CNBC Arabia launched in Saudi Arabia and Qatar

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are among the Gulf countries entering the international trade and tourism rankings.

Bloom Consulting, a branding firm specializing in region, country and city, has released the Qatar Business and Tourism Rankings for 2022-23.

Business rankings reveal the UK is still top despite Brexit, pushing the US into second place.

India moved up to the third position. France and Germany are in fourth and fifth place.

“This year’s country brand ranking proves that targeted and focused actions can lead to impactful, long-term results,” Jose Felipe Torres, CEO of Bloom Consulting and Global Director of National Brand and Place, told Arab News.

In Asia, Saudi Arabia moved up one place to 12th, while the United Arab Emirates slipped 5 places to 13th.

Other Gulf countries in the ranking are Jordan 22nd, Oman 25th, Qatar 27th, Bahrain 29th, Kuwait 36th.

Torres said Saudi Arabia is continuing to implement the Vision 2030 framework, which aims to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

Oman’s rise in the world rankings indicates the “impact of policymaking on government performance,” marking the launch of the country’s business plans and foreign capital investment laws.

Spain has overtaken the United States to take the top spot in tourism rankings for the first time.

Despite suffering the worst effects of the pandemic, Spain and Italy lead the way this year, pushing the United States to third place. Europe dominates the top five, with Germany taking fourth place and relegating the United Kingdom to fifth place.

In Asia, the Gulf countries are significantly ahead in the global rankings. Saudi Arabia 17th, Qatar 18th, Jordan 19th, United Arab Emirates 21st, Oman 22nd, Bahrain 24th.

Torres said Bahrain moved up four places on the list, largely due to its tourism strategy launched in 2015, which was revised and updated in 2021.

UAE’s ranking was expected to improve in the next edition.

As the host country of Expo 2020, the UAE has benefited from global press coverage and an influx of international visitors during the recovery from the coronavirus. As the journey returns, it will bring good news to the country in the next edition of the arrangement.