Times of transition can be defining moments for social welfare systems. This is when these systems that are designed (or should be) to help the poorest and most vulnerable citizens come under scrutiny, a real stress test as to whether they can respond to those in need.

I recall the first time I visited Nakheel Palestine for Agricultural Investments Company fields at Jericho two years ago, when MIGA was still at the early stages of underwriting the project constituting planting date trees.

Public transport in Oman has been earmarked for a major funding boost under the 2013 budget, and a planned national rail network is set to receive the lion’s share of the spend.

Egypt’s recent decision to halt gas supplies to Jordan and the kingdom’s subsequent decision to lift fuel subsidies has placed the country’s already difficult energy situation under an added level of stress.

Food security in Iraq has improved in the last decade, as the American-led invasion brought an end to sanctions and a resumption of open relations between Iraq and the rest of the world.

A recent decision by a parliamentary committee is expected to clear the way for the privatisation of Kuwait’s national airline, which in turn could reinvigorate a long-stalled programme to open up ownership of other state enterprises – or at least parts of them – to the private sector.

The Moroccan fisheries sector performed well in 2012, a positive step in the government’s effort to boost the sector’s contribution to GDP.

As part of Algeria’s several hundred billion dollar infrastructure programme, the government has enacted new measures to encourage greater participation from local firms.

Dubai’s external trade figures hit record levels in 2012, assisted by its strong transport and logistics infrastructure and underpinned by areas of the economy that remain in recovery mode,

The number of international arrivals to Bahrain surged in mid-August, as visitors headed to the Gulf country to celebrate the post-Ramadan Eid holidays.