A Standard & Poor’s Rating Services report cited by Gulf News warned that low oil prices will adversely affect the banking sector in the Gulf Arab states.
There are conflicting reports emerging over the financial state of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia thanks to Brent price of oil sinking to below $50 a barrel.
The United Arab Emirates has become the first Gulf state to take a major step towards taming the gas-guzzling habits of its drivers, who see cheap fuel as part of their birthright.
Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), one of the world's largest petrochemicals groups, reported a 4.5% drop in second-quarter net profit on Sunday, a much smaller decline than analysts had forecast.
Saudi Arabia's Yanbu National Petrochemical Co (Yansab) reported a 63% fall in second-quarter net profit on Tuesday but beat analysts' forecasts slightly.