Financing MENA: The Struggles of Overreliance on Oil, Western Capital, and the Gulf
Iraq comes face-to-face with its overdependency on oil, while Egypt deepens its reliance on Gulf investment and Syria risks sanctions in a desperate bid for foreign capital.
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Rentier Reckoning: Iraq’s Fragile Economy Amid a Region on the Brink
With oil generating over 91% of federal revenues, Iraq faces mounting economic and political risks amid regional instability (Iran vs Israel) and a shifting global energy landscape.
Syria’s SWIFT Reconnection: A Step into the Western Finance Regulation Trap?
The move risks undermining Syria’s decades-long alignment with Eastern powers.
In Response to US Unreliability: Iran-Venezuela Finalise FTA
Failure of American negotiations has prompted the agreement.
Securitising Sovereignty: Egypt’s Sukuk Bet
Cairo risks its sovereignty in exchange for access to Islamic financial markets.
Gulf-funded, Gold-tied: Egypt’s Growing Dependence on the UAE
Emirati investment and gold trade bolsters Abu Dhabi's regional edge, at the cost of Cairo's independence.