Gulf Monitor
Gulf Monitor
Castlereagh’s Gulf Monitor provides an insight into key developments in economic diversification, monetary and fiscal policy, social policy and foreign relations in line with the collective ambitions of GCC states to change their economies, yet preserve their systems of governance.
Also housed on this page is the Market Watch collection by Karen E. Young, who has followed and mapped closely the GCC states’ policy response since 2015. It is an authoritative guide to understanding policy formation, reaction and hydrocarbon reliance in the GCC in the last five years.
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Gulf Economic Statecraft Hits Lebanon
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah recently railed against the influence of Gulf money and political support in Lebanon.
Declining Gulf States’ Financial Support Adds to Egypt’s Currency Woes
The Egyptian central bank devalued the pound on March 14, 2016.
Blood in the Water: Speculation on Gulf Currency Pegs Misses First Victims of Downturn
Hedge fund sharks and currency speculators are circling the Gulf states right now, in search of market opportunities in the wake of the deteriorating fiscal balances of oil rich governments.
Tough Love or Useful Ally? IMF Recommendations for Taxes in GCC
Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates this week.
The Perfect Storm: Labour Markets and Economic Downturn in the Gulf
The prolonged slump in oil prices continues to disrupt the economic development model of the Arab Gulf states.
Economic Reform Barometer
Austerity, subsidy cuts, and diversification are buzz words in the Gulf states right now.
Enter China: The New Bilateral Middle East Aid-Security-Trade Nexus
Perhaps a legacy of the Obama administration will be a Middle East that is more engaged with bilateral ties that go East and not just West.
GCC Bank Sector Under Pressure
The GCC’s commercial banking sector reflects a particular pattern of economic development reliant on state investment and ownership.
What Would Russia Do? Why Saudi Arabia’s Break With Iran Makes Bad Economic Sense
The decision to break diplomatic ties with Iran will have some important economic consequences for Saudi Arabia.
New Year, Same Economy
Flaming tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia this week did little to spike oil prices.
Small Victories for GCC Women: More Educated, More Unemployed
This is a week of small victories for women in the Gulf.
Regional Politics Impact GCC Economic Reforms
A coherent and shared GCC tax regime is not a potential economic fiscal reform.