Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. LII

No 24

15-Jun-2009

REGIONAL/GCC

S&P Rankings Highlight Gulfs Oil Price Vulnerability

The vulnerability of Gulf countries to oil prices was highlighted in a Standard & Poors ranking which measures impact on economic output, external balances and government finances. In the ranking (see table), Bahrain (with a sovereign rating of A/stable/A-1) is assessed as the most vulnerable, followed by Saudi Arabia (AA-/Stable/A-1+), Oman (A/stableA-1), Kuwait...