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The article offers travel tips for Kurdistan and includes recommendations for sightseeing tours, archaeological excursions, and shopping.

The article focuses on the efforts of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to convince Israel, and the Palestinian Authority, to restart the peace talk over the need for a sovereign Palestinian state. It indicates that Kerry has been careful to stress that economic development can only take place in the context of a two-state solution that truly recognises Palestine's political independence. The negotiation will also discuss efforts encourage Palestinian agricultural and industrial exports. INSET: Developing East Jerusalem?.

The article offers information on Turkey as the growing energy hub of the Mediterranean. It states that Turkey is also embarking on a major program to invest in renewable energy sources, including solar and hydropower, that could transform its energy exports in the future, to the benefit of consumers in Europe as well as at home.

The article reports on the expansion of transportation and infrastructure projects by the Turkish government in 2013. It says that the move is part of the government's goal to address future demands of energy and industrial facilities and to attract regional and foreign tourism as well. It notes that Turkey's latest projects involve private and foreign investments worth about $60 billion.

The article focuses on increasing usage of Internet in the Middle East. The author stated that among younger generation, Internet and social media have become a source of entrepreneurship and job creation other than revolution and activism. Many international investors including multinationals are getting attracted towards new inventions and encouraging start-ups. The Middle east along with North Africa is the fastest growing country in terms of Internet access.

The article focuses on the move of Algeria to attract an influx of bankers, foreign investors, and exporters in its untapped markets. It states that despite the country's lack of integration to the global economy, it has the advantages of undeveloped capital markets, low debt, and massive foreign exchange reserves. It notes that the country's oil and gas producers plan to invest $71 billion in the hydrocarbons sector in 2017 which could reach 4.6% in 2015.

The article focuses on the plan of investors and companies to invest in the healthcare market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). According to the Geneva, Switzerland-based World Health Organization (WHO), healthcare expenditure in the Middle East is still among the cheapest in the world. Also, health insurance, both for Saudi nationals and expatriates, is a government priority. It is predicted that the health insurance market will increase by 19% in 2015.

The article reports that Western leaders are planning another round of sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors, and Iran is trying hard to rebalance the economy away from hydrocarbons. It currently exports around a million barrels of oil per day, which is way below the average of 2.3 million in last year. Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of the Expediency Council, said that a new economic system is being formulated to renovate Iran's economy and to tackle its dependence on energy export.

The article reports that Egyptians are looking to economic revival to help alleviate the high unemployment, rising prices and lack of growth caused by more than a year of revolutionary turmoil. The victory of the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate, Mohamed Mursi, coupled with its strength in the Parliament, was focusing both domestic and international attention on the organisation's detailed plan for the economy, known as 'Al X1.

The article presents information related to the commerce sector of Turkey. The rate of gross domestic product growth in Turkey in 2011 was 8.5%, second only to China. Several large Turkish firms are building new airports, rail and port projects in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar and Oman, along with new power and water infrastructure in Iraq. Prospects of several Turkish cities, like Kayseri, and Erzurum, are discussed.

The article offers information on the targeting of Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East countries by various luxury brands, including Prada SpA, Cartier International BV and Tiffany & Co. It is mentioned that these brands are facing competition from local luxury brands as well as designers from European countries. It is mentioned that the strong spending power, high consumption and consumer confidence are the factors driving luxury brands into Middle East.

The article examines the conflicting evidence provided by International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris, France-based body representing consuming countries, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), regarding oil prices and supply over the coming year. It mentions that the OPEC feels the global slowdown will moderate both oil demand and prices, while IEA is worried that prices may rise in 2015, due to lack of investment in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf exporters.

The article focuses on the economic health of the banking sector in the Middle East. It mentions that unlike the banking sectors in the U.S., Great Britain and Europe, most Middle East banks have emerged with high levels of liquidity, steady profits and adequate capital. It states that Qatar National Bank (QNB), Qatar's biggest lender by assets, has already reported a 35 percent increase in profits for the fourth quarter of 2011.

