Cities that work: How urban tourism drives jobs
When cities invest in tourism, they invest in jobs, entrepreneurship, and growth. Marrakech is a compelling example. In 2024, the city welcomed nearly 4 million tourists, each
The new curse of critical minerals
A race is raging among global powers to secure access to critical minerals to power the simultaneous energy and digital transitions the world is experiencing.
Addressing food insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa: innovations in data monitoring
Food insecurity remains a critical issue affecting millions of people across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP). The region faces a wide
Data in action: a decade of remote, rapid damage assessments
As disasters grow more frequent and severe, the need for fast, reliable information in the immediate aftermath has never been greater. Governments, development partners and
Gulf central banks cut key interest rates following Fed move
The Fed cut its rate by a quarter of a percentage point, in a move that won support from most of President Donald Trump’s central
$488.6mln battery project to help Oman achieve green energy goals
The investment will be implemented in phases over four to six years. The first phase alone is valued over OMR73 million. With a project investment
Europe’s old power plants to get digital makeover driven by AI boom
Some of Europe’s ageing coal and gas fired power plants can look forward to a more high-tech future as big tech players, such as Microsoft
Europe must not waste its currency moment
Escalating geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and volatile policy shifts are reshaping the rules of global commerce and finance and bringing the dominance of the US
Reconciling the European Union’s clean industrialisation goals with those of the Global South
Importing energy-intensive goods would be more efficient for EU clean industry goals than importing clean energy itself. Clean industrialisation is a political and economic priority
Regulation and growth: Lessons from nearly 50 years of product market reforms
Product market regulation reforms directly affect firm entry, innovation and reallocation, and thus productivity and economic growth. This column leverages the 2025 update of the
