Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

The dollar and MENA, US-Iran tensions, Saudi project delays

This year's dollar rout has taken Gulf currencies down too, but the impact on inflation is likely to be small - and inflation is very low in any case. Elsewhere, Egypt stands to be a beneficiary from...

29th January 2026 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Egypt’s external gains, Saudi real estate, Saudi-UAE tensions

Data released this week showed that Egypt's current account deficit has continued to improve nearly two years on from the policy shift. The growing likelihood of a rebound in Suez Canal traffic will...

22nd January 2026 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

The latest on the protests in Iran

The US appears to have backed away from military intervention to support protestors in Iran, helping oil prices to fall today. But the situation remains extremely fragile. Any near-term disruption to...

15th January 2026 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Saudi borrowing plan, Bahrain’s austerity steps, KSA opens up

Saudi Arabia kicked off 2026 with its first debt issuance of the year. Like last year, we think borrowing will exceed the authorities' plans as lower oil prices lead to a wider budget deficit and...

8th January 2026 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Oil prices, Morocco inflation-targeting, Saudi inflation

Brent crude dropped to its lowest level since early 2021 this week, and we think that this trend will persist in 2026. This is not a major concern for the Gulf economies' balance sheets, but it...

18th December 2025 · 8 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Does Egypt need the IMF anyway? Oman gets an upgrade

Egypt’s IMF review has coincided with a fresh impetus to jumpstart the lagging privatisation programme. But compared to just a couple of years ago, Egypt’s improving balance of payments position and...

11th December 2025 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Egypt’s bumper PMI, Saudi Budget, MENA 2026 Outlook

November’s batch of PMIs suggest that growth strengthened in the region last month, particularly in Egypt where the survey hit its highest level (outside the post-pandemic recovery) since 2015...

4th December 2025 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Dubai real estate, Bahrain-Oman public finances, Egypt rates

The surge in prices in Dubai’s real estate sector appears to be prompting developers to take on debt to finance new projects. This echoes events prior to the crisis in 2009, but a re-run seems...

27th November 2025 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

MbS’s Washington trip tips the balance in US’s favour

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the US this week secured security, nuclear, mineral, and AI deals which will pull the Kingdom back from China’s sphere of influence towards the US.

20th November 2025 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Shifting geopolitical allegiances, IMF to visit Egypt

The meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Trump next week is widely expected to see the announcement of a new security deal and the US’s partnership in the...

13th November 2025 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

UAE keeps up Gulf AI momentum, Qatar-Egypt deal

AI-related investments in the UAE this week add to signs that the US is using access to AI technologies to take the Gulf economies away from China’s sphere of influence. It may also reflect the...

6th November 2025 · 8 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Saudi Arabia’s FII: PIF and AI dominate the headlines

Comments at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia this week suggest that the Public Investment Fund will take a step back from driving investment in the Kingdom, paving the way for greater...

30th October 2025 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Saudi-US defence talks, Egypt-IMF deal, Morocco 2026 Budget

The US and Saudi Arabia have stepped up security talks ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House next month. A full defence pact is unlikely to materialise, however, given...

23rd October 2025 · 7 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Israel-Hamas ceasefire, oil slides, Tunisia’s unorthodoxy persists

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has, so far, remained intact, which could bring positive spillovers for the likes of Egypt and Jordan. More importantly, however, the war has fundamentally...

16th October 2025 · 6 mins read

Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly

Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Egypt heads to Washington

Israel and Hamas appear on the cusp of agreeing a long-awaited ceasefire agreement. If it holds, this puts the region on a path to end the war and removes key downside risks to the Middle East’s...

9th October 2025 · 8 mins read