Author
Articles by Khalid Okonkwo
Gulf Business
World Governments Summit 2026 closes in Dubai
The February 3-5 summit, billed as its largest edition, ran under 'Shaping Future Governments' with AI and trade tracks, and announced four awards including best minister and most reformed government.
Khalid Okonkwo
Gulf Business
Dubai's economy grew 5.4 percent in 2025 to AED 937 billion
Figures published January 31, 2026 put Dubai's 2025 GDP above AED 937 billion with fourth-quarter growth of 6.4 percent, and nine-month data showing AED 355 billion in output.
Khalid Okonkwo
Gulf Business
What is Duqm, Oman's mega-port bet
The Duqm Special Economic Zone stretches across roughly 2,000 square kilometres of Oman's coast, with a deep-water port, one of the region's largest dry docks and a 230,000-bpd refinery joint venture.
Khalid Okonkwo
Gulf Business
The UAE's CEPA trade deals, explained
Since 2021 the UAE has concluded more than twenty Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, from India in 2022 to Korea, Australia and Türkiye, driving non-oil trade past AED 3 trillion.
Khalid Okonkwo
Gulf Business
How big is the GCC's non-oil economy
Non-oil activities now exceed half of Saudi real GDP and roughly three-quarters of the UAE's, with the bloc's non-oil external trade running in the trillions of dollars.
Khalid Okonkwo