Tag: United Arab Emirates
Middle East Debt Deals Hang in Limbo as Washington Sets the Clock
Gulf stock markets rallied in September, following the Federal Reserve’s rate cut and renewed optimism that further rate cuts were to come. Behind the cheer lies a more complicated reality: debt issuance across the Middle East — sovereign, corporate and family-owned — is being delayed, restructured or burdened by high U.S.-imported borrowing costs…
Under The Mountain: What Israel Needs And Trump Must Decide
As Israel escalates its confrontation with Iran, Donald Trump faces a defining foreign policy test. The choice before him is not between diplomacy and war. Diplomacy has largely been exhausted; war, in some form, is already underway. The real question is more consequential and more concrete: should the United States supply Israel with its most formidable non-nuclear weapon, the 30,000-pound bunker buster, which only America has the air power capability to deliver…
Sukuk Finance’s New Framework Risks Disruption
The global sukuk market for Islamic finance faces a pivotal moment. A new framework from the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) threatens to destabilise a $1tn market that has become a vital funding source for sovereigns and corporates across the Middle East, Asia and beyond. The spiritual imperative behind proposed changes to AAOIFI’s Shariah Standard 62 is deeply respected. They seek to make sukuk debt appear less like debt with charged interest, something that is prohibited under Islamic law. However, the real-world effects could fracture a market that has flourished precisely because of its consistency and investor confidence. The stakes for global Islamic finance could not be higher…
Marco Rubio’s Proposed Reshuffle At State Offers A Huge Opportunity In Africa
If America wants to stay competitive, it must rethink its approach to Africa, and fast…
Trump’s Return Signals New Opportunities for Middle East Ties
As Donald Trump heads back to the White House, leaders across the Middle East anticipate the revival of a pragmatic partnership centered on economic growth, security, and regional stability. Trump’s first term resonated with Gulf leaders and beyond, emphasizing results over ideology—a stark contrast to the Biden administration. His tenure’s signature accomplishments, including the Abraham Accords, a robust stance on Iran, and business-driven diplomacy, are seen as a roadmap for renewed progress in the region…
The Global War For Talent Is Expanding…
The tech war between countries is well-established – the U.S. and China being the least coy about this battle. There is another (more subtle) war happening…the battle for talent is quietly turning into a more global competition….
A Few Takeaways from the China brokered Saudi-Iran Deal
A China brokered Saudi-Iran deal will force the U.S. to further rethink its strategy with Saudi Arabia and the greater Middle East…
Top 10 Economies To Watch In 2023
Everyone knows economists have a poor track record of predicting recessions. Yet, it is hard to ignore the growing consensus among economists that the combination of inflation and interest rate hikes alongside tempered Chinese demand and US economic uncertainty could be the perfect storm for a global recession.
Those same economists, however, disagree on the depth and length of a potential recession as well as the underlying indicators that will answer their questions. Thus, instead of agreeing on a list of indicators, let’s focus on some countries that could be bellwethers for changing headwinds in 2023…
The World Need More Oil…Will the U.S. Provide It?
What is one thing that Iran, the UAE and Elon Musk can agree on? The world needs more oil…Will the U.S. Provide It?
