Saudi Arabia Rush To Development Rle Economy Of Middle East

Saudi Arabia is one of the most controversial and least known of the Arab nations. A land of massive contrasts – between its densely populated cities and its vast expanses of desert; between the recent poverty of its villages and the massive wealth created by oil, which is drawing a labour force from most of the neighbouring countries; between the aggressive technocratic and industrial thrust forward and the strongly traditionalist Islamic basis of the ruling ideologies – it has progressed to world prominence in a matter of years after centuries of little or no change. The change is not so much a surge, or even a thrust, as a rush into the industrialized and wealthy world. This book analyzes the problems and achievements of Saudi development and provides the first detailed critique of the Third Development Plan. First published in 1982.

Saudi Arabia is one of the most controversial and least known of the Arab nations. A land of massive contrasts - between its densely populated cities and its vast expanses of desert; between the recent poverty of its villages and the massive wealth created by oil, which is drawing a labour force from most of the neighbouring countries; between the aggressive technocratic and industrial thrust forward and the strongly traditionalist Islamic basis of the ruling ideologies - it has progressed to world prominence in a matter of years after centuries of little or no change. The change is not so much a surge, or even a thrust, as a rush into the industrialized and wealthy world. This book analyzes the problems and achievements of Saudi development and provides the first detailed critique of the Third Development Plan. First published in 1982.

Since the early 1970s the oil producing countries of the Gulf have become a focus of intense interest worldwide. Most of this interest has centred on the oil giants, Saudi Arabia, Iran, even Iraq and Kuwait. Yet the United Arab Emirates is also among the largest producers, on a par with Kuwait, Nigeria and Libya, with reserves greater than the USA. Given its high economic growth rate, the UAE is an excellent laboratory in which to test and evaluate policies and programmes to effect rapid economic development. The international stature of the UAE far exceeds what its physical size, population and breadth of resources would seem to indicate. As a member of OPEC, the UAE has played a vital role within that body’s ‘price moderates’. With one of the world’s highest per capita incomes and with ambitious development efforts under way, the UAE, not surprisingly, has become a major market for capital and consumer goods, involving substantial foreign services, banking, business and industry. Based on more than a decade of study, on-site research and interviews with key figures, this book – which mixes the practical with the academic approach – will prove of great value to Middle Eastern and development specialists, students and to the international business and financial communities. First published in 1981.

Saudi Arabia is one of the most controversial and least known of the Arab nations. A land of massive contrasts – between its densely populated cities and its vast expanses of desert; between the recent poverty of its villages and the massive wealth created by oil, which is drawing a labour force from most of the neighbouring countries; between the aggressive technocratic and industrial thrust forward and the strongly traditionalist Islamic basis of the ruling ideologies – it has progressed to world prominence in a matter of years after centuries of little or no change. The change is not so much a surge, or even a thrust, as a rush into the industrialized and wealthy world. This book analyzes the problems and achievements of Saudi development and provides the first detailed critique of the Third Development Plan. First published in 1982.

The changing political situation in the Middle East poses challenges for the economies of the region, and some see none more vulnerable to collapse than Saudi Arabia's. Yet as this study demonstrates, the fundamentals of the Kingdom's economy are relatively robust, as over three quarters of GDP is accounted for by the non-oil sector, and impressive modern industries have been established, notably in petrochemicals. The financial system functions well, and despite substantial government debts, there is low inflation and currency stability. The private sector increasingly drives the economy, although job creation has been insufficient to prevent rising youth unemployment. The development challenges Saudi Arabia faces are similar to those of other middle-income countries, and three decades of diversification have made the economy less unique than it was in the oil boom years of the 1970s.

The MERI Reports on the Middle East quickly established themselves as the most authoritative and up-to-date information on the state of affairs in the region. This study, focusing on Saudi Arabia was fist published in 1985, provides vital analysis of the political and economic issues affecting the country. It combines a crisp and incisive survey of the politics and economy of the country, as well as providing statistical material on all the key data of the political economy. 1. Background 2. Political Analysis 3. Economic Analysis 4. Saudi Arabian Statistical Appendix