| The Bedrock of Society by Richard Shediac, Samer Bohsali, Hatem Samman  In countries around the world, the middle class typically serves as a force for positive socioeconomic change, yet that has not happened in the Middle East and North Africa. Instead, many of the region’s middle-class residents...read more > |
| Youth in GCC Countries by Dr. Mona AlMunajjed, Dr. Karim Sabbagh  The GCC is at a moment of unprecedented demographic opportunity. Young people make up one-third to one-half of the population of the GCC countries, presenting GCC governments... download Arabic Version (270kb) >read more > |
| Integrating, Not Integrated by Richard Shediac, Parag Khanna, Taufiq Rahim, Hatem A. Samman Economic integration offers a range of benefits for countries, primarily by streamlining the flow of goods, labor, capital, and ideas within those countries, and by allowing them to negotiate with global markets as a collective whole. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is in an excellent position to realize these benefits, as it consists of six dynamic yet relatively small economies…read more > |
Divorce in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Divorce rates in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have risen dramatically in recent years and continue to rise, with an adverse effect on children, families, and society as a whole. Divorced women, in particular, suffer considerable social and economic discrimination …read more > |
| Leadership Summit Middle East by Karim Sabbagh, Hatem Samman, Dr. Hal B Gregersen  In January 2010, Booz & Company joined forces with INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools, to host the first Leadership Summit in the Middle East. The summit was held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. …read more > |
| From Isolated Oases to an Integrated Landscape by George Atalla, Hatem Samman A steady expansion of economic integration is taking place across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, giving rise to increasing optimism about the region’s development. Reform-minded leaders have created much-needed investment, development, and trade opportunities by embracing new strategies and structural reforms. As a result, the isolated pockets of prosperity that characterized the old economic landscape are beginning to overlap.…read more> |
| Meeting the Employment Challenge in the GCC by Richard Shediac, Hatem Samman  Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region: It has the potential to depress per capita standards of GDP, jeopardize standards of living, and breed economic inequality. Although some of these consequences have been avoided due to the GCC’s provision of welfare for its citizens and, in recent years, by high oil revenues…read more > |
Women’s Employment in Saudi Arabia A survey of the Saudi labor market reveals enormous potential as well as significant challenges. The Kingdom’s bold move to diversify away from a purely petroleum-based economy will require the skills, participation, and energy of its most valuable resource: its citizens. In 2007, 85.6 percent of the nationals…read more > |
| Women’s Education in
Saudi Arabia
The Way Forward Education in Saudi Arabia is an area in which women have experienced significant progress. The Saudi government has gone to considerable effort to increase girls’ access to education and reduce the gender gap at different educational levels. Women’s education has brought about a number of social developments in the country, such as a reduction in fertility and mortality rates, an improvement in health and nutrition, and an increase in female participation in the labor force…read more > |
| The Challenges of Balance by Joe Saddi, Karim Sabbagh, Richard Shediac Visitors to cities such as Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai are likely to encounter a near-constant state of change. Building construction continues apace, even during the current economic downturn. It will eventually lead to better transportation systems, less traffic, and more energy-efficient buildings.…read more > |
| Weather the Storm and Prepare for the Future by Fadi Majdalani, Alessandro Borgogna, Walid Fayad, Tarek El Sayed The global economic downturn and sharp decline in oil prices are putting pressure on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments’ budgets and threatening to restrict regional infrastructure development. Given the region’s rapidly growing population…read more > |
| The Vital Role of Sovereign Wealth Funds in the GCC's Future by Richard Shediac, Hatem Samman  Once defined by their very conservative investments, the sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries1 are broadening their investment portfolios and focusing on achieving far higher returns. This new, more proactive investment stance further integrates the GCC’s economies into the world’s economy…read more > |
| How to Succeed at Education Reform by Nabih Maroun, Hatem Samman, Chadi N. Moujaes, Rabih Abouchakra The urgency for education reform in the Arab world has been manifested in the various initiatives aimed at improving the quality and quantity of education, especially with a rising young population that represents a majority in many countries of the Arab world. Recent years have witnessed many Arab countries …read more > |
| Oasis Economies by Joe Saddi, Karim Sabbagh, Richard Shediac  Five years ago, Dubai’s Palm Island didn’t exist. Where there are now three human-made land masses— the largest the size of a major city — arranged in the shape of a tree, five years ago there was merely the sparkling blue water of the Arabian Gulf. Then the government of Dubai decided to accelerate the diversification of its economy, from a purely oil…read more > |
| Economic Diversification by Richard Shediac, Rabih Abouchakra, Chadi N. Moujaes, Mazen Ramsay Najjar A strong, growing, sustainable economy is the goal of every nation in the world. A sustainable economy enhances a nation’s standard of living by creating wealth and jobs, encouraging the development of new knowledge and technology, and helping to ensure a stable political climate.…read more > |
| The Rise of Economic Zones in the MENA Region by Karim Sabbagh, Bahjat El-Darwiche, Jonathan Fiske, Chady Smayra  A Telecommunications Perspective The trend in some countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, especially Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, is to use these zones as vehicles for spurring economic diversification and decreasing dependency on the oil sector.…read more > |
