– In June the GCC and the UK officially launched negotiations for a free trade agreement – The deal is expected to boost renewable energy and food security in the bloc – The launch comes as the GCC looks to attract investment for diversification plans – A final agreement would expand the GCC’s global trade footprint As part of plans to expand and diversify its global trade partners,…
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In a bid to expand access and widen their reach, educational institutions are increasingly exploring the possibilities of the metaverse and associated extended-reality (XR) approaches. The metaverse comprises a range of technologies which immerse users in a virtual environment. It denotes a 3D medium that combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into a new digital realm, sometimes…
Nations in MENA have been intensifying efforts to increase their food security, withRussia’s invasion of Ukraine the most recent geopolitical event to underlinethe fragility of global supply chains, as well as the importance of boosting domestic agricultural output. Together, Russia and Ukraine account for some 29% of the world’s wheat supply, pointing to thesignificant risk in…
With a strong performance in the early months of 2022, Qatar’s capital markets have demonstrated their resilience in the face of global and regional uncertainties. This growth is likely to continue in the year ahead, boosted by the global economic recovery and Qatar’s key role in supplying the world with energy. At the same time, recent reforms to foreign ownership rules – including a law allowing…
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the first held in the Arab world, the first to be played during the winter instead of summer, and the first carbon-neutral World Cup event. Other firsts include building a fully demountable stadium that can later be donated to developing countries in need of such infrastructure, and being the first World Cup to run for 28 days instead of the regular 32 days in order…
In 2022 Qatar will be the first Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup, giving it the opportunity to demonstrate that the region can lead in the international sporting scene. Those involved in the preparation for the event are using it as a chance to leverage the competition for future tourism revenue, given that tournament will be shown on televisions around the world and in-person fans will share…
Expanding Qatar’s range of financial services has been a priority in recent years, enshrined in Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as other government strategies. Indeed, a wide and deep financial services sector is essential to fostering broad-based growth and connecting Qatar’s start-up ecosystem with international counterparts. Specifically, the government is seeking to foster partnerships…
After a resilient performance in 2020, the international Islamic finance sector fared positively in 2021 as an improved economic environment, a rise in the number of large projects, and an increased focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors combined to drive demand for services. Despite the twin challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fall in international oil prices that affected…
Qatar’s Islamic financial services sector is engaged in a shift towards sustainability to take advantage of robust global growth in demand for sharia-compliant investments and rising interest in green finance. Globally, Islamic financial services continue to exhibit strong momentum, with loans expanding at an average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% in 2020 and 2021, according to a 2022…
