The construction, establishment, maintenance, and modernization of the abovementioned infrastructure facilities are the leading responsibilities of governments. Within the Middle Eastern region, a difference in the range of government facilitation and investment in those facilities is visible. The governments within the Gulf Cooperation Council region are focused on upgrading and modernizing their infrastructure to establish themselves as global players, giving them an economic advantage in the globalized world. In contrast, war-torn Middle Eastern regions, such as Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, experience a high risk of damage to their existing physical infrastructure.
Government spending on infrastructure
Government spending on infrastructure varies within the Middle Eastern region quite significantly. Countries such as Saudi Arabia invest around nine percent of their annual budget in the infrastructure and transportation system of the country.Within the wider Gulf Cooperation Council region, most infrastructure investments were made in oil and gas facilities, as these are also the leading revenue generators of the region. On the other hand, countries such as Jordan experienced an infrastructure investment gap of around 18 billion U.S. dollars in 2021/2022.
