Middle East ETP News
you are currently viewing::Saudi Arabia: Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV MissionJune 26, 2025-- Saudi Arabia's economy has demonstrated strong resilience to shocks, with non-oil economic activities expanding, inflation contained, and unemployment reaching record-low levels. While lower oil proceeds and investment-linked imports led to the emergence of twin deficits, external and fiscal buffers remain ample. Addressing strong credit growth and associated funding pressures will be crucial in mitigating risks to systemic financial stability. Given the current heightened global uncertainty, continued efforts on structural reform are essential to sustain non-oil growth and drive economic diversification. RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS[1] Saudi Arabia's economy has been resilient to shocks. In 2024, non-oil real GDP grew by 4.2 percent, primarily driven by private consumption and non-oil private investment, with retail, hospitality, and construction leading growth. Source: imf.org |
IMF Staff Completes the 2026 Article IV Mission to Singapore
May 18, 2026--Singapore is navigating elevated global uncertainty from a position of strength. The country faces upside inflation risks and downside growth risks stemming from a possible escalation of the war in the Middle East.
ADX hosts initial offering period for US-based ETF
April 30, 2026-The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group has hosted the initial offering period (IOP) for a US-based ETF, followed by the cross-listing of the KraneShares Wahed Alternative Income Index ETF (KWIN).
UAE leaves OPEC in blow to oil cartel during war on Iran
April 28, 2026- Announcement of its exit on Friday comes as Gulf producers are already struggling to ship exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Arab Emirates has announced its decision to quit OPEC and OPEC+ to focus on "national interests", dealing a heavy blow to the oil-exporting groups at a time when the US-Israel war on Iran has caused a historic energy shock and rattled the global economy.
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Mideast Stocks: Most Gulf equities nudge higher despite stalled diplomacy in Iran
April 26, 2026-The war has deepened instability in the Middle East
Most stock markets eked out small gains on Sunday despite hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran fading, with stalled talks underscoring the hardening positions of both Tehran and Washington.
The Gulf's growth model faces its first true stress test
April 7, 2026-GDP in Saudi Arabia and the UAE could fall by 3% and 5% respectively
The US-Israel war with Iran has now stretched beyond five weeks, inflicting extensive damage on energy infrastructure, airports, ports and commercial and technology hubs across the six GCC states.
