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Analysis

Consumer demand drives digital payments in emerging markets
OBG
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Despite the ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds experienced by the global economy, one area of the international financial system that has shown steady progression is digital payments. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, they have been spurred by a jump in remittance flows, and the greater availability of digital infrastructure and services, as well as higher demand for fast and seamless non-physical…

Analysis

Environmental focus bolsters Kuwait’s net-zero carbon goals
OBG
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As environmental, social and governance concerns become increasingly important in the corporate world, insurance companies are emerging as potentially key players in the shift away from fossil fuel-powered projects. The UN’s Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) reflects an ongoing change in the global industry towards the wider recognition of the risks associated with climate change. However, the…

Analysis

Smart mobility powers sustainable urban transport in Kuwait
OBG
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The GCC’s population has more than doubled over the past 25 years, growing from 26.2m in 1995 to 56.4m in 2021, outpacing the global growth rate of 30%. Urbanisation has also accelerated across the region, driven by rapid economic development, migration and the concentration of economic activities in urban centres. By 2015 the GCC led Arab countries as the most urbanised subregion, with an urbanisation…

Analysis

Urban solutions in emerging markets lower carbon emissions
OBG
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Transport inefficiencies are among the most persistent barriers to growth in emerging markets, particularly in urban areas. Congestion, pollution and unreliable mobility systems impose measurable costs on productivity and competitiveness. Globally, traffic congestion is estimated to cost some $70.4bn per year in lost time. Though statistics vary, most estimates show the transport sector regularly accounting…

Analysis

Mega-projects boost Kuwait’s construction digitisation
OBG
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Across the GCC, construction and real estate are undergoing a quiet but consequential shift as digital technologies move from pilot-stage experimentation to system-wide adoption. Long characterised by large-scale projects, fragmented supply chains and labour-intensive delivery models, the region’s urban environment is increasingly shaped by data-driven design, automated construction techniques and…

Analysis

The MENA region poised to lead global steel decarbonisation
OBG
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As global industry seeks to reduce or eliminate its carbon footprint, a number of MENA countries are investing in green steel production to capture market share and help meet emissions targets. Industry generates 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, with the steel manufacturing segment accounting for the largest share, at 7%, due in part to a reliance on coal to heat smelting furnaces.…

Analysis

GCC localises supply chains for employment growth
OBG
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International patent applications via the Patent Cooperation Treaty reached approximately 273,900 in 2024, representing a modest 0.5% increase following a slight decline recorded the previous year. Within this global context, Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a remarkable growth trajectory, with the World Intellectual Property Organisation citing the Kingdom for its exceptional rises in filing activity.…

Analysis

GCC strengthens response to emerging cyberthreats
OBG
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With global geopolitical instability elevating the threat of cyberattacks against businesses and government agencies, the GCC is developing more robust and comprehensive cybersecurity strategies to respond to the evolving nature of such threats. Since experiencing their first major cyberattacks in the early 2010s, the six members of the GCC have looked at ways to bolster their cybersecurity by increasing…

Analysis

Investment and innovation boost digital platforms in Kuwait
OBG
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Revenue in the GCC digital health market is forecast to reach $2.58bn in 2025 and grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.93% to total $3.50bn by 2029. Kuwait’s digital health market generated approximately $540.3m in revenue in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.8bn by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 22.9%. At present, telemedicine is the largest contributor to the sector’s growth. In line…

Analysis

Gulf countries build partnerships to boost regional tourism
OBG
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In 2024 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 UN Tourism, the Middle East, with 95m arrivals, remained the strongest-performing region when compared to…