GULF WEEKLY: Kuwait forms government, Qatar says green bond soon, Netanyahu rejects US/Arab two-state solution proposals, Iranian missiles hit targets in three countries
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines:
* Oil rose back towards $80, and OPEC sees oil demand growing by 1.8m b/d in 2025.
* Netanyahu rejected talk of a Palestinian state after the war, despite Arab and US proposals.
* China called for a binding roadmap to a Palestinian state and an end to Houthi attacks on shipping.
* Qatar mediated the delivery of medical supplies to Israeli hostages in Gaza.
* Gulf ministers were active at Davos, with sessions on the GCC, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar.
* Neom awarded a $4.7bn contract to build a lake at its Trojena mountain resort.
* ESCWA scored Saudi Arabia’s business legislative framework as the strongest in the region.
* Several (rare) KSA-UAE cross border investments were announced in the financial sector.
* The UAE federal budget shows a sharp drop in Abu Dhabi grants, replaced by tax and investment income.
* Qatar’s finance minister said a green bond is coming soon, and Ashmore launched a local equity fund with QIA.
* Kuwait’s cabinet was formed with lots of PhDs but few royals, returning ministers or MPs.
* Oman made its first payments of social protection benefits, budgeted at 5% of expenditure.
* Oman Future Fund was launched and will receive $1bn/yr to invest in local projects.
* Bahrain is considering following the UAE in shifting to a Sat/Sun weekend.
* Egypt’s outlook was lowered to negative by Moody’s, which separately raised Turkey’s to positive.
* Databank updates: UAE federal budget; Qatar BoP; oil production; inflation for KSA, Qatar & Dubai.
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