The Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-based Gulf Research Center has consistently been ranked among the Top Think Tanks in the Middle East and North Africa by the University of Pennsylvania.

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is pleased to announce the availability of six important Gulf Research Center (GRC) reports on key business sectors in Saudi Arabia. The reports study the kingdom’s economic growth with a view to exploring the country’s future development trajectory. Each report outlines a different sector’s current environment and principal indicators. Also analyzed are the sectors’ challenges and regulatory issues together with emerging themes likely to impact future development potential and investment opportunities.

Below is a link to each of the six reports, which are available to purchase from the GRC. Additional publications from the GRC, many of which are free to download, can be found at: http://grc.net/index.php?sec=Publications.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Water Sector Report Abstract: Saudi Arabia lies in the arid, semi-arid region of the Arabian Peninsula and is the largest country in the world without rivers. Despite unfavorable climatic conditions and scarcity of natural water resources, it has succeeded in meeting most of the water requirements of its rapidly growing population so far. Water consumption in the Kingdom increased at a CAGR of 2.6% from 1970 and reached 17,903 million cubic meters (mcm) in 2010 or about 653 m3 per capita, about 35% higher than the global average. The rise in water consumption was led by a nearly five time increase in population during the same period (1970–2010), higher urbanization levels, which increased from about 50% to over 80%, and increased industrialization.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Real Estate Sector Report Abstract: Real estate is one of the key non-oil sectors of the economy of Saudi Arabia and will play an important role in the success of the economic diversification planned by the Kingdom. The real estate sector will continue to grow in the future led by growing population, rising personal incomes, increasing participation of multinational companies in the country, government initiatives, and increased private participation.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Industry Sector Report Abstract: In the past few years, most of the industrial growth in Saudi Arabia has been led by the construction and cement, metals and mining, and petrochemicals and refineries sub sectors, among others. The government’s plan for economic diversification, including investments in large infrastructure projects such as the six economic cities, is one of the key drivers of growth in the industry sector. Saudi Arabia has a large local population base which is growing at over 2% per annum, which will also drive the demand for better infrastructure including housing.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Healthcare Sector Report Abstract: Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector has come a long way since the establishment of the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the 1950s. The years that followed saw Saudi Arabia emerging as a key player in the global economy, following the success of its oil industry, which enabled investments to build a local healthcare system. Five-year plans, better healthcare infrastructure, and recruitment of expats as doctors and nurses led to a multifold increase in the quality of services provided by the healthcare sector.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Energy Sector Report Abstract: The oil and gas industry is the backbone of the economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia contributing about 75% to budget revenues, 45% to GDP, and 90% to exports. Saudi Arabia has the second largest oil reserves, largest oil production, and the fifth largest natural gas reserves in the world. Over 72% of the oil produced in the Kingdom is exported. Indeed, the economy of Saudi Arabia is dependent on these non-renewable sources of energy, with a high correlation between Saudi Arabia’s GDP and oil prices.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Foreign Trade and FDI Report Abstract: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked 22nd in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Rankings’ in 2013. This is a significant improvement compared to its ranks (above 100) a few years ago. This change has been led by increasing government initiatives, which are enabling a friendly investment environment that encourages participation from foreign and local investors. Indeed, Saudi Arabia received the highest FDI inflows in the GCC region in 2012.