foreign direct investment

As the country seeks more direct investment, a period of overbuilding and weak domestic demand means that there are plenty of assets to choose from, but are prices inflated?

Scrapping foreign ownership caps and qualifying criteria will bring in more capital, with markets reacting positively to the latest reforms that build towards a more open country

With seasonal rainfall easing pressure on agriculture and nearly 20 million international tourists visiting the country, there are reasons for optimism, but youth unemployment remains a big problem

Debt is colossal but there are promising indicators, not least in inflation, legal reforms, the sale of government assets, and monetary stability. Will these green shoots be allowed to grow and bloom?

Whether in cinema or heritage, there are dozens of big cultural projects that investors are interested in, as the sector increasingly contributes towards growth and development.

Despite ambitious plans and government support, the sector still lacks the necessary infrastructure and capital to become an export hub that supplies high-quality vehicles abroad

The country has the chance to change direction, open up, and win the investment that would transform its natural and human resources into the economic engine needed. It just needs the will.

The two Kingdoms have worked together for two centuries and a recent visit to London from Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa cemented the links in trade, security, and education.

Estimates of reconstruction costs range up to $500bn, and most Syrians only get a few hours of electricity per day. The country's priorities are numerous and urgent, but amid the gloom, there is hope.

After dramatic action from the central bank, an $8bn IMF loan and a $35bn development deal, Cairo aims to bounce back in the new year, but faces both familiar and new problems first