Faced with a significant rise in demand for health care services during the pandemic, technology has proven to be a useful tool in overcoming the capacity limits of health care facilities in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE. This report looks at how each of these markets reacted to the pandemic in its initial stages, the role of digital health services in improving access to information and…
Saudi Arabia was in the midst of a process of economic diversification when Covid-19 hit, as it sought to develop new non-oil growth engines and stimulate private sector job creation. The Kingdom’s resilience to the pandemic was enhanced by sustained investment in health care infrastructure and strong macroeconomic fundamentals, underpinned by its status as the world’s second-largest and most…
Although Peru entered the crisis in a strong fiscal position and deployed an aggressive stimulus programme to counter economic fallout, high case counts, stringent restrictions and infrastructure deficits weighed on public finances and health outcomes. With the country eyeing recovery, several key sectors have largely returned to pre-pandemic levels of activity, driven by mining and construction,…
Saudi Arabia’s strong economic fundamentals allowed it to raise funds from international debt markets and deploy a broad range of fiscal and monetary tools to plug revenue shortfalls and alleviate some of the hardships facing businesses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as was the case in other countries around the world, Saudi Arabia's aviation sector was particularly badly affected…
As one of the world’s richest countries per capita, Qatar entered the Covid-19 pandemic from a position of relative strength. Backed by deep and accessible gas deposits, a positive fiscal balance and a high credit rating, Qatar had invested heavily in boosting its health care system and upgrading its digital and transport infrastructure in the years leading up to the pandemic. This generated significant…
The UAE was relatively well placed to withstand the sudden shock of the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to its diversified economy, record forex reserves, moderate public debt levels, high credit rating and strong net external asset position. Home to a large number of expatriate workers, the country had become the world’s second-largest source of remittance outflows before Covid-19. Despite the subsequent…
As one of the first countries on the continent to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ghana has been able to limit many of its health and economic consequences. Despite the numerous fiscal, economic and social challenges Ghana has faced, the country is also capitalising on emerging opportunities. In particular, Covid-19 has provided the momentum to speed up digital transformation, following a sustained…
Qatar acted swiftly to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the early stages of the pandemic, harnessing the power of digital technology to implement effective test, trace and treatment strategies. At the same time, the country’s bourgeoning start-up ecosystem was mobilised to develop technological solutions to the various pandemic-related challenges facing society and the economy. As a result of…
The pandemic has created an urgent need for more patient capital in Africa. With governments across the continent facing budgetary constraints while recognising the importance of investment in essential infrastructure and services, private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) offer an attractive avenue for financial support. Covid-19 has also accelerated digitalisation in key African markets, which…
The UAE’s efforts to develop an advanced higher education sector, coupled with its robust fiscal position, meant it entered the pandemic from a position of relative strength. This report focuses on the response of policymakers to the challenges presented by Covid-19, and looks in detail at how the higher education sector adapted to the new reality.…
