Featured by OBG
Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest economy, is progressing towards diversification under Vision 2030. The digital economy is a standout performer, contributing 14% of GDP, while government-led giga-projects open long-term opportunities across various sectors. Despite a dip in oil activities that reduced the current account surplus to 3.2% in 2023, tourism income surged by 38%, boosting the service trade surplus to a record high. The Kingdom’s economy is forecast to grow by 4.6% in 2025. Saudi Arabia offers a dynamic business environment, attracting both large corporations working with government entities and smaller companies leveraging private sector activity. Key sectors like banking, energy and construction are thriving, driven by strategic investment and reforms.
Bahrain has remained largely insulated from international external risks and has weathered the global economic shocks of the recent past relatively well. At the height of the international financial downturn, for example, the kingdom avoided falling into recession and even achieved real GDP growth of more than 6% in 2008 and over 3% in 2009.
At an average of 5.1% between 2003 and 2012, Turkey has experienced one of the world’s highest growth rates over the past decade. This was accompanied by drops in joblessness and poverty, as well as gains in school enrolment, home ownership and life expectancy.
As ASEAN chair in 2013, Brunei Darussalam has a regional agenda to push forward alongside its domestic plans for the year. Chief among its local priorities is developing alternative resources streams in its economy, which has long been driven by its oil and natural gas revenues.
Located in the westernmost region of North Africa, Morocco has an impressively diversified economy and in recent years has benefited from steady growth. The country has strong trade links with the EU and has a young population – with the median age of its roughly 32m people at 27.3 years – which in turn provides the country with a large supply of available and comparatively skilled labour.
With oil prices at sustained high levels and the government pushing ahead with a large-scale investment programme to upgrade infrastructure, address social issues and further diversification, Saudi Arabia’s economy is thriving.
