“Perhaps the modern technology, satellite TV and new media, are appropriate environment for the (marginalized),” tweeted Salman Al-Oudah on Tuesday.

That’s quite an ironic tweet, given that Mr. Al-Oudah is hardly a marginalized member of the social media community. Indeed, Forbes magazine ranked the Saudi cleric as the fourth most influential Arab Twitterati in the world, and in addition to his one million Twitter followers in two languages – English and Arabic – he has garnered no less than 63,000 Facebook ‘likes’ at last count. READ MORE HERE

Poster Boy NYC / Foter

A Jadwa Investment press statement notes that Saudi Arabia’s net foreign assets rose by a little more than $100-billion to reach $600-billion by the end of 2011, according to its estimate.  

For the first time, data on the total foreign assets and liabilities of all componentsof the Saudi economy (government, companies and individuals) has been published. It showsthat their combined foreign assets grew rapidly in recent years to stand at $707 billion at the end of 2010. With Saudi entities and individuals owing $213 billion to foreigners,total net foreign assets stood at $494 billion at the end of 2010. We estimate that theKingdom’s net foreign assets rose to almost $600 billion at the end of 2011. This is very high and represents a core source of strength for the economy.
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With Gulf economies poised for growth on the back of strong macroeconomic policies, regional stock markets are also set for growth. READ MORE HERE

With Gulf economies poised for growth on the back of strong macroeconomic policies, regional stock markets are also set for growth.

The two most liquid GCC markets – Dubai and Saudi Arabia – are both up well over 20% since the start of the year, with the Egyptian market also rising an astonishing 33%.  READ MORE HERE

Nobody even considered looking at MENA states last year, as news of Arab Spring-related crisis, instability and the Iran conflict dominated the headlines.
But buried amid the negative headlines was the regional governments’ resolve to continue pumping funds into their respective economies. READ MORE HERE

It will be no mean feat to outpace Qatar’s amazing GDP growth, but that’s exactly what Saudi Arabia is estimated to accomplish in 2012.
The tiny gas giant has been posting double-digit growths for the past six years, but Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest economy may eclipse the country this year, if current trends continue.  READ MORE HERE

Gulf states are expected to spend USD29-billion over the next two years on their electricity infrastructure, according to ratings agency Moody’s Investors Services. READ MORE HERE

There is limited upside to the Saudi rally, according to Jadwa Investment, but EFG-Hermes expects a further 15% growth before the end of the year, with a second phase of the rally led by large caps. READ MORE HERE

Middle East markets had a phenomenal February. Find out which stocks performed outstandingly well, and which failed to get investors enthused. READ MORE HERE

Barclays Capital expects GCC economies to rise 5.4% this year, but Citibank worries that a sudden drop in oil prices could leave the states with a dilemma: whether to curtail spending or keep pumping funds into the economy. READ MORE HERE