We invite you to read as we look beyond the pandemic with the updated issue of “MENA Post-COVID: Green Shoots & Recovery”. While the high level of uncertainty regarding the length of the pandemic and ongoing volatility in global oil markets continue to present a bleak economic outlook across the world, with the ongoing vaccine rollout, it looks like the tide is finally turning.
As we did in the midst of the pandemic, we continue to give you the latest information on the rounds of economic relief packages, austerity measures and state-backed benefits that MENA governments are enacting and the effect of these response measures on economic recovery. We highlight regional green shoots by providing updates in a threefold manner looking at: Fiscal Policy, Labour Market and Market Readiness. We also provide weekly updates on vaccine development.
Key things to watch out for this week include: M&A activity in the MENA region is poised to continue surging in H1 of 2021, after soaring by 12% last year. We also look at Iraq’s new recovery forecast, following 2020’s GDP decline of 10%, and Bahrain’s plan to launch a vaccine passport. While it is certainly not over yet, there are green shoots of hope, hang in there.
Please feel free to request a copy of Arabia Monitor's updated MENA Post-COVID Report via the link here, and don't hesitate to reach out and discuss, as always.