Besides oil, what industry does the Middle East have?

[Squatch]

Besides oil, what major industry(ies) does the Middle East (or even individual ME countries) have that will assure their place in the world market for decades to come, especially after the inevitable end of petroleum (we can only pray)? Agriculture? Manufactured goods?

[Kagemusha]

1. I remember hearing Iraq was heavy chemical...

Of course they can't run heavy chemical industries without oh... consistent electrical power...

[Spider Jerusalem]

43. Or without petroleum base stocks, for that matter. (n/t)

[Olney Blue]

2. Heroin.

[pitohui]

3. shopping

at least that's what they got in dubai

[HamdenRice]

4. Sand ..... camels ....... dates nt

[smtpgirl]

9. Yep

herion in Afganistan, glass(an over abundance of sand), chemicals maybe.

My question is, when the oil runs out what do they have to sell?

[NMDemDist2]

5. they make nice rugs..... n/t

[tjwash]

6. It depends on where you are. The ME is a big place.

That's like asking if Asia has anything to offer to the world. Or do you just want to know about OPEC?

[Squatch]

8. OK, hit me...which industries do individual countries have

that will assure their competitiveness in the world market?

[smtpgirl]

14. this could be a great research project

Maybe we might be surprised at the findings.

Once the US is serious about alternative fuels, biodiesel can become a great hostage tool, compared to petroleum???

OPEC are u listening?

[NuttyFluffers]

37. near lock on myrrh and certain other precious fragrances

one of the most important places on earth in terms of precious fragrances (there's real good money in luxury perfumes).

also HUGE gold markets. not gold mines, gold markets. used to be important for glassware, but i believe that is no longer.

luxury carpets. fine brassware. excellent cloth (egyptian cotton is great). some cedar, cinnamon, etc. certain spices.

precious aquatic life, especially in the red sea (which is rapidly dying, so sad!:( ). coral, exotic fishes, luxury pigments.

mostly the middle east is awash in what one would term luxury goods. in terms of hard core industry, a la beginning of the industrial revolution style, not so much. but then, they weren't awash in the metal ore resources to do to the extent america and germany did.

and from there it depends on where you go. y'know, from morocco to iran is quite a big place. but it also depends on where you demarkate ME. lebanon to iran, azerbaijan to oman?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. Raw materials for glass...

like sand.

[LiberalEsto]

10. sandpaper?

improvised explosive devices?

[FogerRox]

12. Cement-petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. Sandwiches..... gritty sandwiches...... nt.

[Sgent]

13. Tourism

the ME in many ways was the founding of civilization -- Babylon, Egypt, Isreal, etc.

[Squatch]

16. Will that be enough to keep their countries solvent?

I mean, they show up to see the sights and buy...what? Trinkets and hukah pipes?

[pitohui]

31. christ no they buy versaces and lamborghinni's

trinkets and hookahs, that is funny

that is yr grandma's middle east

[wuushew]

36. the average Saudi is not getting richer

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has experienced a significant contraction of oil revenues combined with a high rate of population growth. Per capita income has fallen from $25,000 in 1980 to $8,000 in 2003, up from about $7,000 in 1999. The decline in inflation-adjusted per-capita income from 1980 to 1999 set a record, being by far the worst such decline suffered by any nation-state in history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia

Overpopulation does not increase human prosperity.

[slaveplanet]

44. yep

$8 a barrel oil in the late 90's had more to do with the ME economic factor than population.

Even the well-off Saudis had to strip the gold from their swimming pools. If rates had stayed at 1970's levels, population wouldn't have been that big a deal.

[smtpgirl]

20. that is one

Watched a discovery channel program last night about the ME making artificial islands that look like palm trees. Some of the islands are purchased for 10 Mil.

Maybe the ME is not so dumb after all, they are preparing for that day when oil is not running.

Once again, US 0 ME 1.

