Since the six GCC states signed the Al-Ula declaration in early 2021, regional rail projects have come to the fore.

Ending nearly five years of diplomatic tensions in the region, the wide-ranging document has ushered in an era of renewed economic cooperation that promises to be the long-awaited catalyst for rail.

The declaration commits all six GCC states and Egypt to building a regional railway. It has been followed by initiatives including establishing the GCC Railways Authority and an agreement between Riyadh and Doha to study a high-speed rail line connecting the two capitals.

For the first time in 20 years, the financial and political stars are aligned, and the GCC railway is back on track.

Read our in-depth analysis on railway diplomacy in the region and the rail projects that are gathering speed in the June 2022 edition of MEED Business Review. 

This month, MEED also presents our annual ranking of the largest listed companies by value in the Middle East and North Africa, and finds the regional markets capitalising on the momentum of the recovery, with dozens of recent initial public offerings in the region. View the complete MEED Top 100 ranking here. 

June's 18-page Market Focus on Iraq, meanwhile, looks at the country's projects markets in detail as well as the issues facing Baghdad as political bickering following last year’s election hamstrings the government.

We hope you enjoy the June 2022 edition of MEED Business Review.

Must-read sections in the June 2022 edition of MEED Business Review include:

> AGENDA: Middle East renews commitment to rail

> PROJECTS: Regional railway plans gather speed

> OPINION: Will Algeria seize the gas opportunity?

> MEED COMMENTS: Dubai poised to attract FDI for real estate / Sheikh Mohamed to lead UAE on global stage

> LEBANON: Election leads to further gridlock

> TUNISIA: Tunisia stumbles forward under autocratic cloud

> TURKEY: Turkey pivots back to the Gulf

> INTERVIEW: IDE eyes long-haul water opportunities

> MEED ENERGY TRANSITION INDEX: Morocco and Jordan lead energy transition

> MEED TOP 100 COMPANIES: Middle East sees surge in bourse activity

> IRAQ MARKET FOCUS: Iraq risks missing window of opportunity

> TECHNOLOGY: Utilising data in energy markets 

> LEADERSHIP: Developing better leaders in virtual reality

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Index sees marginal gains

> APRIL 2022 CONTRACTS: Regional contracts market shows signs of recovery

> BUSINESS OUTLOOK: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts