The Financial Times published a special report on “Doing Business in the Arab World” with articles on “what privatisations in Saudi Arabia may mean for young people; the UAE’s support for fintech companies; the Egyptian army’s economic role; Dubai’s red carpet treatment of tourists; and how technology is helping Syrian refugees.” Heba Saleh wrote about the achievements and prospects of the region as a whole. She says “in terms of scale and ambition, no economic development in the Arab region this year has rivalled Saudi Arabia’s plan to transform and diversify its economy away from a reliance on oil.” On Egypt, Saleh chose to focus on the discovery of the Zohr supergiant gas field and “the growing role of the military in the economic sphere.” Among the pieces most relevant to Egypt:

• When the Egyptian army means business: “Sisi steps up the military’s economic role but critics fear impact on private sector”
• Egyptian gas reserves from under the sea: “The Mediterranean’s largest gasfield could transform the country’s energy industry”
• Into the fintech sandbox of the United Arab Emirates: “The UAE is striving to support and develop local financial technology start-ups”
• Dubai hotels welcome Chinese and African middle-class tourists: “Developers in the emirate turn their attention to travellers on more modest budgets”
• Privatising Saudi Arabia’s public sector: “Young Saudis face rude awakening as prince plans to expand private sector”