Alternative fuels NOW

[smtpgirl]

22. palm tree island link

http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/palm_islands.php

[applegrove]

15. Oil money that targets civilians in a form of murder called terrorism.

By tribalizing and promoting certain forms of Islam, the terrorists have lots of money. The people don't.

[Squatch]

17. So, the industry is terrorism?

After oil collapses, these countries will remain solvent through terrorism?

[applegrove]

21. No. That is my point. That so far the oil rich in Middle East have used

their wealth to keep power and $$$ in their hands. By promoting tribalism over democracy. So the economies have not diversified. So there will be nothing left - unless some re-distribution of wealth happens asap.

[BlueStateGirl1995]

18. Did you look here?

World Factbook

Everything you wanted to know about any country in the world.

[Disturbed]

27. Saudi Arabia

Industries:

Definition Field Listing

crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair

[Squatch]

28. So, after oil...

ammonia, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, construction, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair

[punpirate]

34. Even...

... ammonia and fertilizer are tied to oil production.

[DBoon]

19. food products and textiles is my guess

nt

[Media_Lies_Daily]

23. I'm sadly struck by some of the comments made in this thread...

...you would almost believe you were posting on Free Republic.

[Squatch]

24. And this was a serious question, too.

So far, the only two real industries that could remotely keep that region solvent are natural resources and tourism, though I think the latter is suffering right now.

[pitohui]

30. tourism is booming like never before

did you think i was kidding when i said shopping? at least in dubai their upscale shops supposedly make the forum shoppes and other elite shopping places in usa look sick and sorry

[Squatch]

Where do the goods come from that they sell in these

shopping places?

They (for the most part) are not manufactured in the ME. Or, I could be wrong.

[NuttyFluffers]

46. well, depends on what you are looking for: industry, resources, agri?

there's stuff there, but the CIA world fact book does leave one a little for want (it's not all that complete when i was flipping through it -- but it's a great fast resource book). i mean, if one just went off of what the fact book said about the usa one would think of us as being the leading suppliers of molybdenum or something -- and still curious if that meant anything.

on what sort of scale are you interested in? and in what facet are you interested in? one could be engrossed endlessly in natural resources, just plucked out w/o processing, alone and never touch on agri or industrial factories. are you talking huge major import/export goods? well, that depends on what the market needs and how the market is supplied. there's other markets, but oil is such a huge pressing need, and such a behemoth in terms of the economies you really aren't gonna hear anything else until you narrow down your search.

i mean, i could ask the same thing about latin america and it be relatively pointless because it's way too big a topic. what does latin america have besides drug fields, large fruit, insects, rum, rubber, and revolutionary guerrillas? it's very short sided and won't get anywhere because the question covers too much and already presumes nothing's there.

[Yupster]

41. Saudi Arabia will always do well with tourism

as long as there are a billion Muslims who dream of making the haj.

[Spider Jerusalem]

47. No more oil = no more tourism.

Unless you happen to be rich, that is. Travel for pleasure will be a thing of the past in the post-petroleum age, for most people.

[smtpgirl]

26. How so?

Why would this be a freeper comment? Do you think they really care about what goes on in the ME?

I was fascinated, yet sad about that program. How do you think those islands are made?

edited for spelling

[JVS]

25. Fiery religious thought

[smtpgirl]

29. GO STEELERS :)

[JVS]

32. Go Steelers indeed!

[shain from kane]

33. Pistachios. Or is it, pistachioes? n/t.

[wuushew]

35. kick

:kick:

[Roland99]

38. Some countries (Dubai? Bahrain?) are burgeoning in the IT industry

from what I understand.

[NuttyFluffers]

48. i was floored finding out oman is in fiber optics production industry.

but then that goes to show me what happens when i don't pay attention. a bias may believe that time has passed them by, but often the reality is different.

[Evoman]

39. Apart from oil...

The middle east is blessed with intelligent, beautiful people, full of potential, stuck in countries with attitudes and religious dogma that keeps them reaching that potential. Maybe when oil runs out, things will change in the middle east. Unfortunately, people in the west can't really do anything about them, except maybe lead by example (which we have NOT been doing)....its something they have to do themselves.

