Egypt's economic growth is forecast to fall, according to the EBRD, writes Ahmad Abdel-Rahman. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its forecast for the growth of the Egyptian economy for the fiscal year 2022/2023. It expects the economy to grow by 4.0 per cent in 2022/2023, down 0.7 percentage points from its las...
New Zealand PM bows out
Here's an article from The Economist which, while talking about John Key's resignation, states that NZ is "one of the most successful countries in the world. While this is debatable, there is no doubt that Key has had successes- namely international recognition- along with failures, housing, immigration and the environment. We have yet to see whether the new Prime Minister, John English, will have the same success.
Cars passing through Tohid Tunnel in Tehran with Milad Tower and Alborz Mountains in background. (Photo by Shutterstock) An opinion poll revealed that Iran is not popular by most countries over which it exercises hegemony and is not accepted, writes Ahmad Abdel-Rahman. Gallup poll published the results of a poll it conducted in 13 Muslim...
The World Bank expects economic growth in the GCC to slow to 2.5 per cent in 2023, writes Ahmad Abdul-Rahman. The World Bank (WB) lowered its forecast for the growth of the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to about 2.5 per cent in 2023, down from 3.2 per cent of its forecast last April. However, the WB raised its fore...
Savvy , a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in Saudi Arabia, is pumping billions into leading and emerging companies special i sing in developing and publishing games . Ahmad Abdul - Rahman explains . Saudi Arabia plans to invest 142 billion riyals (USD38 billion) to become a centre for electronic sports by 2030. This is part of the pl...
Standard and Poor's warned of the possibility of Egypt defaulting on its debt . Ahmed Abdul-Rahman writes about the main issues confronting the country. Amidst the violent foreign exchange crisis facing the Egyptian government since the first quarter of last year, Standard & Poor's (S&P) announced that it had lowered its outlook for f...
The Iraq war has become a source of intense criticism due to the human, economic and political toll it took on the country and the entire Middle East . Ahmed Abdul-Rahman reports. The US invasion of Iraq began on March 20, 2003, so March 20, 2023, marked 20 years since the invasion. Its goal seemed to have been the overthrow of the Iraqi regime whi...
Debts fell to USD155 billion, and US dollar futures jumped, explains Ahmad Abdul-Rahman. Despite the continued decline in Egyptian debts, the confidence of Egyptian bond investors has declined. This is only two months after the conclusion of a financing agreement worth USD3 billion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to Bloomberg,...
Can the International Monetary Fund (IMF) force Egypt to reduce the role of the army in many economic secto rs? Ahmad Abdel-Rahman reports. The new USD 3 billion-loan agreement signed between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Egypt, which was announced on January 10, seems at first glance to be broad and ambitious. In addition to measures t...
The political crisis in Sudan is getting worse . Ahmad Abdel-Rahman explores the political machinations in this vast country . Most Sudanese are waiting for the signing of the final political agreement, which was postponed for an indefinite period, from its date of April 6. This delay was due to differences between the army and the Rapid Supp...
Egypt is facing several economic challenges in the coming months. Abdel Ahmad-Rahman explains what these are. Egypt, like other countries, is facing many economic challenges that have increased in severity after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February. As a consequence there is a shortage of supply of many of the basic necessities, such as oi...
The challenges around food security in MENA are not dissipating. Ahmad Abdel-Rahman explains what is happening in the region. Food insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) has been an increasing challenge. Some 55 million people suffer from undernourishment out of a population of 456.7 million, in addition to protracted conflict...
The leadership role of the US in the Middle East faces profound challenges says Ahmad Abdel-Rahman. China's success in achieving rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence, poses a challenge to US diplomacy in the Middle East. Until recently, the US has been long considered a mediator and a major pl...
Can the International Monetary Fund (IMF) force Egypt to reduce the role of the army in many economic secto rs? Ahmad Abdel-Rahman reports. The new USD 3 billion-loan agreement signed between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Egypt, which was announced on January 10, seems at first glance to be broad and ambitious. In addition to measures t...
One of the most prominent decisions of the former US president was the decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear agreement in 2018, writes Ahmad Abdul-Rahman . One of the most prominent decisions related to the Middle East taken by the administration of former US President Donald Trump was to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear agreement in 2018,...
Students are demonstrating against the doubling of tuition fees after the Egyptian pound's decline. Ahmad Abdul-Rahman explains. The rapid collapse of the value of the pound has led to unrest in international and private universities, whose fees are paid in dollars. The crisis of private university students has reached the Egyptian parliament...
It is expected that the Middle East will witness instability between Iran and Israel as well as seeing cyber warfare. Ahmad Abdul-Rahman reports. The level of tension between Iran and Israel is escalating after the attack on a missile production and development factory in the city of Isfahan in Iran on February 20. This attack was followed by...
The Egyptian currency lost more than 50 per cent of its value in 2022, amid expectations of more pressure. Ahmad Adul-Rahman explains. A recent report by the bank, Societe Generale (SocGen) has suggested that Egypt could announce a devaluation of the Egyptian pound soon. It predicted a potential cut of 10 per cent. "Egypt will need a cheaper curren...
Normalising Saudi-Iranian relations is an important step towards achieving security and stability in the Middle East. Ahmad Abdul-Rahman explains. The restoration of Saudi-Iranian relations is the most important event the Middle East has witnessed in decades. This includes the resumption of diplomatic relations, the opening of embassies, respect fo...
The Saudi project to build a solar power plant in South Africa and its support of Egypt in the Grand Renaissance Dam dispute are two models of strategic cooperation with the African continent by Saudi Arabia. Will China's influence prove to be greater? Abdel Rahman reports. African countries are at the forefront of the deterioration of education in...
Tel Aviv, Israel's capital, stands behind exposing Iran's supply of drones in Ukraine, in addition to revealing that Iran exceeded uranium enrichment levels . Ahmad Abdul-Rahman explains. Recently, the Iranian nuclear issue has reappeared in media and news reports after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Monitors revealed traces of urani...