October 2019: CLICK HERE TO READ THE ISSUE

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The missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities on 14 September have turned global attention to the kingdom.

As well as exposing critical vulnerabilities in the global energy supply chain, the attacks have also raised new challenges for Riyadh's plans to open up to international investors.

In an exclusive 22-page Special Report on Saudi Arabia in the October edition of MEED Business Review, Middle East business intelligence service MEED provides the real story about the changes taking place in the kingdom, and what they mean for business and investment in Saudi Arabia.

This month's Agenda section looks at the opportunities presented by the fifth generation of wireless telecommunications technology. The ultra-fast, high-capacity data streams opened up by 5G will enable transformational technologies ranging from artificial intelligence to autonomous vehicles, but the pace of 5G development will not be uniformly spread over the next 10 years. Left unmanaged, 5G will increase the divide in the region, with countries such as the UAE moving ahead while Egypt, Iraq and others fall further behind.

Our contributing expert, meanwhile, offers his take on what 5G in the Middle East means for business.

The latest issue of MEED Business Review also includes a special section on the Expo site preparations as construction enters the home stretch. With just over a year to go until Dubai Expo 2020 opens its doors to visitors, work is in full swing to deliver iconic structures, country pavilions, the extension of the Dubai Metro’s Red Line and other integral site elements.

Other must-read sections in the October edition include:

• Board report: The last month’s top news stories at a glance
• Current affairs: Saudi oil attacks will test commitment to transparency
• Yemen: Peace proposal by Houthi rebels could suit both parties
• Industry report: Riyadh builds case for consolidation in chemicals industry
• MEED Insight: MEED shines the spotlight on power policy changes
• Market talk: Collaboration key to future of banking
• Spending brief: Growth slows in downstream oil sector
• Projects analysis: Iraq records significant growth in projects market
• Business outlook: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts

We hope you enjoy the October issue of MEED Business Review.