A Savvy Backdoor to Gulf Growth? Look to Europe.
When most people think of the United Arab Emirates, they picture gleaming skyscrapers, impossibly luxurious hotels, and a seemingly endless flow of oil money. And for a long time, that wasn't far from the truth. But to me, that picture is becoming rather dated. The real story, the one that investors should be paying attention to, is far more nuanced and, frankly, a great deal more interesting. The UAE is undergoing a quiet revolution, shifting from a resource-based economy to a sophisticated global hub for commerce and technology.
And who stands to benefit? Well, aside from the Emiratis themselves, I’d argue it’s the old hands of European industry.