Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. XLVIII

No 3

17-January-2005

MEES Agenda

Oil Producers Channel Surpluses Into Infrastructure, Debt Repayment, New Capacity

The rise in oil prices in 2004 and characteristically conservative oil price projections made at the beginning of the year by oil producing countries have left many with hefty fiscal surpluses. Melanie Lovatt surveys plans for spending the surpluses in several of the Gulf countries.

While the Gulf is not necessarily known for its fiscal...