The MENA region is growing at a tremendous speed. If you’re considering growing with it, then here are some crucial elements you’ll need to know before your venture.
The Growing Cities in the Region
Dubai, The United Arab Emirates
Dubai has been a major player in the international community for decades now. It has established itself as an emirate and city with its oil industry. Through that industry, it has fueled its current success as a cosmopolitan metropolis.
What many people don’t know is that Dubai is also home to a number of big tech companies. In fact, it has become one of the world’s biggest hubs for information technologies. It’s a leader in telecommunications and connectivity. As a result of a construction boom that instigated the Burj Khalifa construction, Dubai boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Doha, Qatar
Doha sits at the center of a massive, untapped opportunity.
The country has the third-largest GDP per capita in the world with 1.8 million citizens as of 2013—and 1.3 million people call Doha home.
Most of Qatar’s top trade partners are Asian nations like Japan, South Korea, and India, appealing to a wide range of businesses looking to expand into—or already doing business in—the Asia-Pacific region.
Furthermore, Qatar has actively sought to diversify its economy away from oil dependency for years. As a result, the government is investing in everything from tourism to banking and aerospace technology, positioning Doha to be an international hub for business and finance moving forward.
Cairo, Egypt
As the largest city in Egypt, Africa, and the entire Arab world, Cairo’s cultural significance is immeasurable to both past and contemporary civilization. However, its economic significance is also notable. It’s currently one of the best places to do business in the Middle East due to its advantageous location, along with several more tangible reasons.
As a major tourist attraction, tourism is Cairo’s largest revenue source. In addition to tourism being a massive contributor to the city’s economy, other key industries are based in Cairo. Construction and heavy industry are two of these. The latter benefits from Cairo’s Qualifying Industrial Zone (QIZ), a tax-free industrial park that allows businesses in Cairo to benefit from the US and Israel’s free trade agreement.
How to Stay Informed
It’s crucial to stay informed when starting out or growing a business venture, but at the same time, you’ll need to filter out non-essential information. You’ll need to find a reliable and market-oriented source, so you can stay updated on what’s happening in your market and industry. That’s where mid-east.info comes in. With us, you can receive daily business news of what’s happening in the MENA region, including reports and analysis of the panorama in the greater Middle East.
You can also find and connect with other business professionals in the region, both local and foreign, to exchange strategies and grow together.
Getting your travel documents ready
Lastly, to do business in the Middle East, you’ll need to get your passport ready. If your passport is about to expire, i.e., it has less than 6 months of validity, it’s best to renew it before your next business trip to the Middle East.
You might think it would take you a long time and many visits to the immigration office to get it, but there are more efficient ways. Our partner, iVisa.com offers an easy-to-use service that allows you to renew your passport from home. After filling out an online application form, you receive your **Passport Renewal Kit**. Then, you need to follow their instructions to mail your passport to the government authorities and get it renewed. You won’t even have to go to the office to pick your passport up, as it will arrive at your home via mail.
Doing business in the MENA region is easier and more profitable now than before. This growing economy has lots to offer foreign investors, so it’s time to get up and seize this opportunity!
