Markets Signs of progress in the US-China talks (e.g. China exempting US soya beans from additional tariffs) as well as ECB’s easing supported equity markets last week: Asian shares were... Read More
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This is part 2 of a two-part column. The first can be found here. The article titled “How should... Read More
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Recent & Upcoming Events
Dec 5: Speaker and panelist at the Oman Centre for Governance and Sustainability (OCGS) Annual Corporate Governance Conference (Muscat)
Nov 19: Keynote address at the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Saudi Arabia conference (Riyadh)
Sep 15: Introductory remark at the CEBC event “ESCO Market in MENA Region (Challenges vs Opportunities)” (Dubai)
Sep 12: Panelist at the “Sustainable Finance and Carbon Markets: new opportunities for the GCC?” side event at the World Energy Congress (Abu Dhabi)
Apr 18: Opening Keynote speaker at the Corporate Counsel Middle East Forum (Dubai)
Mar 26: Closing Keynote address at the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East conference (Dubai)
Publications / All
The MENA-OECD Working Group on Investment and Trade‘s 2018 meeting was... Read More
The commencement speechat the Universite St. Joseph was delivered by... Read MoreIn the Media
This is part 2 of a two-part column. The first can be found here. The article titled “How should MENA address the existential threat of climate change?” appeared in The National’s print edition on 28th August, 2019 and is posted below. Click here to access the original article. How should MENA address the existential threat of climate change? The starting point for the Middle East and Northern Africa to address the existential threat of climate change is to reduce excessive fossil fuel use by removing subsidies and investing to increase energy efficiency. The GCC nations – starting with the UAE – have initiated a phased removal of fuel, electricity and water subsidies that... Read More
The article titled “Lebanon debt downgrade: market discipline or voluntary reforms?” appeared in The National’s print edition on 22nd August, 2019 and is posted below. Click here to access the original article. Lebanon debt downgrade: market discipline or voluntary reforms? Lebanon’s sovereign debt rating has been steadily deteriorating over the past five years while credit default swap rates have sharply risen, nearly doubling over the last year. Lebanon’s government debt ratio is about 160 per cent, the third highest in the world, and projected to cross 170 per cent by 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund, unless there is a sharp fiscal correction. While Lebanon has never defaulted on its obligations, it... Read More
The article titled “Why climate change is an existential threat to the Middle East” appeared in The National’s print edition on 22nd August, 2019 and is posted below. Click here to access the original article. Why climate change is an existential threat to the Middle East While humans squabble and debate their commitment to combat climate change, nature has been relentless and unforgiving. Extreme weather events are growing in intensity and frequency. June 2019 was the hottest June in 140 years, setting a global record, and maximum temperatures last seen a century ago were felt in Bagdad, Bahrain and Kuwait. The ongoing drought in India and related acute water shortage continues, threatening rural communities... Read More
Dr. Nasser Saidi’s comments on geopolitical risks and the oil market is part of the article “Oil rises as markets factor in latest attack on Saudi energy facility” published by The National on 19th August 2019. The full article can be accessed at: https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/oil-rises-as-markets-factor-in-latest-attack-on-saudi-energy-facility-1.900128 Comments are posted below: “The drone attack does not alter the weak fundamentals facing the oil market. Global economic growth has slowed down and will continue slowing as a result of the US protectionist stance and its trade wars with China, Europe, Canada and Mexico,” said Nasser Saidi, president and founder of Nasser Saidi & Associates. “We are seeing a sharp drop in trade volumes and values and... Read More
The article titled “Time to open up UAE stock markets to free zones” appeared in The National’s print edition on 8th August, 2019 and is posted below. Click here to access the original article. Time to open up UAE stock markets to free zones The UAE’s three stock markets – the Abu Dhabi Exchange, the Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, have a total of 175 listed companies, with a combined market capitalisation of $230.6bn, or Dh846.8bn (as of 31 July), resulting in an equity to GDP ratio of 62.6 per cent. The markets are dominated by domestic retail investors but a number of measures can be taken to make them more dynamic and... Read More
