When we talk about the Middle East, your mind might instantly flit to a certain subset of locations. You’ll think of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Jerusalem. While you wouldn’t be wrong to instantly think of those locations, you’d be doing the entire region a disservice. The Middle East stretches from the Atlantic to the Caspian Sea, engulfing more than 21 economies from Dubai to North Africa. With almost half a billion people in the region, a lot of work gets done in the Middle East. If you are traveling for business in the Middle East, you might want to have a list of potential locations to visit. Today, we’ll be highlighting three of the top places in the Middle East to pursue your business ventures.
1) Ras Al Khaimah – If you are heading to the Middle East for work, you might want to consider heading to Ras Al Khaimah. Ras Al Khaimah is a part of the United Arab Emirates. Typically overlooked due to the more famous Dubai, the city of RAK has much to offer aspiring business professionals. Led by a renewed focus on social, economic, and cultural development, HH Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi has been steadily cultivating Ras Al Khaimah into a hotbed of enterprising work. Contrary to the other emirates, Ras Al Khaimah has never been beholden to oil. Instead, the region is focused on tourism, real estate, manufacturing, and agriculture. Enterprising young professionals can find the upper-class business world of Dubai without the saturation of the city.
2) Qatar – If you aren’t ready to head to Ras Al Khaimah, you might still want to travel to the area. Head to Doha, the capital city of Qatar. Qatar hosts one of the largest GDP per capita in the entire world, ranking third overall as of 2013. Qatar has high-profile trading partners throughout all of Asia which makes them a notable target for international trade. Qatar found its way onto the global map thanks to the discovery of oil in 1940, however, that is not their only source of revenue. Qatar has been working to expand into the real estate industry with a focus on the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022. Registering to do business in Qatar is a lengthy process and you’ll benefit from having a fluent understanding of Arabic, or at least a partner who knows the country well.
3) Lebanon – Lebanon is located on the Mediterranean, and much of the wealth in the region flows through its capital city, Beirut. While Beirut is known for its pop culture and nightlife, the city offers a wide array of different industries that savvy professionals can seek to embrace. Beirut specifically is focused on banking and finance due to their free banking zone. Beirut also has a thriving tourism industry which makes it perfect for visitors from all over Europe and the Middle East.
Doing business in the Middle East is easier than ever. We are now living in an interconnected world. With the right idea and the proper plan, you’ll be able to find room for growth in the region.