Editor profile
Editor, Energy Transition
Omar Al-Farsi tracks renewable energy investments and the transition to green hydrogen across the Middle East. He focuses on decarbonization efforts within traditional industries.
omar.al-farsi@mideastdevreport.comBased on GCC real estate benchmark data, this analysis examines the divergent transformations of real estate markets across Gulf countries, with a focus on Saudi Arabia's mega-project-driven economic diversification and the regional competitive landscape.
The global construction chemicals market is expected to grow from USD 52.56 billion in 2025 to USD 93.08 billion in 2035, with a CAGR of 5.8%. Behind this growth trend lies the economic diversification process driven by Gulf states' mega-projects and the wave of green buildings. This article analyzes the underlying logic of urban and industrial transformation in the Middle East through the lens of chemical materials demand.
From the surge in registrations at the Qatar Financial Centre to global investment in Saudi Arabia's giga-projects, and from institutional and industrial transformation in Oman and Kuwait, Gulf countries are moving from vision planning into the deeper waters of coordinated advancement in capital, institutions, and technology.
This article starts from the role of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, analyzes the economic transformation of the Gulf and the wave of investment in Africa, and explores the strategic value of the private sector in regional connectivity.
This article analyzes Saudi Arabia's smart city strategy, represented by NEOM, from the perspective of regional economic transformation and global urban competition, explores how it leverages Vision 2030 to promote non-oil economic development and reshape urban governance models, and assesses the opportunities and challenges it faces.
DP World's revenue grew 13.1% in the first half of 2026, despite disruptions to Middle East trade flows. This article analyzes how its global network serves as a geopolitical risk buffer, as well as the deeper implications of the UAE's dual-hub strategy, Gulf port competition, and capital deployment.
This article, based on DP World's first-half 2026 performance, analyzes the performance of port operators amid Middle East trade disruptions, revealing the underlying logic behind the transformation of Gulf states' logistics hubs from single-point dependence to networked, diversified models, as well as the strategic intentions of sovereign capital in infrastructure deployment.
This article analyzes the 13.1% growth in DP World's first-half performance, how its global port network hedges against Middle East geopolitical risks, and how the new Fujairah terminal investment strengthens the UAE's logistics hub status, revealing the strategic logic of infrastructure investment amid the Gulf's economic transformation.
The Middle East construction market is expected to reach $712.8 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 7.05%. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the economic diversification strategies, mega-project drivers, energy transition synergies, and new investment patterns behind this growth.
Middle East energy transition and China's green industry expansion are reshaping traditional oil partnerships. This article analyzes how renewable energy cooperation between Gulf states and China is evolving from simple trade complementarity to strategic synergy, and leveraging the regional economic diversification landscape.
The GCC private credit market is growing rapidly. This article analyzes the driving forces and future trajectory of this new frontier from the perspectives of economic transformation, sovereign capital, and international investment.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the rapid rise of the private credit market in the Gulf region, exploring the strategic shift of sovereign wealth funds, the financing gap for small and medium-sized enterprises, the characteristics of Islamic finance, and long-term investment opportunities in the context of economic diversification.
This article analyzes how Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds accelerate regional economic transformation and reshape the global capital landscape through M&A activities.
An in-depth analysis of how China-Gulf cooperation in renewable energy drives energy transition, economic diversification, and global supply chain restructuring, as well as the long-term impact of this partnership on regional development patterns.
UAE private sector labor force grows 12.4%; companies entering the Middle East face complex compliance, cost, and cultural challenges. Based on six core principles, this article analyzes how to design a forward-looking human resource structure to match the Gulf's economic transformation needs.
The UAE has made artificial intelligence a core pillar of its economic diversification, striving to build new competitiveness in the post-oil era through national strategies, infrastructure investment, and AI-driven government services. This article analyzes the progress, challenges, and regional impact of its AI strategy.
Analyze the changing trends in global energy transition investment, examine the strategic adjustments and investment logic of Middle Eastern countries in areas such as renewable energy, nuclear energy, and hydrogen energy, as well as their impact on regional economic diversification.
UAE Minister of State reveals that the non-oil sector's share of GDP has approached 79% in 2025, and 98% of foreign investments remain unaffected by recent geopolitical risks. This data marks a new phase in the Gulf economy's diversification.
The UAE is integrating gaming into its economic diversification strategy by establishing a commercial gaming regulatory framework, with a focus on a high-end tourism and entertainment ecosystem to attract global operators and create high-value-added industries. This article analyzes its institutional design, risk control, and industry coordination logic.
The Red Sea crisis has triggered a structural reorganization of the global trade network. Middle Eastern ports, through strategic investments and capacity expansion, have become key players in the African logistics corridor, driving the diversification of the Gulf economy.