An interview with former Iraqi Oil Minister Issam Al Chalabi is presented. According to him, the country still does not have a complete government almost two years since it had elections and almost a year since the formation of a government. He comments that the plan of the country to produce 13.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2017 is unrealistic.

The article reports on the upward trend in the economies of the Arab countries in early November 2011. It states the region's upward economic trend is due to the low valuations and higher dividends prevailing in the many Arab companies. According to Jadwa Investment research head Paul Gamble, industrial investment and cements are areas that cannot fail to benefit from government investment programs.

The article reports on the flourishing of a brand-new era of communication and media in the Middle East. It is said that a host of new news channels will be witnessed by thousands of satellite television viewers in the Middle East and North Africa as Arab and western investors target a younger, more demanding, audience. Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal calls for the launch of a 24-hour international news channel, Alarab, early next year.

The article looks at the growth of West Bank's economy due to rise in corporate bonds of Padico, a West Bank-located huge holding company, and increased aid to Palestine from international donors. It is given that Padico achieved around 70 million dollars from its bond issuance in the international markets. It is also reported that the investor confidence towards West Bank's economy grew by about 9.3 percent in comparison to 2010.

The article focuses on the condition of the advertising industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It notes that the advertising market in the MENA region is expected to be worth around 3 billion U.S. dollars a year. It also notes that young consumers particularly nationals in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), are a sought-after market for discretionary spending on consumer goods.

The article explores the future of the Arab countries for turning into the evolving technology in social media. It is apparent that many of the young and digitally-savvy Arabs are adopting online social networks as means of communication for economic and social progress and political reform. The role of information and communications technology (ICT) is to enlighten and lessen the burdens faced millions of Arabs with the aid of global telecommunication leaders.

The article discusses the challenges brought by political and social unrest to young people in the Middle East. It mentions that the youth in the Arab countries are facing economic and social exclusion because of inefficient education and unemployment. Details related to the efforts of the Middle East Youth Initiative (MEYI) development program to promote social entrepreneurship for the youth and the need for social reform to uphold civic participation of young people are also included.

The article forecasts that there will be severe shortages of water by 2015 in Arab countries. According to Beirut, Lebanon-based Arab Forum for Environment and Development's (AFED's) report, 13 Arab countries are among the 19 most water-scare nations around the world. It states that only Sudan and Iraq will pass the scarcity test by 2015, with more than 1,000 cubic metres per person every year.

The article offers information on the condition of gold industry in Saudi Arabia from 2010-2011. It is speculated that the industry will grow in 2011, suggesting that the price could reach 1,800 per ounce. A market analysis revealed that consumer demand for investment of gold rose by 57 percent, gaining 63 million dollars ending third quarter of 2010.

The article discusses the interest of the British investors to invest in Saudi Arabia. It states that it is because of the impressive economic performance of Saudi Arabia which avoided the economic slowdown and is expected to register a growth rate of 3.9 percent. It also mentions that Saudi Arabia has been elevated to the membership of the top 20 countries in the world, the G20.

The article forecasts the possible total aviation investments of the Gulf Corp. Council (GCC) for ten years. According to international analysts, GCC's total aviation investments could reach to more than 200 billion dollars due to the purchase of a new aircraft in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the 200 new planes of Qatar Airways. Moreover, it mentions that the new five-runway mega-airport in Dubai will be contributing GCC's aviation investment.

An interview with Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Barham Salih is presented. When asked what benefit KRG gets by remaining within Iraq, he states that the Kurds made the choice to live in a pluralist, democratic, constitutional, and federal Iraq. He notes that the KRG is giving priority to the education sector to develop human capital. Salih cites that the KRG has begun implementing the Housing Fund to address housing shortage.

