The U.A.E. Pulls Out of OPEC

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The United Arab Emirates’ (UAEs') decision to withdraw from OPEC marked a new alignment in the Middle East, where the tiny but fantastically wealthy Persian Gulf country becomes more tied to Israel and the U.S. than the Arab world.

The U.A.E. has practical reasons to pull out of OPEC. 

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.

War in the Middle East Strains Sales for Lindt

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The Swiss chocolatier Lindt now expects organic sales growth this year of 4%-6%, down from previous annual targets of 6% to 8% growth. Last year, Lindt’s sales rose 12% to 5.92 billion Swiss francs ($7.62 billion), it said in an earnings update Tuesday, March 9, 2026.

War in the Middle East will likely further dampen sentiment and strain sales as energy prices spike and international travel faces a squeeze, Lindt Chief Executive Officer Adalbert Lechner said. 

You Tell 'em Tom

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If I [Laurel J. Delaney] could write a better opinion piece on the Middle East, golf and M.B.S., I would.  But no need to.  Tom Friedman did.  Thanks!

Saudi Arabia Should Take a Mulligan on Golf. Here’s What It Can Do Instead.

Today in Global Small Business: Gender Roles Are Messing With E-Commerce Shipping in the Middle East

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• The requirement making container weight verification a condition for vessel loading will become legally binding on July 1, 2016 (guidelines here).
• Letting the crowd improve trade compliance.
• Who are the next big players in e-commerce?  Top PayPal global trade exec fills us in.
• In the Middle East, gender roles are messing with e-commerce shipping.
• Some of the key things no one tells you about exporting.
• The Global Small Business Blog wins another award for blogs to watch in 2015.

Building a Business in the Arab World

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The Wall Street Journal talks with Aramex co-founder Fadi Ghandou about expanding into the Arab world.  Here's one of the questions addressed.

WSJ: How important is it for new companies starting out to think regionally—or even globally?
 
Mr. Ghandour: You need to think of the neighborhood. How do I sell my product or services? The Levant (Lebanon, Syria and Jordan) and the GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) are a must [for companies in the region]. You can't scale up unless these markets open. Eventually, going global is another story altogether. It takes more time and capital

Read the entire interview here.

Here's another good article on doing business in the Middle East and this one involves the Cheesecake Factory.

Victoria's Secret Goes Middle East

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In its early days of international expansion, Victoria's Secret -- with the help of partner M. H. Alshaya, run by Mohammed Alshaya (operator of Aeropostale and H&M stores as well) -- will focus on the Middle East.

Big issue?  Whether or not to install fitting rooms at lingerie boutiques in Saudi Arabia.

Read the entire article here.

Related article:  Victoria's Secret:  Taking It Slowly in the International Marketplace

Robust Trade and Investment Between the U.S.A. and U.A.E.

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Growth of robust trade between the United States and powerhouse U.A.E. is reflected here (scan to Trade), "The U.S.-U.A.E. Trade and Investment Relationship: 2009" (PDF), and prepared March 2009 by Professor Michael O. Moore, Director, Institute for International Economic Policy, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University.

The U.A.E. is the largest export market for the United States in the Middle East. ~ U.S. Census Bureau

More information can be found at the US-UAE Business Council.

Building Out Your Global Small Business

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Learn what's happening in the Middle East area for IT players serving the needs of the engine that drives global economic growth: SMBs. Read "Building Out Your Small Business"

Whether big or small, this advice applies to us all:

“Honest business and always one consistent message to the market (as well as inside the company). Kyocera started the business in 1959 with 28 people and in 2007 it is now an enterprise comprising of 180 companies with about 63,500 people with 8.1-billion Euros in revenue.” Each company has various views and opinions about starting a small business. However, each of these reactions relates to their own experiences and know-how and that definitely is a big thing to consider. Starting your own small business may face trials and hardships at first, but it will somehow begin to show signs of development once you learn to see what makes it progress.