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…
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reigniting international debate about the pace of the global energy transition and the risks of relying on oil and gas imports from countries with opposing agendas, discussion in the Gulf is largely framed around how to extract maximum benefit from the remaining hydrocarbons wealth while also playing a responsible role in global efforts to both mitigate climate change…
With hydrocarbons-rich countries in the Gulf increasingly looking to reduce their carbon emissions, some in the region are turning to multi-coloured hydrogen as a more environmentally sustainable solution. Along with renewable sources like solar and wind, hydrogen is regarded as a potential low-carbon or zero-carbon fuel that is key to the transition away from fossil fuels. However, different types…
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…
The global tourism industry faces numerous challenges when it comes to decarbonisation, as highlighted by a November 2021 report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and multinational consulting firm Accenture. In the years prior to the pandemic the sector thrived, recording its 10th consecutive year of growth in 2019. Moreover, with…
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…
The Gulf banking sector has witnessed an increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in recent years, as lenders continue to deal with the economic headwinds associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. At the outset of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020, it was anticipated that the economic slowdown and the associated fall in oil prices would accelerate the M&A trend among banks in the region,…
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…
