Companies, trade, currencies and economic policy from Rabat to Muscat.
Citizens build state pensions funded by employer and employee contributions; expatriates fall outside the schemes and receive end-of-service gratuity instead. How the six GCC systems differ, and where the reforms are heading.
Central Bank data show core inflation falling from 11.8 percent in December to 11.2 percent in January 2026, a continued disinflation that frames the monetary-policy question as the IMF program's next reviews arrive.
S&P Global's January purchasing managers' indexes, published February 4, show Dubai at 55.9 and the UAE at 56.6, with new business growth accelerating on demand strength across the non-oil economy.
Morocco sells itself on free-trade access to Europe, an automotive and aerospace export base, and the Casablanca Finance City regime for regional headquarters. How the pieces fit for a company entering the market.
Saudi and Emirati state-backed capital now anchors the regional stack, fintech produces the unicorns, and the exit door is usually acquisition rather than public listing. How the money actually moves.
The Fund's January 2026 World Economic Outlook update projects the Middle East and Central Asia region accelerating to 3.9 percent growth this year, up from 3.7 percent in 2025, with global growth at 3.3 percent.