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The Report: Syria 2026
Syria’s banking sector entered 2026 with a clearer legal path to global reintegration and recovery, although liquidity, capital quality and depositor confidence have yet to return to levels needed for growth. Syria’s capital markets are showing signs of momentum as the country works to rebuild its economy and re-engage with regional and global investors. Trading value on the Damascus Securities Exchange surged to over $70m in 2024, while market capitalisation rose to $2bn by the end of 2025, pointing to rising equity valuations. The country is gradually rebuilding its energy sector as it seeks to position its oil and gas industry as an essential source for post-war reconstruction...
Syria’s banking sector entered 2026 with a clearer legal path to global reintegration and recovery, although liquidity, capital quality and depositor confidence have yet to return to levels needed for growth. Syria’s capital markets are showing signs of momentum as the country works to rebuild its economy and re-engage with regional and global investors. Trading value on the Damascus Securities Exchange surged to over $70m in 2024, while market capitalisation rose to $2bn by the end of 2025, pointing to rising equity valuations. The country is gradually rebuilding its energy sector as it seeks to position its oil and gas industry as an essential source for post-war reconstruction...
The Report: Syria 2026
Syria’s banking sector entered 2026 with a clearer legal path to global reintegration and recovery, although liquidity, capital quality and depositor confidence have yet to return to levels needed for growth. Syria’s capital markets are showing signs of momentum as the country works to rebuild its economy and re-engage with regional and global investors. Trading value on the Damascus Securities Exchange surged to over $70m in 2024, while market capitalisation rose to $2bn by the end of 2025, pointing to rising equity valuations. The country is gradually rebuilding its energy sector as it seeks to position its oil and gas industry as an essential source for post-war reconstruction...
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Syria’s banking sector entered 2026 with a clearer legal path to global reintegration and recovery, although liquidity, capital quality and depositor confidence have yet to return to levels needed for growth. Syria’s capital markets are showing signs of momentum as the country works to rebuild its economy and re-engage with regional and global investors. Trading value on the Damascus Securities Exchange surged to over $70m in 2024, while market capitalisation rose to $2bn by the end of 2025, pointing to rising equity valuations. The country is gradually rebuilding its energy sector as it seeks to position its oil and gas industry as an essential source for post-war reconstruction...
The Report: Qatar 2026
Despite heightened regional uncertainty stemming from the 2026 Iran conflict, Qatar continues to demonstrate economic resilience, supported by its position as one of the world’s leading LNG exporters, strong fiscal fundamentals and prudent policymaking. While short-term disruption has affected energy exports, trade and logistics, the country remains committed to advancing the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-30 through sustained investment, economic diversification and structural reform. Continued progress across finance, industry, digital technology, infrastructure and tourism is reinforcing Qatar’s long-term competitiveness, while its growing diplomatic and economic influence strengthens its position as a trusted regional partner and global investment destination.
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Despite heightened regional uncertainty stemming from the 2026 Iran conflict, Qatar continues to demonstrate economic resilience, supported by its position as one of the world’s leading LNG exporters, strong fiscal fundamentals and prudent policymaking. While short-term disruption has affected energy exports, trade and logistics, the country remains committed to advancing the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-30 through sustained investment, economic diversification and structural reform. Continued progress across finance, industry, digital technology, infrastructure and tourism is reinforcing Qatar’s long-term competitiveness, while its growing diplomatic and economic influence strengthens its position as a trusted regional partner and global investment destination.
The Report: Kuwait 2025
Kuwait is advancing a broad reform agenda under the New Kuwait 2035 development plan, aiming to strengthen economic resilience and diversify beyond hydrocarbons. Recent governance and fiscal reforms, including the passage of a new public debt law, are expected to expand financing options and support capital market development. At the same time, investment in infrastructure, logistics, digital technology and industry is creating new opportunities for private sector participation. While the energy sector continues to anchor the economy, expanding activity in finance, ICT and trade is helping to broaden growth drivers. Parallel investment in education, health care and cultural infrastructure is also strengthening human capital and quality of life, positioning Kuwait for more diversified and sustainable long-term growth.
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Kuwait is advancing a broad reform agenda under the New Kuwait 2035 development plan, aiming to strengthen economic resilience and diversify beyond hydrocarbons. Recent governance and fiscal reforms, including the passage of a new public debt law, are expected to expand financing options and support capital market development. At the same time, investment in infrastructure, logistics, digital technology and industry is creating new opportunities for private sector participation. While the energy sector continues to anchor the economy, expanding activity in finance, ICT and trade is helping to broaden growth drivers. Parallel investment in education, health care and cultural infrastructure is also strengthening human capital and quality of life, positioning Kuwait for more diversified and sustainable long-term growth.
The Report: Saudi Arabia 2025
Saudi Arabia is entering a new phase of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s long-term development roadmap, with greater emphasis on consolidating and maximising the impact of economic reforms introduced over the past decade. Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, the Kingdom has pursued an ambitious agenda aimed at diversifying and moving away from hydrocarbons and expanding private sector activity. Saudi Arabia is increasingly well positioned to sustain the growth of recent years and drive foreign capital inflows and privatisation, positioning it as a globally competitive investment destination while reinforcing international confidence in the Kingdom’s policy direction.
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Saudi Arabia is entering a new phase of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s long-term development roadmap, with greater emphasis on consolidating and maximising the impact of economic reforms introduced over the past decade. Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, the Kingdom has pursued an ambitious agenda aimed at diversifying and moving away from hydrocarbons and expanding private sector activity. Saudi Arabia is increasingly well positioned to sustain the growth of recent years and drive foreign capital inflows and privatisation, positioning it as a globally competitive investment destination while reinforcing international confidence in the Kingdom’s policy direction.
The Report: Qatar 2025
Qatar is channeling its hydrocarbons wealth into long-term economic transformation, with diversification accelerating after the FIFA 2022 World Cup. In 2024 non-oil sectors accounted for over 60% of GDP, led by tourism, logistics and financial services. Strong fiscal buffers, a US dollar peg and prudent management of the $475bn Qatar Investment Authority support macroeconomic stability. Reforms in labour laws, green investment, and small and medium-sized enterprise development have boosted private sector participation and competitiveness. The trade and investment sector is a key area of the country’s growth due to the government’s ability to leverage associated international exposure to attract higher inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI), aligning with its broader economic diversification agenda. The energy sector continues to be a boon for the economy and FDI inflows due to Qatar’s abundant natural gas reserves and its liquefied natural gas exports. Qatar’s economy is strong and stable, coupled with a population of around 3.1m, endow Qatar with vast sovereign wealth and one of the highest GDP per capita figures in the world.
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Qatar is channeling its hydrocarbons wealth into long-term economic transformation, with diversification accelerating after the FIFA 2022 World Cup. In 2024 non-oil sectors accounted for over 60% of GDP, led by tourism, logistics and financial services. Strong fiscal buffers, a US dollar peg and prudent management of the $475bn Qatar Investment Authority support macroeconomic stability. Reforms in labour laws, green investment, and small and medium-sized enterprise development have boosted private sector participation and competitiveness. The trade and investment sector is a key area of the country’s growth due to the government’s ability to leverage associated international exposure to attract higher inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI), aligning with its broader economic diversification agenda. The energy sector continues to be a boon for the economy and FDI inflows due to Qatar’s abundant natural gas reserves and its liquefied natural gas exports. Qatar’s economy is strong and stable, coupled with a population of around 3.1m, endow Qatar with vast sovereign wealth and one of the highest GDP per capita figures in the world.
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