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Gulf countries are in a tight spot. At a time when increased government spending is needed to offset the negative impact of coronavirus, Saudi Arabia has forced oil prices down to $30 a barrel.
For those with strong enough economies, part of the answer to the question 'where will governments find the money to survive?' might be on international markets.
Gulf authorities have announced a swathe of spending cuts in an effort to rebalance budgets this year, but with coronavirus hitting supply chains and inward investment, a fiscal response is now required. That means raiding reserves and increasing deficits to start with.
Saudi Arabia’s move to increase oil production may bring it more revenue – though that is by no means certain – despite or because of the lower price per barrel and allowing it to finance its own response to the virus, but it has made things more difficult for weaker oil exporters.
