The COVID-19 outbreak has shaken the health and the wealth of every nation on earth, and the Middle East is no exception. It was then when the outbreak started to spread to the neighbouring countries in the Arab Gulf area. In some countries or economic sectors where they are less exposed to international markets, the economy is almost untouched. Coordination between the countries within the region regarding the containment of coronavirus is almost nil. As nationalism was the main policy to guard against the spread of the virus, policies to guard against economic downturn and prepare for economic recovery are following the same route.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 17, 2020 18:22 UTC