Featured by OBG
While known primarily for its vast gas reserves prior to 2010, Qatar’s global profile received a major boost that year when it was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, leading to a significant increase in infrastructure development throughout the country. Qatar is now leveraging its natural resources to become a knowledge-based, diversified economy, and it is looking to attract greater foreign direct investment to further develop its non-oil growth engines, such as tourism, sports, financial services, technology, real estate and logistics.
While Egypt continues to face considerable economic challenges as it confronts the legacy of its recent political history, at the outset of 2017 the nation’s economic planners have reason for optimism.
Sharjah’s early efforts towards economic diversification have paid dividends, turning sectors such as heavy industries and transport and logistics into key enablers of economic growth. Meanwhile, the presence of several major universities in the emirate has helped grow its reputation as a major educational centre for the region.
Cote d’Ivoire has seen rapid growth since a decade-long bout of civil unrest ended in 2011. The largest economy in UEMOA, and the third largest in ECOWAS, the country accounts for more than 30% of the eight-member bloc’s GDP.
Bahrain has embarked on a reworking of its subsidy framework in a bid to ease the budgetary pressures associated with the fall in oil prices. Meanwhile, the government is also pushing forward with diversification efforts, with the kingdom’s $32bn investment strategy fuelling activity in various areas of the economy.
Despite ongoing economic pressures associated with the drop in oil prices, Oman’s diversification strategy and efforts to enhance wider revenue streams are beginning to bear fruit, as witnessed by continued growth in the non-oil sector despite dropping incomes and wider regional instability.
