| Women’s Education in
Saudi Arabia
The Way Forward Education in Saudi Arabia is an area in which women have experienced significant progress. The Saudi government has gone to considerable effort to increase girls’ access to education and reduce the gender gap at different educational levels. Women’s education has brought about a number of social developments in the country, such as a reduction in fertility and mortality rates, an improvement in health and nutrition, and an increase in female participation in the labor force.…read more > |
| The Challenges of Balance by Joe Saddi, Karim Sabbagh, Richard Shediac Visitors to cities such as Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai are likely to encounter a near-constant state of change. Building construction continues apace, even during the current economic downturn. It will eventually lead to better transportation systems, less traffic, and more energy-efficient buildings.…read more > |
| Weather the Storm and Prepare for the Future by Fadi Majdalani, Alessandro Borgogna, Walid Fayad, Tarek El Sayed The global economic downturn and sharp decline in oil prices are putting pressure on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments’ budgets and threatening to restrict regional infrastructure development. Given the region’s rapidly growing population…read more > |
| The Vital Role of Sovereign Wealth Funds in the GCC's Future by Richard Shediac, Hatem Samman  Once defined by their very conservative investments, the sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries1 are broadening their investment portfolios and focusing on achieving far higher returns. This new, more proactive investment stance further integrates the GCC’s economies into the world’s economy…read more > |
What is the Outlook for the Global Economy? World Economic Forum Special: Chairman Joe Saddi and CEO Shumeet Banerji are leading a group of Booz & Company partners at the 39th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The theme: “Shaping the Post-Crisis World.…play clip > |
| How to Succeed at Education Reform by Nabih Maroun, Hatem Samman, Chadi N. Moujaes, Rabih Abouchakra The urgency for education reform in the Arab world has been manifested in the various initiatives aimed at improving the quality and quantity of education, especially with a rising young population that represents a majority in many countries of the Arab world. Recent years have witnessed many Arab countries …read more > |
| Oasis Economies by Joe Saddi, Karim Sabbagh, Richard Shediac  Five years ago, Dubai’s Palm Island didn’t exist. Where there are now three human-made land masses— the largest the size of a major city — arranged in the shape of a tree, five years ago there was merely the sparkling blue water of the Arabian Gulf. Then the government of Dubai decided to accelerate the diversification of its economy, from a purely oil…read more > |
| Economic Diversification by Richard Shediac, Rabih Abouchakra, Chadi N. Moujaes, Mazen Ramsay Najjar A strong, growing, sustainable economy is the goal of every nation in the world. A sustainable economy enhances a nation’s standard of living by creating wealth and jobs, encouraging the development of new knowledge and technology, and helping to ensure a stable political climate.…read more > |
| The Rise of Economic Zones in the MENA Region by Karim Sabbagh, Bahjat El-Darwiche, Jonathan Fiske, Chady Smayra  A Telecommunications Perspective The trend in some countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, especially Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, is to use these zones as vehicles for spurring economic diversification and decreasing dependency on the oil sector.…read more > |
