White papers and surveys covering issues relating to Middle East Investors. Private wealth in the Middle East region is unusually concentrated and some of the most frequently viewed research on Middle East issues covers family offices and private wealth management. Reports on trends in the sovereign wealth fund landscape have been popular, with SWFs such as ADIA and SAMA featuring prominently. Retirement attitudes and approaches to savings and retirement in the MENA region are also given coverage. Amongst the most popular articles in this section are those examining future trends in the Gulf, the investment outlook for Middle East markets and white papers on geopolitical issues in the MENA region.
This paper by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi looks back at the year that's been, and forward at the prospects for 2017. It focuses on the global economy, with a special focus on economies in the MENA region and the 'new normal' of lower oil prices.
Islamic economic thought and finance are rooted in Islamic ethics. Their ideals and means are not, however, exclusive to Islam. The principles of Islamic finance emphasize market-based risk-sharing modes of financing that promote assets and enterprise, deploy finance in service of the real economy, and facilitate redistribution of wealth and opportunity. ...
This detailed paper (51 pages) by the Dubai International Financial Centre provides a helpful overview of the current state, and outlook, for asset management investing in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) regions. The paper is split into five parts: Regional macroeconomic overview; Asset management industry overview and landscape; Asset and wealth management leading ...
This is the World Bank's latest report on the global economy's state and prospects. It covers a wide range of themes from emerging market debt levels, to recent developments in specific regions, to emerging characteristics of global trade.
The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. In the medium and long term, Arab societies and economies will experience widespread change on the back of underlying global trends and potential risks. This paper explores the the new economic context will mean for MENA economies.
As oil prices have declined dramatically over the past several years, MENA governments have been forced to develop and implement reforms to their economies and markets. This Letter from the Manager reviews the programs and their potential impact on individual MENA countries. We believe that 2017 will be the year when these regional reforms create the basis of a new norm, with ...
The world is about to experience the greatest geopolitical transformation in at least the past three generations. The United States’ need for oil has greatly diminished, and its goals in the Middle East have changed. The United States now views the world wholly in relation to its other interests. Global and local demographics, new outsiders in the area, and a new contest shaping ...
This 15-page paper by PwC examines the global trends impacting the Middle East and how governments and businesses in the region can succeed amidst these changes.
We expect oil prices broadly to stabilise in 2017—but prices will continue to be affected by geopolitical shocks in the region, which will also create tremors on financial markets.
Global recovery remains restrained. Growth is expected to remain weak in the GCC region, while fiscal and external balances have deteriorated. GCC policymakers continue to face a challenging environment with sustained low oil prices. Countries need to accelerate structural reforms to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbons and boost the role of the private sector.
This paper shows that a common evolution has been taking place across the GCC. For much of the 20th century, a de facto ‘oligarchic’ pact linking the ruling families and the national business elites was central to the maintenance of the authoritarian status quo. Even if some variations could be seen in the nature of this state–business relationship from one GCC country to ...
This research report, based on 3 years of Chatham House Future Trends research under the auspices of the GCC project, focuses on youth perspectives in a selection of Middle Eastern countries. It includes workshop partnerships with local research centres in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, investigating political Islam, citizenship, the economy, law, internal community relations, ...
There were high hopes that 2017 would be a turning point for oil exporting nations, as OPEC-led production cuts rebalanced the market. However, the results so far have been weaker than anticipated, limiting the gains in fiscal revenue and in turn restricting government expenditure capacity. This has been compounded by the decision in June to extend the producer action to March ...
This report examines the growth of the global and family Takaful markets for 2012 to 2015. It provides an in-depth analysis of financial trends, market penetration rates, and the various opportunities and challenges that lie in store for Takaful leaders and the world.
Recovery in IP continues with the support from both exporting and domestic demand oriented sectors. We expect the GDP growth in 2Q to accelerate even further, as early signals from May suggest a growth rate close to 6%. Turkish lira stabilized at 3.50-3.55 band as global and local factors balance each other and the CBRT maintains its hawkish tone.
This paper by the World Economic Forum uses the latest available data, including through a research partnership with LinkedIn, to provide a concise overview of the region’s education, skills and jobs agenda. It is intended as a practical guide for leaders from business, government, civil society and the education sector to plan for the needs of the future. It is also a call to ...
In this presentation, Bassam Fattouh of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies has provides insights into Saudi oil policy within the context of a changing global oil market.
