The Qatar National Vision 2030 program is based on two principles — modernization and preservation of traditions. Blockade of the country in 2017–2020 and the coronavirus pandemic became a serious test for the economy of Qatar, but the government and residents of the country do not consider themselves defeated by these circumstances, but on the contrary, these circumstances helped the country’s economy to survive the above crises. In 2019, the International Monetary Fund said that Qatar’s economy was resilient in the face of the blockade and shocks caused, including by the fall in hydrocarbon prices in 2014–2016. The events of the global economic crisis caused by the pandemic have posed another challenge to the financial and banking system of Qatar. Thanks to the measures of the country’s government aimed at ensuring business continuity, maintaining liquidity and providing support to the sectors of the economy affected by the pandemic, it was possible to mitigate the impact of this shock, support cash flows, and achieve financial and banking stability in the country. However, according to fund analysts, COVID–19 and a sharp drop in hydrocarbon revenues will lead to a reduction in real GDP growth by 2% in 2020. At the same time, future profits from hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, continued expansion of capacities in production of liquefied gas and competent fiscal and monetary policy will contribute to economic growth in the country in the medium term.

At present, the Iraqi economy is once again undergoing trials associated with an increase in unemployment, a drop in the standard of living of the population, especially in central and southern Iraq, as well as the almost complete dependence of budgetary revenues on fluctuating oil prices. This dependence on oil has left other important sectors of the country’s economy, such as agriculture and industry, in near collapse. Of course, the real political crisis in Iraq 3 should be viewed through economic indicators, given the country’s lack of a diversified economy. The revenues received from the sale of oil are not invested in the development of the necessary sectors of the economy or in innovations, but are distributed according to articles of domestic expenditures, including the maintenance of a large bureaucratic apparatus. When there is a shortage of income, in the event of an unfavorable price policy in the market, the government resorts to domestic and foreign borrowing. These steps induce the state to completely stop rebuilding what was destroyed during previous wars or to start developing other sectors of the economy.Against the background of the entire political and economic situation, the country’s financial sector is also going through hard times. The main products and services of the banks are focused on payroll projects, and they are also engaged in currency speculation in the auctions arranged by the Central Bank of Iraq. It also negatively affects the investment attractiveness of the country, since the receipt of «easy and fast money» by a financial institution practically eliminates the need for it to invest in the real sector of the economy, the principle of which is the basis, including Islamic financial institutions.In general, the economic picture of Iraq can be described in the following formulations. The country has the fourth proven crude oil reserves in the world, was the second largest producer of OPEC and the fourth largest producer in the world. The country has international financial organizations that provide international financial support (IMF, World Bank), including bilateral loans. There are more negative aspects, including large and almost widespread corruption, direct dependence of government revenues on oil exports, almost complete absence of non'oil sectors in the structure of economic sectors (especially the private sector), and a weak and limited banking sector. Of course, there is some hope that the White Paper for Economic Reforms 4 presented by the government of Mustafa al'Kadhimi, which identifies the main necessary reforms to restore the Iraqi economy, could become a certain benchmark for turning the current economic situation and the beginning of the necessary reforms. But on the eve of the elections, the political forces considered it in their own interests to oppose any reforms. In this regard, Iraq actually lost the opportunity to carry out full'fledged reforms, however, in our opinion, there is still little hope for recovery.

According to the World Bank experts, the widespread adoption of digital technologies in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will bring huge social and economic benefits amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars a year, and a much – needed surge in new technologies and job creation. While the Middle East is far behind when it comes to digital transformation, better logistics, tax incentives, free zones and innovative ideas have propelled the region into new uncharted innovation spaces. From Metaverse and free zones to e@commerce and many others, the region is truly entering a «Golden Age» of digital adoption. Initially slow in adopting digital technologies, governments have made huge strides in helping their regions catch up with and even outperform many global markets including Western countries. Now, a range of investments, such as the 2023 launch of the Metaverse Academy in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, is taking the Middle East and Africa to new heights and creating many opportunities for digital retailers and business communities.

Перспективы устойчивого развития финансового сектора Иордании в современных условияхАннотация: Правительство Иордании (Иорданское Хашимитское Королевство) приняло достаточно амбициозный план экономических действий на 2019-2020 год, в котором четко определены приоритеты развития страны. Этот план нацелен на создание и поддержание благоприятной бизнес-среды, проведение реформ на финансовом рынке и в социально-экономической сфере. Однако для смягчения экономических последствий, вызванных региональным кризисом и пандемией COVID-19, необходима достаточно большая финансовая поддержка, которую правительство хочет получить от Международного валютного фонда и Всемирного банка. Нельзя не отметить предпринятые в мае 2018 года руководством страны меры «жёсткой экономии», в том числе, в части увеличения подоходного налога, которые привели ко всеобщей забастовке крупных торговых сетей и массовым беспорядкам среди населения. Иордания граничит с двумя нестабильными странами: Сирией и Ираком. В этой связи все негативные последствия войн и конфликтов в вышеуказанных странах ложились дополнительной нагрузкой на экономику королевства. Исходя из этого Иордания должна рассмотреть возможность поддержания своей экономики не в декларируемых правительством проектах и планах экономического развития, а в геополитическом направлении. Например, восстановить отношения с Сирией и улучшить взаимоотношения с Ираком, развивать активную деятельность на Палестинских территориях. Продуманные и взвешенные политические шагиэто достаточно хороший подход к решению многих локальных проблем, тем более что у Иордании имеется очень большой потенциал в части внедрения различных инновационных подходов. Финансово кредитные инструменты повышения качества экономического роста / Financial and credit instruments of improvement the quality of economic growth Оригинальные статьи / Original articles

The coming to power of R.T. Erdogan at the head of the Justice and Development Party, which is called the party of moderate Islam, displayed a return to a number of traditional Islamic views on the economic theory and concept of public administration in Turkey. In this regard, the development of Islamic financial banks in the country is seen as a continuation of the trend towards the partial desecularization of society and the revival of traditional socio-economic institutions. In the case of Turkey, Sharia financial institutions are not labeled as “Islamic”, a term that is being avoided in both national laws and regulations governing the activities of those institutions. The Turkish economy has been facing issues of the inflation and high in- terest rates in banks for decades, which are caused by market conditions. The widespread introduction of Islamic banking, including the development of am- bitious projects, for example, the creation of another large single financial cen- ter in the East, may speak of some “imperial” ambitions of the country’s leader- ship rather than the creation of anti-crisis management mechanisms