Macroeconomics

Major economies in the Middle East and Africa experienced an economic slowdown with GDP growth rate declining for Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nigeria, Qatar, Israel, and Iran in the second quarter of 2019. The area is affected by volatile oil prices, and in Q2 especially, there was a decline in oil prices and production cuts by OPEC. ...

Economic recovery in Saudi Arabia will continue to be supported by pick up in oil production to compensative for output decline in Iran. While Aramco privatization is delayed, Saudi aims to generate $11 billion non-oil revenue through privatization program by 2020. The killing of journalist Khashoggi heightened capital flight in October 2018, as th...

Economies of the Middle Eastern countries will remain modest due to higher oil exporting revenue being moderately offset by recession in Iran. Higher oil prices are expected to drive oil and gas and hydrocarbon sector in the region, with Saudi Arabia leading the pack in 2019. OPEC oil production dipped in November 2018 due to fall in Iranian produc...

Water scarcity is hindering the future of Africa, as water plays a crucial role in most of the operations in the continent. A number of Southern African countries are experiencing extreme climatic conditions such as floods and drought in the same year, making it difficult for planning future investments in the sector. Therefore, the need for carefu...

Significant fall in oil prices has drastically altered public spending patterns throughout the region. Growing number of countries are trying to opt for a strict fiscal measures and tax impositions to combat fiscal deficit. Increased oil production from Iran post sanctions could pose greater geopolitical risks on the region’s overall economic hea...

Middle Eastern economic growth is likely to remain somber due to the geopolitical turbulences throughout 2015 out of the collapse in oil prices as well as Iran nuclear deal. While Saudi Arabia is contemplating a loss of market share given increased oil production from Iran, The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are trying to remain resilient with impr...

Oil prices might see some signs of stabilization given the discussions between Saudi Arabia and Russia in February 2016 to freeze crude oil production. Most of the oil exporting economies in the Middle East and African region, barring Qatar and United Arab Emirates due to their well-diversified economy, ended 2015 with abysmal economic fundamentals...