More Filters
There were 2220 results found for:

All Regions and All Sectors

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's economic transformation promotes Vision 2030 objectives
OBG
plus

Vision 2030 was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2016 and represents the most far-reaching and transformative development blueprint in the Kingdom’s history. The framework revolves around three central principles: developing a vibrant society, creating a thriving economy and building an ambitious country. What this means in practice is that the Kingdom has had…

Analysis

Localisation policies create employment opportunities for GCC nationals
OBG
plus

Countries across the GCC have intensified workforce nationalisation policies in recent years as part of broader efforts to reduce reliance on expatriate labour and create sustainable employment opportunities for expanding national populations. These localisation initiatives are increasingly connected to broader economic diversification strategies, as governments seek to better align labour market outcomes…

Analysis

High-value employment opportunities created in GCC's university campuses
OBG
plus

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

Extended reality becomes primary education tool in emerging markets
OBG
plus

The global metaverse in education market has transitioned from a Covid-19 pandemic-era experiment into a cornerstone of experiential learning, with its valuation rising from $11.3bn in 2024 to an estimated $15.8bn in 2025. This expansion is underpinned by a compound annual growth rate of 39.7%, driven by a strategic shift towards high-stakes simulations in medicine and engineering. Current research…

Analysis

Vision 2030 reforms support Saudi Arabia's small businesses
OBG
plus

A major target of the Financial Sector Development Programme (FSDP) has been improving financial inclusion in Saudi Arabia, especially for women. Since the World Bank began recording data in 2011, men have consistently been above the global average when it comes to bank account ownership, with 73% of Saudi men having accounts in 2011 compared to the global average of 55%. By 2024 this gap had narrowed,…

Analysis

New technologies transform financial service sectors in GCC
OBG
plus

Open banking has rapidly emerged as a transformative force in global finance, redefining traditional banking models by enabling secure, application programming interface (API)-driven data sharing and third party service integration. Valued at approximately $25.1bn in 2023 and poised to surge to $29.6bn by 2025 – ultimately eclipsing $306.6bn by 2035 – the global market’s projected compound annual…

Analysis

Support from global lenders shapes green energy transition
OBG
plus

Emerging markets are central to the global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, but they face challenges in mobilising the finance needed to meet these goals. Climate finance flows to emerging markets exceeded $1trn in 2023, with domestic sources accounting for around 80% of total flows. International public and private capital made up the remainder, with global public finance reaching…

Analysis

Growing debt issuance supports market liquidity in Saudi Arabia
OBG
plus

Saudi Arabia is currently home to some of the world’s largest construction giga-projects, which together are reshaping the Kingdom’s investment landscape. These multi-billion-dollar developments include NEOM, Qiddiya, a range of initiatives by Red Sea Global, and the work of the ROSHN Group and Diriyah Company. Projects of this scale require diversified and sustained sources of funding, drawing…

Analysis

Regulatory reforms strengthen Saudi Arabia's private participation
OBG
plus

The private sector’s role in Saudi Arabia’s health care has increased significantly in recent years, supported by favourable national policies and regulatory reform. The Kingdom is actively encouraging greater private participation to reduce the financial burden on the government and improve health care outcomes. This approach has driven a rise in public-private partnerships (PPPs) across multiple…

Analysis

Decentralised financing plays important role in GCC's diversification programmes
OBG
plus

GCC countries are increasingly embracing decentralised finance (DeFi) and attracting cryptocurrency firms as they seek to harness financial technology (fintech) innovation, expand services and boost financial inclusion. DeFi, characterised by peer-to-peer financial services without central authorities, is seen as a means for economic diversification and the adoption of Web3 technologies like blockchain,…