Middle East & North Africa Rapid Response Middle East & North Africa PMIs (Jan. 2026) January’s PMIs from across the region showed that non-oil sectors across much of the Gulf lost momentum against the backdrop of low oil prices and heightened tensions in the region due to the protests... 3rd February 2026 · 3 mins read
Emerging Markets Financial Risk Monitor EM Financial Risk Monitor (Jan. 2026) Our proprietary EM financial risk indicators show that vulnerabilities are becoming increasingly isolated, with the number of countries at “high risk” of a crisis now at multi-year lows. Sovereign... 29th January 2026 · 1 min read
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 Chart Pack Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack (Jan. 2026) Our Middle East & North Africa Economics Chart Pack has been updated with the latest data and our analysis of recent developments. The Middle East and North Africa is set for the fastest pace of GDP... 29th January 2026 · 1 min 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 Update Egypt’s growing banking risks don’t raise alarm bells yet Vulnerabilities in Egypt’s banking sector look high by EM standards, but there are signs that these risks should ease and the banking sector has large capital buffers. Perhaps the bigger issue is that... 21st January 2026 · 3 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 Rapid Response Middle East & North Africa PMIs (Dec. 2025) December’s batch of PMIs suggested that non-oil sectors in the Gulf softened at the end of last year and we expect this continue over the course of 2026. And while Egypt’s PMI fell back, it continued... 6th January 2026 · 2 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 Rapid Response Egypt Consumer Prices (Nov. 2025) Egypt’s headline inflation rate eased a touch from 12.5% y/y in October to 12.3% y/y in November despite further rent rises and fuel subsidy cuts. Even so, given the Central Bank of Egypt’s own... 10th December 2025 · 2 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack (Dec. ’25) Our Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack has been updated with our key calls and forecasts to reflect the latest regional developments. The Middle East and North Africa is set to record its fastest... 9th December 2025 · 1 min 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 Economic Outlook Strengthening growth and shifting alignments The Middle East and North Africa is set to record its fastest pace of GDP growth (outside the post-pandemic recovery) since 2011 next year. Continued oil output hikes and the switch on of Qatar’s... 4th December 2025 · 22 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 Update Egypt’s balance sheet risks high but likely to recede Egypt’s devaluation and shift back towards macro orthodoxy 18 months ago have put the economy back on the path towards restoring macroeconomic stability. The situation is still very fragile – Egypt... 24th November 2025 · 4 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Egypt’s central bank still has room to cut in 2026 The Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE’s) monetary easing cycle has been stop-start and with headline inflation rising in recent months, last night’s decision to keep interest rates on hold was not a... 21st November 2025 · 2 mins read