In terms of the filing of international patents, 2022 was a record-breaking year, with higher education playinga significant role in driving innovation and expanding international practices regarding intellectual property (IP). The UNWorld Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) reported in February 2023 that 278,100 international patents had been filed globally in 2022, a 0.3% increase…
To boost local production of pharmaceutical goods and medical devices, Oman unveiled plans in 2020 to establish new pharmaceutical factories that would help ease reliance on imports, increase national output, and diversify the economy and export revenue. There were five local companies producing medicines and medical equipment when the plans were announced; Oman is seeking to develop five additional…
As emerging markets develop new attractions and tap into new visitor source markets, they are leveraging technology and sustainable development in line with emissions targets. Following sharp declines in 2020, international tourism figures rebounded in 2021 to reach approximately 63% of pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels in 2022. Notably, in September of that year arrivals in the Middle East and the Caribbean…
The global tourism industry – which accounted for 10% of GDP and 8% of global emissions in 2019 – is faced with the challenge of ensuring continued growth while working towards net-zero emissions goals. Several stakeholders in emerging markets and further afield offer useful case studies to understand what a decarbonised future for the industry could look like. The global tourism industry faces…
In 2022 the Middle East witnessed the sharpest relative increase in international arrivals of any region in the world, solidifying its rebound from the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic and further raising its profile as an increasingly attractive destination for inbound tourism. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2022 international arrivals in the Middle East recovered to…
Diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on revenue from the hydrocarbons industry is a critical component of Oman Vision 2040. The government has identified tourism as one of the key sectors that can deliver this objective and help to create a more resilient and sustainable economy. The sultanate’s tourism development plan encompasses updating the legal framework, modernising tourism laws…
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions and broader environmental concerns, many countries are looking to improve the efficiency of agriculture while reducing their carbon footprint. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which curtailed exports of maize, wheat and cooking oil from two of the world’s key producers, has given this more impetus and raised broader concerns about global…
With per capita fish consumption having doubled in the past six decades, aquaculture is becoming increasingly important when it comes to combatting food insecurity. Recent innovations seek to improve sustainability and productivity while assuaging quality concerns. Venture capitalists invested $39bn in food tech start-ups in 2021, double the amount seen in 2020. While over half of this amount went…
Following delays, the long-awaited GCC Railway looks likely to be revitalised – a move that could transform trade and connectivity across the Gulf. The initiative was given a significant boost in December 2021 when leaders of the six GCC countries approved the establishment of the GCC Railways Authority, the body that will oversee the coordination of the project. The decision marks a potentially…
The Port of Duqm officially opened in February 2022, having run limited services under pre-development status since 2016. The port was developed in partnership with Belgium’s Port of Antwerp. It is a focal component of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), overseen by the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) and the Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority. Significant…