The article discusses the role of the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC) to ensure the global energy supplies and to keep oil prices both predictable and moderate. It mentions that U.S. and European organisations and banks had suggested for the crude oil prices to reach 150 dollars a barrel. However, OPEC ministers have not welcomed the suggested idea.

The article discusses the move of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to procure weapons, which is said to reach 100 billion dollars, in the next two to three years for Arab countries. It mentions that the move is the result of various regional threats, and the availability of surplus oil revenues. It states that the move would help in building military manufacturing and servicing facilities.

The article discusses lessons from the 2010 BP PLC Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. It mentions that the U.S. decided to ban offshore oil drilling to prevent another accident like the said oil spill. However, it stresses that if the U.S. will ban their offshore oil drilling, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Gulf states, as well as Iraq and Libya, could benefit in the said oil spill.

This article presents an interview with Dawood M. Al Dawood vice president of Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco), national energy company. When asked about the steep drop in the world's demand for oil as a result of the economic downturn, he says that for the first time since 1981, global energy consumption has declined significantly. Al Dawood says that oil demand will recover in 2010 as the world comes out of the recession. He also talks about the impact of fossil fuels on oil demand.

The article reports on the increasing optimism regarding the rise in the market for Islamic bonds. International ratings agency Moody's Investors Service Inc. has suggested that global investment in Islamic bonds could increase to 110 billion dollar in 2010; and contribute to a Shariah-compliant financial market. The agency has predicted that the market for Islamic finance could ultimately be worth nearly 5 trillion dollar.

An interview with Ahmed Al Arbeed, chief executive officer of Dana Gas, is presented. He states that many companies in the gas industry are searching new business models to make business structures that are more powerful. He mentions that the international nature and capital intensive of the gas industry makes the relationships with shareholders important. He claims that the basic discussions over oil exploration and development were carried directly between the governments of sovereign states.

The article presents a report released by NCB Capital on the increase of food prices in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2010. According to the report, high prices are unavoidable unless the Gulf states produce more at home with global demand for poultry and food also anticipated to increase. NCBC states that food inflation presents a possibly considerable socio-economic risk which the authorities are poorly fitted to handle with.

An interview with Khalid Mahdi, the chief operating officer of Taha & Partners, is presented. Mahdi clarifies that he is tasked to help foreign businesses settle their minds to do business in Iraq. He considers the amount spent by independent oil companies (IOCs) as significant part of business opportunities. He believes that redevelopments in Baghdad may offer opportunities for smaller foreign investors.

The article reports on the expansion of Syria through its legal and financial reforms. It notes that these reforms help attract private and foreign investment to boost and broaden its economy. They aim to expand public sector, stop state control of the economy, and open the country to world markets. They cover foreign and private investor tax incentives to contribute to the strategic priorities of the government.

The article highlights the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as means to drive economic development and change in the Arab countries. It states that the European Union's latest initiatives for SMEs are part of Brussels, Belgium's efforts to revive the Union for the Mediterranean, also known as Euromed. It mentions some programmes that will reduce pollution in the Mediterranean such as the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative (MBDI).

The article offers information on the recovery of the economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The author mentions the reserves and savings on its wealth funds that support the country's banks during the financial crisis. She also discusses the country's budget on various projects and infrastructure including the 2.2 trillion worth of property and real estate developments.

The article discusses the international influence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) over the growth and stability of the world economy. It mentions that the involvement of KSA on the world economy reflected the growing economy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. It states that the presence of KSA demonstrated its importance within the GCC's financial system.

The article discusses the value of the U.S. dollar against the currency of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. It states that members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have seen the plunged of their sovereign wealth funds (SWF) due to the decline of global asset prices but mainly because of the losses that GCC has experienced in its investments in U.S. bonds, equities and real estate. It was suggested that the U.S. peg be replaced by a basket of currencies such as euro, yen and sterling.

