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Analysis

Vision 2030 reforms support Saudi Arabia's small businesses
OBG
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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,…

Analysis

Digital tools create better health care access for underserved areas
OBG
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After weathering the volatility of the pandemic era, the global digital health ecosystem is settling into structural growth — recalibrating its priorities from rapid scale to long-term and sustainable profitability. Venture capital funding for the sector has stabilised significantly, with approximately $25.1bn in 2024 compared to its peak of $57bn in 2021. This shift towards sustainable enterprises…

Analysis

Infrastructure investment underpins tourism growth in Saudi Arabia
OBG
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The government positioned tourism as a priority sector in Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s long-term development roadmap, aimed at driving economic diversification and reducing the national reliance on fossil fuel revenue. Cross-government support for the National Tourism Strategy (NTS) and associated legislation has helped accelerate sectoral expansion. Meanwhile, the promotion of Saudi Arabia to a diverse…

Analysis

Centralised digital platform reshapes GCC travel ecosystem
OBG
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The travel and tourism sector contributed $247.1bn to GCC countries’ GDP in 2024, heralding a shift within the region from a phase of post-pandemic recovery to one of global leadership. This figure represents a 31.9% increase over 2019 levels, underscoring the success of large-scale diversification strategies across the bloc. The sector is on a trajectory to contribute an estimated $371.2bn to the…

Analysis

Emerging travel destinations leverage technology advancements in tourism
OBG
plus

As emerging markets expand their tourism offerings and diversify visitor source markets, the sector is increasingly shaped by digitalisation, sustainability and long-term resilience planning. Governments and private operators are leveraging technology to improve visitor experiences, manage capacity and align tourism development with emissions-reduction targets, reflecting a shift towards value-driven…