Hello from Riyadh: Strategic opportunities in the Middle East
Daniel Shin
The Middle East presents a land of opportunities. The region used to hold a large portion of the world's proven oil and natural gas reserves, creating economic opportunities for extraction, refining and related industries. Some Middle Eastern countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are actively diversifying their economies, creating opportunities in sectors like tourism, finance and technology.
The two nations have forged significant cultural ties with Korea. People in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) do know that Korea is home to great electronic devices, but now it is more than that. They believe in Korea's influential role in the world, and appreciate and respect what Korea as a nation has gone through for major economic reforms and development plans.
Korean culture fits well into mainstream Arab societies. Cultural factors play an important role in the Arab world, as Arabs and Koreans stand upon the common ground of social habits and customs such as family bonds, friendship and altruism. The regional obsession with Korea goes beyond fandom, which creates a huge demand for K-beauty and even K-fashion.
Both the UAE........
© The Korea Times