The article reports that the sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain are increasing due to the development of green and high-end luxury cars. It states that these countries are shareholders of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and McLaren which led to the establishment of an automotive industry in their areas. Aabar Investments PJSC of Abu Dhabi is the biggest investor with 720 million U.S. dollars invested for a new automotive manufacturing plant in Algeria.

The article reports on the intensification of international interest towards the oil production in Kurdistan. It mentions that there were three mega deals from independent oil companies that operate in the region including Crescent Petroleum and Dana Gas from the United Arab Emirates and OMV from Austria. Furthermore, it states that Canadian-based oil firm has revealed plans to buy Kurdish operator Genel Enerji AS (GE).

The article focuses on Iraq as one of the promising emerging global markets with the third-largest oil reserves in the world. It states that Iraq's new National Investment Commission (NIC) has promoted foreign investment and trade to attract for the reconstruction and development until 2015. However, skeptism has grown on issues involving national security, corruption, and lack of national framework. INSET: Iraq's Economic Geography.

The article stresses Arab states as an incoming great source of nuclear power 2009 onwards. These states, which are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have allegedly showed their intention to develop the peaceful use of nuclear energy in December 2006. Since then, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, and Yemen have constructed new reactors not only to provide the world with nuclear energy but also provide their growing populations with more electricity and safe drinking water.

The article focuses on Zain, the Emirates Telecommunications Corp. and Saudi Telecom Co. (STC), which are based in Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and in Saudi Arabia, respectively. These companies, accordingly, are becoming world-class players in the telecommunications industry worldwide considering their openness to spend money for investments in Asia, Africa, Middle East, and North Africa. It is claimed that their decision to expand worldwide will have a positive impact on the global industry.

The article focuses on the $127 billion fiscal stimulus package to help prevent the impact of the global financial recession in the domestic market in 2009 in Saudi Arabia. Education and manpower will receive the largest share of the government spending which amounted to $32.6 billion. The amount of $13.9 billion will be allocated for healthcare, while $9.5 billion for agriculture, water and other infrastructure projects.

The article discusses the move of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to cooperate and work together in facing the global recession. It relates that both countries have promised to provide support and economic assistance for their future growth. It also affirms that among the benefits of the stronger union, includes having a better financial regulation and greater efficiency and profitability.

This article explains that the launch of the Union for the Mediterranean in Paris, France in 2008 has highlighted the growing ties between Europe and North Africa and set the scene for an increase in global investments, particularly from the Arab states in the Persian Gulf. Arab investors are seeking new outlets for their wealth in an effort to diversify away from their home countries at a time when the economies of the U.S. and Europe look set to stagnate or decline. It notes the optimistic tourism forecast for North Africa. INSET: Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia: A New Focus on Tourism.

This article explains that days after the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, the congressional debate on his fiscal stimulus package, the pace of a potential U.S. economic recovery and the likelihood of trillion-dollar deficits in the U.S. for years to come is causing concern in world currency markets. The decline in the value of U.S. dollar has affected the Persian Gulf states as their currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar. It compares the performance of the U.S. dollar against currencies as the British pound, the euro and Japanese yen. INSET: Birth Pains for the 'Khaliji'.

The article discusses efforts of the Middle East countries to take lead in corporate governance. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the effort to ensure that the region's banks and companies adapt, and implement, international codes of corporate governance and best practice was already making substantial headway before the sub-prime credit crunch arose in 2008.

The article informs that the Gulf's Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are reassessing their investment strategies as the global financial crisis and worsening economic climate continue to take a heavy toll. Having injected as much as $75bn to $100bn in the past two years into the world's leading banks and financial institutions, many SWFs are now suffering losses at a time when their own economies at home need closer attention.

An interview with Dr. Nasser Saidi, chief economists of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, is presented. When asked about his argument for de-pegging the dollar, he stands out that it remains strong. Saidi rejects the notion that the Gulf and emerging markets are part of a global recession. He outlines the steps needed to ensure financial and economic stability at home and encourage future growth.