Middle East/North Africa
Egypt Economic Development Conference ignores underlying issues
The Egypt Economic Development Conference this past weekend drew 1,700 investors and government leaders from 90 countries to Egypt’s resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. The conference brought Egypt’s struggling economy
Environmental protests challenge Algeria fracking
Algeria is home to world’s third largest shale deposits behind China and Afghanistan. If exploited, shale gas could provide an important boost to its energy exports. A new project to
Nuclear deal offers only a glimmer of hope for Iran’s economy
Between crippling sanctions and plunging oil prices, Iran’s economy has been under severe pressure in recent years. While the potential for a nuclear deal has caused optimism, entrenched interests of the
Iran nuclear talks closing in on final agreement
With negotiators assembling in Lausanne this week for a critical round of talks on the future of Iran’s nuclear program, the long-running negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program seem to have entered
Islamist militias take key oil fields in Libya
Libya goes from bad to worse and approaches failed state status. The implications could be far-reaching. Bad news out of Libya has become the norm since the ousting of Muammar
Middle East sees rise of start-up incubators
The impressive start-up culture in the Middle East has led to the development of myriad seed investment companies looking to support young entrepreneurs. These companies provide startups with greater access
Islamic State in Libya targets foreign assets and personnel
Islamic State (IS) is expanding its focus to Libya, with an emphasis on targeting foreigners and foreign assets. As a consequence of the attack led by Sunni extremist fighters against the
China forced to rethink role in Middle East
In recent years, China’s presence in the Middle East has taken on greater significance through deepening economic ties. China is now the second largest trading partner with Arab nations, jumping to
Hope ahead for Baghdad’s future
From the 1950s to the 1970s, Baghdad was on the path towards modernization and prosperity. The decades of conflict that followed left the once vibrant city in stagnation. However, things
Despite low oil price, Saudi Arabia stays course in opening stock markets
Saudi Arabia is set to stay the course in opening up its stock markets to foreign investment despite the change in leadership and fluctuations in the price of oil. In