Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has grown in importance, and within Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets, Qatar and Algeria are among the largest exporters globally. Oil price volatility has significantly impacted the LNG market making it more affordable for countries across the globe. Asian markets in particular have seen an increased demand for LNG, especially China as they address environmental concerns. Vietnam, India and Thailand, have also shown a growing preference for LNG and...

Do SMEs across MENA really have the support and infrastructure they need to succeed? Neveen El-Tahri talks about how far we've come and how far we've yet go, in this episode of MENA Talks.

Financial transparency has become a priority for many governments and agencies around the world, ensuring that effective due diligence is now mission critical for certain organizations. It is no longer possible to enter into a contract or business relationship without detailed, documented knowledge of the target entity without incurring substantial risk. Until recently, it was possible to keep financial interests confidential, but the regulatory environment has tightened to such an extent...

Public Private Partnerships, or PPPs, have started to gain precedence as a way of structuring and funding large-scale projects in MENA. In this episode, we explore its’ challenges and opportunities with Udayan Mukherjee, Managing Partner at Dentons.

Every oil and gas company wants to achieve optimum exploration, production and efficient processing. The management of risk in the supply chain plays an essential role in achieving this. Supply chains have become increasingly complex and fluid, making them challenging to manage at a time of growing regulatory risk. Quite often the management of supply chains is the responsibility of the procurement department, but with the inherent risk of these chains, there is the suggestion that senior...

With the introduction of VAT to the GCC as of 2018, businesses need to understand how best to prepare. Listen to Stewart Nivision, Global Head of Indirect Tax at Thomson Reuters, discuss how technology can steamline the process of VAT implementation.

Recently, there has been a lot of sensational media coverage surrounding the changes to the Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)  laws in the UAE. However, the question remains – what has actually changed? What is now considered criminal behavior? What constitutes illegal use that would warrant the level of financial penalties that we have seen in the reported media? In this episode of MENA Talks, we speak to Kelly Tymburski, Partner in the Telecoms, Media & Technology (TMT) Group at Dentons...

Demand for energy in the Middle East is rising at four times that of the global average, and the advancement of renewable energy is gathering pace. According to a 2016 report by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), the volumes of renewable energy have been greater in the developing world than in OECD nations. Developing countries have the opportunity to implement more intelligent energy solutions, and the financial markets can act as a catalyst for this evolution. The business landscape in...

Conversion to IFRS Standards in Saudi Arabia are already underway with publicly listed companies required to report using the new financial reporting framework as of 2017, and SMEs following suit in 2018. Adoption of IFRS Standards is part of the ‘Project for Transition to International Accounting and Auditing Standards’ introduced by the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA). A key advantage in the introduction of IFRS is the standardization of reporting, allowing...

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the demand for talented compliance staff. Demand for GRC skills and expertise has grown exponentially, and at a time of increasing enforcement activity, skilled professionals are scarce on the ground. For many organizations, upskilling an existing workforce is one of the most workable solutions, but how do you retain the much sought after skills once you’ve produced them? The compliance function is under more pressure than ever before, and...

Thomson Reuters MENA's Tarek Toumas talks to Omar Mehanna, Head of Merchant Banking at NBAD, about the region's M&A landscape, the state of IPOs in the region, the strength of family businesses across MENA and what to expect in 2016.

The regional and global tax landscape is undergoing considerable change. With the introduction of VAT in the GCC quickly approaching and the BEPS Action 15 impacting international tax regulations, the need for clear information is critical. Listen to Bert Brys, Head of Tax Policy Unit, OECD, discuss these ongoing tax issues and the implications for the region.

For a while now, corruption has been at the top of the global agenda. Authorities around the world are devoting a great deal of resources in a bid to diminish corruption, but the issue is proving stubbornly resilient. Corruption is an insidious phenomenon that undermines people’s trust in institutions and political systems, a dangerous state of affairs. It threatens sustainable economic development, ethical values and justice; it causes great harm to our society and endangers the rule of law....

In an effort to move beyond an oil economy, Saudi Arabia has committed to an ambitious plan of economic transformation. Central to these changes is the introduction of taxation and revenue diversification. How will the introduction of VAT and IFRS contribute to this end? Listen to Senior Macroeconomist, Eugene McQuaid, discuss the biggest VAT challenges facing businesses in Saudi Arabia, and the impact of IFRS on investment.

This year - 2016 - is primarily about three major global players: Great Britain, India and China. The decisions these three nations make will likely set the tone for the world economy for the year that follows. Great Britain is at a crossroads once again, as the country goes to referendum on exiting the EU; Brexit fears abound and some experts say that if Britain leaves the EU it could lead the country into a short-term recession. Meanwhile, in Asia, two of the world's largest economies are...

The impending introduction of VAT in the GCC will impact all sectors of the business community. With a VAT framework expected to be ratified in mid-2016, most businesses will have 18 months to prepare for the anticipated 1 Jan 2018 implementation of VAT in select Gulf countries.  Listen to Finbarr Sexton, Head of Indirect Tax, Ernst & Young Middle East, give his perspective on questions ranging from how VAT will impact businesses to potential exemptions.

Gold is considered a safe haven in times of uncertainty; the spike in gold prices at the beginning of 2016 illustrated that clearly. With the Thomson Reuters GFMS Gold Survey 2016 hot off the press, Thomson Reuters' precious metals expert Cameron Alexander talks about the state of gold in 2016 – what to expect in the short term and how we’re going to end the year.

Geopolitical risk refers to the risk of investing in a country where there is political or economic instability that may cause a threat to the value of the investment. This threat may come from regime change, legislative change, military intervention or some other destabilising force that may substantially impact the value of the investment. Many people use economic theory to understand the market without realising that politics can be just as important in critical decision. Geopolitical...

Coming soon; Thomson Reuters Mena Talks. A Podcast in which we  explore the trends, issues and potential challenges faced by organizations and governments in the Middle East and North Africa