Agenda
Comprehensive analysis of the Middle East's key issues.
Agenda
Moody’s financial downgrades rock Abu Dhabi-backed companies
Borrowing costs likely to rise in wake of Dubai debt, as analysts question assumptions of government support for its businesses
Kuwait enters an era of political and economic change
After years of stagnation, the country now believes its economy can move ahead
Abu Dhabi faces chemical crunch
The burden of Dubai’s debt crisis is putting the future of Abu Dhabi’s schemes in doubt
Getting Gulf banks lending again
GCC finance houses remain wary of making fresh loans and risk stunting economic growth
Qatar’s peaking energy market
The market is about to get tougher for contractors as a wealth of schemes come to completion
Emirates seeking strength through unity
The UAE’s recent financial woes could lead to stronger federal structures and policy frameworks
Seoul opens up a new Silk Road
South Korean firms won more than $71bn of contracts in the region last year. MEED charts their rise
Dubai's private power aspirations
The emirate may struggle to persuade investors to support its plans for privatised utilities
Baghdad’s golden oil opportunity
The winners in Iraq’s oil licensing rounds face stiff challenges in developing the country’s oil fields
Burj Dubai tower launches new era for Dubai
The world’s tallest tower symbolises the excesses of the boom years, but can it help prompt recovery?
Politics key to nuclear award
Price will not be the only consideration in the UAE’s choice of power plant developer
Spreading the financial risk in the region
Dubai’s debt crisis is causing problems for issuers of government-backed bonds across the region
Debt brings Dubai to a standstill
Dubai World’s request to suspend its repayments has spooked investors and threatens recovery
Abu Dhabi’s $68bn transport plan
The emirate has launched a series of projects to ease congestion and improve transport links by 2017
Taking the initiative on regional solar power
An ambitious project in the Sahara desert is at the forefront of a series of regional renewable energy schemes
Cairo casts its net for investment
The country is seeking foreign funding for a $15bn programme of infrastructure projects
The risks of oversupply in the Gulf petrochemicals sector
Gulf petrochemicals producers are suffering as demand falls and key markets restrict imports
Long-term funding returns to the Gulf
The completion in mid October of the $3.5bn financing for the Shuweihat 2 independent power and water project (IWPP) in Abu Dhabi is a milestone for the region’s project finance sector.
Libya’s ambitious energy plan
Tripoli hopes to attract international investors to turn the Gulf of Sirte into a $54bn energy hub as part of a wider programme to overhaul the country’s industrial sector
Doha's plan to increase gas output
Qatargas chairman says debottlenecking could add 12 million tonnes a year to its production capacity
Time for Kuwait to move forward
Kuwait’s new parliament faces the first serious test of its ability to help the development of the economy
The high price of restoring economic confidence in Dubai
Dubai will avoid defaulting on its debts this year, but the emirate’s financial problems are far from over
Iran's economic headache
Declining oil revenues rather than UN sanctions are the biggest barriers to economic revival
Al-Zour power and water project puts Kuwait to the test
Investors will be closely monitoring progress on the country’s first independent power and water project
Can Samer Majali save Gulf Air?
The appointment of the airline’s fourth chief executive officer in three years could be its last hope
Doha's development ambitions
Qatar is finalising a 25-year masterplan for economic development in the middle of a global downturn.
Rising oil price sustains spending in the Gulf
Confidence returns to Gulf states as the recovery in the global energy markets boosts revenues
Iraq's war on debt
Baghdad’s efforts to convince Kuwait to drop reparation payments have little hope of success.
Falling sales stall real estate development in Abu Dhabi
With revenues from land sales down, Abu Dhabi developers are holding back from awarding contracts.
