SAUDI ARABIA
The resulting impact on business travel has been the cancellation and rerouting of flights in and out of Qatar , previously a major hub of the region . International shipping has likewise suffered delays and protracted routes to avoid banned seaports . However , inside Qatar , business goes on relatively unimpeded with nonboycotting allied nations now making-up resulting trade shortages in essential goods . Oil and natural gas production , which accounts for the large majority of Qatar ’ s GDP , continues at normal rates .
As the current dispute has deep and numerous roots , resolution will be challenging . Early attempts at mediation have borne little fruit , and tensions seem only to be escalating . While deterioration into a ‘ hot war ’ is unlikely , the current diplomatic and trade war shows no signs of resolving anytime soon and is likely to persist for some months .
Impact of Recent Changes in US Immigration Policy on Global Immigration
The actions this year by the United States to ban or restrict immigration from six predominantly Muslim nations , including four in the Middle East , has brought little reciprocal action from the affected nations in the region . While US citizens should be aware of the potential for increased anti-American sentiment in the region , a formal travel and immigration ban has been imposed only by Iran , and all other nations remain generally open to US Citizens . However , government travel warnings for their citizens are in place for certain Middle East destinations both by the US and other nations .
Country Profiles
SAUDI ARABIA
The largest country in the Middle East by land mass and the fourth richest in terms of per-capita GDP , Saudi Arabia has been the historic leader of the region – politically , economically and militarily . As the birthplace of Islam , it maintains a religiously and culturally conservative society with an incremental trend toward liberalisation starting in the mid- 2000s . While its economy is still heavily dependent on oil production and foreign labour , there has been a recent push to diversify the economy and boost local employment . Saudi Arabia ’ s current Vision 2030 plan of broad social-economic reforms should continue to further open the country to international business . Politically , the monarchy is in a period of transition to the younger generation with 31 yearold Mohammed bin Salman recently being named Crown Prince and the next ruler-apparent .
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