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Ali Al-Salim is a Kuwaiti national with a background that spans 20 years in finance and technology. Ali is an active investor in Gulf and international financial markets, and the co-founder of Arkan Partners, a specialist consulting firm dedicated to alternative investments and Middle East investors. He can be followed on Twitter @alialsalim.
The Gulf’s twin failings: Innovation and private sector employment for nationals
The Gulf states emerged from the global pandemic with the wind in their economic sails. But high-profile events like Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup and the UAE’s World Expo continued to mask two subtle but major weaknesses that have plagued them for decades. Why do Gulf economies lack innovation? And why do they struggle to create private sector employment for nationals?
