Qatar’s investment over the next five years will be a staggering $225 billion, but the country is still worried about low energy prices during the period.

As a roadmap for its social and economic aspirations, you can’t really fault Qatar’s National Development Strategy 2011-2016 report. It is inspirational, comprehensive and packed with good intentions, as all such reports should.

For an economy that is growing at a rate that would put China to shame, it’s national development strategy (NDS) is also lacking in a fair bit of pride and glory - if anything, there are parts of the report that are a bit hesitant and self-doubting. The missing vainglory is a contrast from some of the other national development strategies that one has seen over the years - and that is not a bad thing. It’s almost endearing. Read More

Saudi Arabia’s gold reserves dwarf Libya’s hordings. Here is a selected list of countries with the biggest gold reserves, including almost every Middle East nation.

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Chevron is the world’s fastest growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer, beating Qatar Petroleum, according to Evaluate Energy data. Between 2010 and 2020, the U.S. energy giant will add 17 million tonnes, beating Qatar Petroleum’s 11.5 million tonnes during the same year.

The emirate’s economy may benefit as international visitors choose hotels in Dubai over other troubled regional tourist destinations, notes Citibank. But Egypt and Bahrain will suffer from poor growth.

The UAE may benefit from the unrest in other parts of the Middle East, according to Citibank, with Dubai set to grow 5% this year and at an even faster clip at 6% in 2012.

“Due to its relative political stability, we believe there is a possibility of a diversion of commercial, investor and tourist activity from less stable parts of the region. The external sector thus is the main driver of the recovery, with gains being posted both in export growth, and a reduction in imports,” notes Citibank. READ MORE

Every analyst has their spreadsheet out and there are plenty of predictions out there as far as oil prices are concerned. But will we see crude scaling the $147 Everest as it did in June 2008?

Here is a guide to some analysts’ forecasts for oil prices over the medium-term: READ MORE

While oil inflation fears in emerging markets are warranted, these risks are being mitigated as Gulf oil-exporting states buy emerging market products and services as part of their fiscal spending spree.

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David Rosenberg is an outstanding economist and strategist at Glushin & Sheff in Toronto. He notes that while there are many known unknowns, there are a few things worth pondering about strategists and risk managers like him
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The Japan earthquake, Middle East unrest and the euro crisis: You ain’t seen nothing yet. Here are eight more global shocks already under way or on the horizon. And 10 questions risk managers should ponder. Read More

Also Read:
Black Swan Fatigue

Eight Points Risk Managers Must Ponder

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The GCC has around $40bn of debt coming due each year over the next five years, says Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). Plus a chart that neatly shows SCB’s forecasts returns on each country’s bonds. Read More Here

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Dubai retains its position as the regional financial centre, but Doha is fast catching up as an alternative centre, according to the latest survey of global financial service managers. But Both are losing to Asian rivals. Read More

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