determined by the policies adopted to cope with the growing challenge.
The report, Water Management in Fragile Systems: Building Resilience to Shocks and Protracted Crises in The Middle East and North Africa warns that instability combined with poor water management can become a vicious cycle that further exacerbates social tensions, while emphasizing that the actions needed to break the cycle can also be essential elements for recovery and consolidating stability.
IMF Staff Country Report-Saudi Arabia: Selected Issues
August 24, 2018--FISCAL FRAMEWORKS AND FISCAL ANCHORS: THE EXPERIENCES IN COMMODITY EXPORTING COUNTRIES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA1
The implementation of fiscal policy in Saudi Arabia is undergoing significant change, but there is a
need to further deepen reforms and ingrain fiscal consolidation into a framework that reduces the
reliance of fiscal policy on volatile oil revenues and sets clearer medium-term fiscal objectives.
An important question is whether the introduction of a fiscal rule as in some other resource-rich countries
could help in fiscal management in Saudi Arabia. This paper suggests that while the government
should continue to work on clearly defining its fiscal policy objectives, at this stage the focus of reforms
should be to continue to strengthen the fiscal framework rather than on introducing a formal fiscal
rule. A fiscal rule is only as good as the institutions that support it.
view the IMF Staff Country Report-Saudi Arabia: Selected Issues
Sovereign funds pull $5.7bln from global markets in Q2
August 21, 2018--Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) pulled $5.7 billion from stock and bond strategies managed by external asset managers in the second quarter, data from research firm eVestment showed on Tuesday, as trade tensions rocked financial markets.
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Adab launches first Islamic crypto exchange
August 19, 2018--UAE-based Adab Solutions recently created the First Islamic Crypto Exchange (FICE), Shariah compliant crypto exchange.
By adhering to the high moral requirements set forth by the Shariah community, the company will utilize the in-house Shariah Advisory Board to ensure that Islam is finally included in the global cryptocurrency market.
The UAE, Saudi, finding spring in their economic prospects
August 13, 2018--Investors and residents can breathe easier now that the UAE and Saudi are projecting a more robust image of fiscal momentum, non-oil diversification and growth despite the catalyst coming from a rise in oil prices.
The numbers are encouraging
Zawya reported that the UAE and Kuwait are set to return to fiscal surpluses in 2018 on the back of financial windfall from the recovery in oil prices, while Saudi Arabia should post a modest deficit, Fitch analysts said.
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf stocks slide on volatile oil, property
August 9, 2018--Gulf stocks were mostly lower, as volatile oil prices hit petrochemical and energy firms in the Saudi market, while lower-than-expected earnings of property firm Aldar Properties weighed on the Abu Dhabi market.
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August 9, 2018--MIDEAST STOCKS-Abu Dhabi hits four-year high, Saudi slips amid Canada row
August 9, 2018--Abu Dhabi's stockmarket touched four-year highs on Wednesday, helped by bank stocks, while Saudi Arabia's dipped amid a diplomatic row with Canada.
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Canada's TMX says no plans for talks with Saudi Aramco over IPO
August 8, 2018--Canada's TMX Group Ltd said on Wednesday it had no plans for further talks with oil company Saudi Aramco about a partial listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange as part of what is expected to the world's largest initial public offering.
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Markets monthly review: Middle East stocks enjoy buoyant July as Qatar, UAE lead gains
August 8, 2018--Middle East markets were broadly upbeat in July as Dubai's bourse rebounded following an early summer slump, Qatar extended its 2018 gains and Kuwaiti traders bought into the hype of a potential emerging market upgrade.