Sector Special Reports

Middle East Special Reports - in-depth features, trends and data on the region's sectors and countries.

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Upcoming Special Reports - Calendar

1-Feb-2010 | Updated: 2-Feb-2010

MEED special reports are published every week and encompass in-depth features, trends and data on issues affecting the region. Find the right MEED special report for your business and discover with a wealth of advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

Finance Special Reports

Dollar sign illustration

Special Report: Banking - Public sector projects raise hope

Issue No 41 12-18 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

The Gulf’s governments are turning to new financing strategies to fund crucial infrastructure projects with public-private partnerships (PPPs) an increasingly popular model in the region

    Gulf bank notes

    Special Report: Banking - State-backed institutions in demand

    18-Nov-2009 | By Sophie Evans

    After years of strong asset growth, the onset of the credit crunch late last year hit Gulf banks hard. Stock markets plummeted and the real estate bubble burst, leaving many investors and customers in trouble.

      Kuwaiti man and electronic billboard

      Special Report: Kuwait - MPs push for finance reforms

      Issue No 46 13-19 November 2009 | By Sophie Evans

      Kuwait’s handling of the financial crisis has been criticised for the limited scale of its intervention to contain the crash, which resulted in several local institutions coming near to collapse

        Construction & Real Estate Special Reports

        Qatar flag

        Special Report: Qatar – Population rise poses challenges

        Issue No 40 5-11 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

        Qatar has experienced a demographic explosion in the past five years, with the population more than doubling in size to 1.6 million in late 2009

          Construction workers on Dar al-Arkan's al-Qasr project in Riyadh

          Special Report: Construction - Contract awards raise hope in the Gulf

          Issue No 33 29 January - 4 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

          The outlook for the region’s construction sector in 2010 looks mixed. The Gulf’s major economies, such as Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, are surging out of the financial downturn, but $575bn worth of projects remain on hold across the GCC

            King Abdullah Science Technology University

            Special Report: Construction - Industrial schemes prompt hope

            Issue No 50 11-17 December 2009 | By Melissa Hancock

            Dubai-based real estate developer Nakheel has become the focus of the problems in the emirate’s construction market in recent weeks, as it tries to restructure a $3.5bn sukuk (Islamic bond) before the repayment deadline of 14 December.

              Oil & Gas Special Reports

              UAE flag, oil pumps and bank notes

              Special Report: UAE - Dubai downturn forces strategy rethink

              Issue No 42 19-25 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

              Dubai may not have much oil, but its economy still relies heavily on oil revenues, albeit those of neighbouring Abu Dhabi.

                Qatar flag

                Special Report: Qatar – Population rise poses challenges

                Issue No 40 5-11 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

                Qatar has experienced a demographic explosion in the past five years, with the population more than doubling in size to 1.6 million in late 2009

                  Special Report: Oil & Gas - Focus turns to downstream developments

                  Issue No 3 15-21 January 2010 | By Sophie Evans

                  Over the next five years, contractors will be working hard to help Riyadh achieve its goal of doubling its oil refining capacity by 2015.

                    Power & Water Special Reports

                    Glass of water in desert

                    Special Report: Power & Water - Region struggles to ensure access to scarce water supplies

                    Issue No 44 5-11 March 2010 | By Sophie Evans

                    The Middle East is struggling to cope with growing demand for fresh water. While the reasons for water shortages vary across the region, the issue that all governments around the Middle East are having to tackle is the same: how to guarantee access to shrinking supplies of fresh water.

                      Alamy power plant

                      Special Report: Power & Water - Gulf opts for oil-fired plants

                      Issue No 43 23-29 October 2009 | By Sophie Evans

                      Just seven months ago, in March, the Abu Dhabi government released a report saying that the economic and environmental cost of using oil as a fuel for power plants was too high to be considered

                        Special Report: Power & Water - Gulf nuclear plans progress

                        Issue No 36 4 - 10 September 2009 | By Sophie Evans

                        The oil-rich GCC states should not be short of energy. Yet several have suffered power shortages in recent years. The problem lies with governments opting to sell gas globally at high prices, rather than to local power plants at subsidised rates.

                          Transport Special Reports

                          Illustration - Network of roads

                          Special Report: Transport & logistics - Gulf invests in new roads network

                          Issue No 43 26 February - 4 March 2010

                          The Gulf’s road building schemes may not enjoy the high profile of the region’s rail and airport investment programmes, but the trend for Gulf states to spend millions of dollars on new highways is a sign that they are taking the business of building a better basic infrastructure seriously.

                            Qatar flag

                            Special Report: Qatar – Population rise poses challenges

                            Issue No 40 5-11 February 2010 | By Sophie Evans

                            Qatar has experienced a demographic explosion in the past five years, with the population more than doubling in size to 1.6 million in late 2009

                              UAE infrastructure illustration

                              Special Report: UAE - Dubai's woes hit northern emirates

                              Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009 | By Sophie Evans

                              Until the northern emirates have a reliable infrastructure, their economic fortunes will rise and fall with those of their powerful neighbour Dubai – something they are understandably keen to change.

                                Petrochemicals Special Reports

                                Petrochemicals PETE logo

                                Special Report: Petrochemicals - Gulf hit by oversupply

                                Issue No 48 27 November - 3 December 2009 | By Sophie Evans

                                After a poor start to the year, when the Gulf’s petrochemicals companies reported record losses, petrochemical prices have slowly improved and demand is expected to pick up as the year end

                                  Industry Special Reports

                                  Trucks in a mining quarry

                                  Special Report: Metals & Mining - Gulf states target copper

                                  Issue No 46 19-25 March 2010

                                  The Middle East is well placed to take advantage of a anticipated surge in global copper prices. Saudi Arabia is leading the way in mining its copper deposits, with two new mines in the kingdom scheduled to start commercial production by the end of 2011, the largest of which, the Jabal Sayid project, will produce 57,000 tonnes a year of copper in concentrate.

                                    Healthcare & Education Special Reports

                                    Arab teacher at a drawing board

                                    Special Report: Education - Gulf invests in high-tech future

                                    Issue No 2 8-14 January 2010 | By Sophie Evans

                                    The Middle East has taken big strides to improve the quality of university education in recent years, investing billions of dollars in a modern infrastructure

                                      Telecoms & IT Special Reports

                                      Trucks in a mining quarry

                                      Special Report: Metals & Mining - Gulf states target copper

                                      Issue No 46 19-25 March 2010

                                      The Middle East is well placed to take advantage of a anticipated surge in global copper prices. Saudi Arabia is leading the way in mining its copper deposits, with two new mines in the kingdom scheduled to start commercial production by the end of 2011, the largest of which, the Jabal Sayid project, will produce 57,000 tonnes a year of copper in concentrate.

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