1. Algeria’s Trade Surplus Slumps

    ...sustainable path. Whilst Algeria’s current account remains in surplus the IMF estimates the surplus collapsed to a mere 1.1% of GDP for 2013, down from 6% for 2012 and 9.9% for 2011. Reserves At $194bn The country’s reserves have reached $194bn at the end of December 2013, according to the Governor of th...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 09
    Published at Fri, 28 Feb 2014
  2. Egypt Banks: Moody’s Wary

    ...yptian banks is unchanged since the beginning of the political turmoil in the country in January 2011. Moody’s said that although Egypt is heading towards elections, the government remains locked in a confrontation with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is backed by ousted president Muhammad Mursi. Mo...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 09
    Published at Fri, 28 Feb 2014
  3. Saudi Reserves Hit $753Bn But Trade Surplus Falls

    ...udi economy, notes that the growth in the 2013 reserve accumulation is lower than in 2012 and 2011, a reflection of a 7% decline in oil export revenues and a high appetite for imports which rose 8% in value last year. Looking ahead, Samba is forecasting an increase in foreign assets to $823bn in 20...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 08
    Published at Fri, 21 Feb 2014
  4. Egypt: New UAE-Fueled Stimulus Package

    ...d to $3bn.   Regional Aid To Egypt Since 2011 ($Bn) Mursi Rule (2012-13) 12.75 Qatar 6 Saudi Arabia 3.75 Li...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 07
    Published at Fri, 14 Feb 2014
  5. IMF Approves $507Mn Credit To Tunisia

    ...ternal buffers and foster higher inclusive growth, following the economic difficulties and series of external shocks arising after the 2011 revolution. Protracted Transition Commenting on the release of the second tranche, the IMF’s Deputy Managing Director, Nemat Shafik said that “Tunisia is go...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 06
    Published at Fri, 07 Feb 2014
  6. Jordan’s Budget Challenges: Energy And Refugees

    ...s large deficit, and indicated that it was looking for alternative sources of energy to lower the public debt arising from high energy costs. Prior to the Egyptian revolution of 2011, Jordan generated around 80% of its electricity from Egyptian gas imported at preferential prices. Supplies have si...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 06
    Published at Fri, 07 Feb 2014
  7. Rafsanjani Criticizes IRGC’s Economic Power

    ...e Iranian rail network (MEES, 16 November). The previous Minister of Petroleum Rostam Qasemi, who served as managing director of Khatam al-Anbia before his appointment in August 2011, called for expansion of the role of the IRGC-affiliated engineering firm in the economy, by becoming a “re...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 05
    Published at Fri, 31 Jan 2014
  8. UN Sees Polarized Performance In Arab Region

    ...anwhile Syria’s oil production (from government-controlled fields) has sunk to a new low of 13,000 b/d, or about 3.5% of 385,000 b/d at the beginning of the crisis in 2011, Syria’s Deputy Minister of Petroleum Hasan Zainab told the local daily Tishreen on 23 January. He estimates Syria’s oil-related ec...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 05
    Published at Fri, 31 Jan 2014
  9. Mauritania Bags $850Mn

    ...ending heavily on food and energy subsidies and higher public sector salaries in 2011-12. Qatar was the last of the four Gulf states to sign the aid accord with Morocco....

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 05
    Published at Fri, 31 Jan 2014
  10. Syria: The Cost Of War

    ...SYRIA Syria: The Cost Of War As the Syrian civil war enters its fourth year, the Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Services and Minister for Local Administration ‘Umar Ghalawanji puts the damage to the economy from March 2011 to date at S£3,250bn ($21.7bn): S£2,528bn ($16.9bn) in in...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 04
    Published at Fri, 24 Jan 2014
  11. Yemen: 2014 Budget Looks To Patch Holes In Violence-Fueled Revenue Slump

    ...14, both figures represent a real-terms cut. Table 2: Yemen’s 2014 Budget (Yr Bn)              2014 2013 % Change 2012 2011 Revenue 2,...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 04
    Published at Fri, 24 Jan 2014
  12. ILO Report Offers Stark MENA Outlook

    ...erage. Of course, high youth unemployment in countries such as Egypt and Tunisia is often cited as a key catalyst for the 2011 ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings. But the data is now far worse; for North Africa youth unemployment rose by almost six percentage points between 2010 and 2013, another ‘world’s worst’ pe...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 04
    Published at Fri, 24 Jan 2014
  13. World Bank Ups Global Growth Prospects, MENA In The Doldrums

    ...owth Forecasts (% Market Prices)   *2000-09 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Wo...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 03
    Published at Fri, 17 Jan 2014
  14. Oman’s 2014 Budget Aims To Curb State Expenditure

    ...tal budget revenue and 6% of GDP. The government appears to be calling an end to its sharp post-Arab Spring spending increases (as seen in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 budgets – see table), which Oman and other GCC countries instigated in an attempt to nip unrest in the bud. $85/B Oil Price As...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 02
    Published at Fri, 10 Jan 2014
  15. Saudi Arabia Unveils Record 2014 Budget Despite Curb On Expenditure Growth

    ...SAUDI ARABIA   Saudi Arabia Unveils Record 2014 Budget Despite Curb On Expenditure Growth   Riyadh has announced yet another record budget for 2014. But the 4.3% spending hike is lower than in previous years, in an attempt to rein in the spending boom which followed the 2011 up...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 01
    Published at Fri, 03 Jan 2014
  16. Jordanian PM Slams ‘Unsustainable’ Energy Bill

    ...clear power generation has yet to be taken. Until early 2011, Jordan depended on imports of Egyptian gas at preferential prices for over 80% of its electricity generation. But after the Egyptian revolution this source has virtually dried up and Jordan had to shift to more expensive fuel oil for its el...

    Volume: 57
    Issue: 01
    Published at Fri, 03 Jan 2014
  17. Iran Slashes Budget; $100/B Crude, 1.1Mn b/d Exports

    ...lumes were over 2.5mn b/d as recently as 2011. This suggests Tehran is not banking on dramatic near-term easing of sanctions following the landmark interim deal reached on 24 November between Iran and the P5+1.  Mr Rohani’s relatively conservative oil export figure seems to be at odds with the pr...

    Volume: 56
    Issue: 50
    Published at Fri, 13 Dec 2013
  18. GCC Union Postponed

    ...REGIONAL   GCC Union Postponed   Leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have postponed a decision on a proposal submitted by Saudi Arabia two years ago to move from the stage of “cooperation” to full “union” (MEES, 26 December 2011).  GCC Secretary Ge...

    Volume: 56
    Issue: 50
    Published at Fri, 13 Dec 2013
  19. Oman Poised To Curb State Expenditure In 2014

    ...ys soaring government expenditure between 2010 and 2013 became a major challenge for the state, especially given that some 75% of the total went on current expenditure, which cannot be reduced easily. In the wake of the Arab Spring, Oman in early 2011 embarked on a policy of social spending in order to...

    Volume: 56
    Issue: 49
    Published at Fri, 06 Dec 2013
  20. GCC Growth ‘Robust’ Despite Geopolitical, Economic Headwinds-IMF

    ...owth prospects, and also a key ‘wild card’ necessitating the strengthening of fiscal buffers. The region is also vulnerable to volatility in global financial markets and broader Middle East unrest, the IMF says.     Real GDP growth fell to 5.2% in 2012 from an “exceptionally strong” 7.7% in 2011 wh...

    Volume: 56
    Issue: 48
    Published at Fri, 29 Nov 2013