by Ehsan Bayat | May 23, 2018 | Architecture, Construction, Entertainment, Environment, Infrastructure, Saudi Arabia, Technology, Transportation
Saudi Arabia’s economic growth was stagnant in 2016 and 2017. However, the Kingdom’s government announced its highest-ever budget in early 2018 and, among other measures, its effort to diversify its economy stands out. Whereas the production and sale of...
by Ehsan Bayat | May 16, 2018 | Afghanistan, Business, Communication, Construction, Energy, Infrastructure, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Technology, Telecommunication
The telecom sector in the Middle East had been growing at a steady rate until 2017, when mobile penetration reached 120 percent and, as a result of a reduction in expatriate population and the economy losing momentum, mobile subscriber growth reached its lowest-ever...
by Ehsan Bayat | Mar 14, 2018 | Construction, Energy, Infrastructure, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Technology, Transportation, Travel
Despite being home to more than 6 million citizens, the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh lacks a major public transportation system. However, that won’t be the case by early 2019, as the Riyadh Metro Project is expected to be completed by then and, in turn,...
by Ehsan Bayat | Dec 27, 2017 | Architecture, Business, Construction, Economy, Energy, Infrastructure, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Telecommunication, Transportation
There are projects, and then there are megaprojects. For countries looking to upgrade their infrastructure and improve quality of life for their citizens, megaprojects are often required. By definition, they are large-scale, complicated ventures with costs exceeding...
by Ehsan Bayat | Aug 31, 2017 | Economy, Middle East, Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, or SAGIA, has begun a long-term economic growth project that involves the development of four cities across the country. These urban hubs, called Economic Cities (ECs), are meant to boost the country’s economy by...
by Ehsan Bayat | Apr 4, 2017 | Construction, Infrastructure, Saudi Arabia, Transportation
Saudi Arabia boasts one of the largest construction sectors in all of the Middle East, with more than $40 billion currently dedicated to infrastructure projects alone. Among these are initiatives to improve and expand existing rail lines, as well as create new ones,...
