Middle East

Washington, DC: On July 22, 2026, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Article IV Consultation for Saudi Arabia.[1] The Saudi economy entered 2026 with strong …

On paper, access to electricity and piped water in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region looks almost universal. In 2022, about 96 percent of people had access to …

Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Article IV Consultation for France on July 17, 2026.[1] The authorities have consented to the publication of the Staff …

April 2026 outlook: conflict and economic uncertainty Conflict reignited in the Middle East in late February 2026. After the initial escalation, Brent crude rose to US$112 per barrel by late …

Washington, DC: A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mr. Said Bakhache, visited Abu Dhabi and Dubai during July 7–16, 2026, to discuss recent economic and financial …

Washington, DC: Latvia’s economy has remained resilient despite a more challenging macroeconomic environment. Latvia faces a difficult policy tradeoff, as rising spending pressures from defense, aging (e.g., pensions and healthcare), and …

A Changing World Thank you. It is a pleasure to be here at the Atlantic Council. The global economy is changing in profound ways. Over the past several years, we …

Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Article IV Consultation for Mauritius.[1] Mauritius’ economy remains resilient, but macroeconomic conditions have weakened amid a more adverse …

Washington, DC: On July 13, 2026, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the 2026 discussions on common euro area policies with member states.[1] The authorities have consented to …

The largest disruption to the global oil market in decades should have sent prices soaring. But after spiking at the start of the war in the Middle East, crude prices …