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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Wael Mahdi

Wael Mahdi

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Wael Mahdi is a contributor for Semafor Gulf. He is an independent commentator specializing in OPEC and Saudi Arabia’s economy. As a long-time energy correspondent for Bloomberg, Mahdi is one of the region’s leading voices on energy policy and market analysis, and he is the co-author of ‘OPEC in a Shale Oil World: Where to Next?’ He has held senior roles in media and corporate communications in Saudi Arabia. Mahdi holds a BA in Political Economy from American University in Cairo.

Saudi men are drowning in debt

The entry of women into the workforce has made competition in the labor market tougher, adding pressure to Saudi men’s financial obligations.
Saudi students gather in numbers in a courtyard at King Saud University in Riyadh October 30, 2002.
Saudi men at King Saud University (in 2002). Ali Jarekji AJ/WS/Reuters

Saudi Arabia’s slow path to sporting glory

Saudi money has given the kingdom a seat at the top table of international football. Its national side needs time to catch up.
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay - Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida.
Sam Navarro/Imagn Images via Reuters

SpaceX IPO won’t solve Alwaleed’s languishing stock

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has picked many winners in his career, but outside investors in his holding company haven’t benefited.
Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters.

Vision 2030’s biggest breakthrough isn’t in the charts

The kingdom’s real achievement — curbing corruption — barely appears in its annual review, even though it made all the rest possible.
Large banner shows Saudi Vision for 2030.
Zuhair Al-Traifi/Reuters

OPEC+ is managing sentiment, not oil supply

The group of oil producers pledged to increase output, but barrels are trapped in the Gulf and the promises hold little weight for the market.
An Aramco oil facility near al-Khurj area, Saudi Arabia.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images

The UAE’s OPEC exit is no surprise

Countries with cheap extraction costs, massive reserves, and diversified economies — the UAE fits all three — can afford to go it alone.
An installation depicting barrel of oil with the logo of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Controlling Hormuz seemed improbable. Turns out, it’s profitable

Gulf officials long thought Iran wouldn’t close the Strait because it would be self-defeating.

Oil breached $100. The market still doesn’t believe in $150.

Traders have priced in a crisis not a catastrophe, but that could yet change.

Why war in Iran won’t bring back $100 oil

The real risk is not in tallies of air strikes, but in the Strait of Hormuz.

Venezuela, Shale’s plateau, and the US’ old oil reflex

If the US operation in Venezuela tells us anything, it’s that Washington is thinking past the shale boom and back to a more traditional playbook.

Saudi’s FII matures from spectacle to reality

The kingdom’s flagship investment forum retains the glitz but is now more focused on the execution of economic transformation policies.

Saudi stocks needs more than foreign money to rise

The Tadawul is lagging, and it isn’t just because of low oil prices. Structural reforms are needed for the exchange to join the world’s elite.

Analysis: Sustaining momentum is the next challenge for Saudi Vision 2030

The kingdom’s economic transformation exceeded expectations, but declining oil prices, rising debt, and other pressures are eroding some of the benefits.

Analysis: PwC’s Saudi ban is a warning sign

Lower oil prices, localization, and the rise of a highly trained Saudi professional class may signal the end of boom times for foreign consultancies.

Analysis: The hidden challenge of Saudi unemployment

Saudi Arabia aims to reduce unemployment to 5% by 2030, but the sustainability of its job creation efforts will test the balance between public and private sector growth.

Analysis: NEOM needs a global CEO to thrive

With its third leader in seven years, Saudi columnist Wael Mahdi asks whether the project requires a CEO with international clout to achieve its lofty ambitions.

The deeper question haunting OPEC

The oil-producers group meets in December. Analysts want to know if it will cut or raise production. But more vexing challenges are lurking.