All the wasted potential in third world countries makes me sad. There could be geniuses born in these countries, with the talent and ability to change the world, but you would never know it because they are starving, or in a country where genocide is occurring.

Ugh.

[clyrc]

40. I live in the UAE and I can tell you

tourism and trade are a massive focus here. Dubai is about ten miles down the road from where I live, and the development is unbelievable. Dubai has a large IT community, and a Media city, and a Humanitarian city is being built, as well as other specialized areas for services.

The shopping here is quite amazing, unlike anything I ever imagined in the States. I can only window shop in the huge, modern malls, (there are something like 70 malls in Dubai alone) but I buy carpets, jewelry, decorations and perfume from the wonderful souks.

[BushOut06]

45. I've seen a few shows focusing on UAE and Dubai

Aren't they really crazy about resorts there? I recall watching some program where they are building these massive artificial island resorts in various shapes. It was a huge, massive undertaking, and looked quite impressive. I remember thinking to myself that Dubai looked like a civilized oasis in a strife-torn region. Seems like a very nice place to live.

Does Dubai have problems with the fundamentalist Islamic sects like some of the other Arabic countries do? If not, how do they keep that in check? I can't imagine that many fundie Muslims would be happy with such a show of "decadence" right in their midst.

[NuttyFluffers]

49. oh lord, how i remember the shopping, back in the 80s too!

everything you could pretty much ever want is up for sale. i've yet to see some of the multi-system international tvs and other entertainment media players that were literally spilling off the shelves in saudi arabia. and luxury goods? forget about it, there's no competition.

also, outside of perhaps maybe japan and possibly france, there's fewer people in the world more fashion aware and bestowed with luxury fashion shopping options -- and that's a maybe. so what if they wear an abaya, hijab, and/or niqab? trust me, they are dressed to kill underneath. oh, and ever played the game "find my designer label" on their coverings or shoes? that's a fun game. never knew gucci could be so popular for a head covering. ;)

[XemaSab]

51. For Dubai, yes,

but what about the other Middle Eastern countries?

Obviously oil is where much of the wealth comes from, so what happens when it's gone? Do you see the current "haves" holding on to the wealth and maintaining the current systems, or do you see the region destabilizing and reverting to a loose collection of tribes governed by Sharia law? :shrug:

(pardon my ignorance, but it's a part of the world that Westerners don't know much about)

[NuttyFluffers]

52. good question. but we're dealing w/ @ 20 countries here.

that's a lot to look at. i know the house of saud is 'trying' to bring their nation's infrastructure to something sustainable for the end of cheap oil, but... ;) after living there i really don't see how it could end up being successful. saudi has huge problems and i don't think the house of saud will maintain a lock on the area.

but i think there's a future for qatar. they've diversified into electronics and al jazeera is a pretty solid media biz start. considering the region's notorious censorship i'm utterly stunned at what they've been able to pull off. they've actually shaken the region up a bit, shooting not only at america, et al, but at arab nations as well. no small feat they've managed to pull off.

UAE will survive. major gold market cities, and have been for centuries, are located there and that won't change anytime soon. and where there's gold there's shopping... ;) electronic industry is being built up too

just found out that oman is now in fiber optic production along w/ UAE. i'm sure there's probably electronic production too, or not too far away.

considering the east coast of the arabian peninsula, i think it'd be a great place to produce electronic components. it's so arid and absolutely awash in silicon and quartz. just an air conditioner and some quality built labs and you'd be good to go. not much fear about ambient humidity or airborn contaminants, i'd think.

and then there's the whole north coast of africa... and the fertile crescent region... and the caucus region (thar's gold in dem hills :P). it's really a lot to cover in just one puny topic. perhaps i invite you to pick a region and head to the library and find out for yourself?

[upi402]

42. dried salt

[Djinn]

50. given almost

everything the west produces uses petroleum products in some shape or form in it's manufacture, what industries have we got to rely on when it runs out?