GULF COUNTRIES
Analyst
Justin Alexander
Former Economic Advisor, Qatar Finance MinistryDatabanks
Recent Country Insights
Saudi Q1 fiscal - no sign of spending cuts and a record increase in debt
GULF COUNTRIES · In Brief · 05 May 2025
The Ministry of Finance is getting timelier with its fiscal releases, publishing Q1 today, just five weeks after the quarter end and a week before Aramco's earnings. I will include some more analysis in the weekly report, but a few quick takeaways: The decline in oil revenue was as expected, give...
GULF WEEKLY: Saudi GDP revised up by 14%, $7.4bn in debt issued across GCC, Eric Trump launches GCC deals, Oman discusses US FTA
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 02 May 2025
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Oil traded lower in advance of an OPEC+ meeting tomorrow that could accelerate the taper. * Despite positive noises after a 3rd US-Iran meeting in Oman, Trump threatened secondary sanctions. * The IMF’s REO forecasts see ...
GULF WEEKLY: IMF/WB revise down GCC forecasts, Adnoc signs Chinese LNG contracts, S&P puts Bahrain on Negative outlook
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 25 Apr 2025
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Chatter that OPEC+ might accelerate its taper because of Kazakh overproduction weighed on oil. * There were some positive vibes regarding US-Iran talks, which will now involve a technical group. * The IMF and World Bank r...
GULF WEEKLY: US-Iran nuclear talks begin, Oman and Europe plan hydrogen corridor, Bahraini parliament calls for tariffs on US
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 17 Apr 2025 · 1 response
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Oil recovered to a two-week high of $67, and OPEC+ announced revised compensation cuts. * OPEC and the IEA both revised down both oil demand and supply forecasts due to US policies. * US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman seemed ...
GULF WEEKLY: UAE-EU trade talks launched, UAE & KSA do US LNG deals, Oman bank merger proposed, Bahrain tourism surges
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 11 Apr 2025
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Oil touched a new four-year low, raising concerns about larger GCC deficits and financing needs. * US-Iran talks in Oman are scheduled tomorrow and may also be a factor weighing on the oil market. * Gulf equity markets de...
GULF WEEKLY: Oil drops $10 due to trade war and OPEC+ hike, Saudi Arabia’s current account falls into deficit, Abu Dhabi sees strong GDP growth, Bahrain’s FDI surges in Q4
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 04 Apr 2025
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Brent oil crashed by $10 in two days to $65, a 4-year low, due largely to the US trade war. * OPEC+ also announced unexpected production hikes to punish Kazakh overproduction. * GCC states all have trade deficits with the...
"Liberation Day" tariffs have limited direct impact on the GCC but have hurt the oil price
GULF COUNTRIES · In Brief · 02 Apr 2025
As a hot take on the impact of the US tariff announcements on the GCC, here are two positives, two negatives, and two areas that are currently unknown. There will be much more to discuss as responses and secondary impacts become clearer. Positives 1. GCC competitiveness in the US (and elsewhere) ...
GULF WEEKLY: Bahrain budgets large deficit, Kuwait passes debt law, S&P turns negative on Sharjah, Oman GDP
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 28 Mar 2025
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Saudi unemployment fell to a record low of 7.0%, achieving the Vision 2030 goal five years early. * S&P placed Sharjah on a negative outlook and sees debt rising to 67% of GDP by 2028. * The UAE fined five banks and two i...
GULF WEEKLY: Saudi Arabia upgraded, new OPEC+ “compensation” cuts, Qatar mediates Congo-Rwanda, Israel restarts Gaza war
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 21 Mar 2025
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * OPEC+ pledged 128m barrels in compensatory cuts, offsetting two months of tapering. * Oman's pledges were the largest in the GCC, in relative terms, and its 2025 output will be flat. * S&P upgraded Saudi Arabia to A+ due ...