Skip to main content
About HEC About HEC
Summer School Summer School
Faculty & Research Faculty & Research
Master’s programs Master’s programs
Bachelor Programs Bachelor Programs
MBA Programs MBA Programs
PhD Program PhD Program
Executive Education Executive Education
HEC Online HEC Online
About HEC
Overview Overview
Who
We Are
Who
We Are
Egalité des chances Egalité des chances
HEC Talents HEC Talents
International International
Sustainability Sustainability
Diversity
& Inclusion
Diversity
& Inclusion
The HEC
Foundation
The HEC
Foundation
Campus life Campus life
Activity Reports Activity Reports
Summer School
Youth Programs Youth Programs
Summer programs Summer programs
Online Programs Online Programs
Faculty & Research
Overview Overview
Faculty Directory Faculty Directory
Departments Departments
Centers Centers
Chairs Chairs
Grants Grants
Knowledge@HEC Knowledge@HEC
Master’s programs
Master in
Management
Master in
Management
Master's
Programs
Master's
Programs
Double Degree
Programs
Double Degree
Programs
Bachelor
Programs
Bachelor
Programs
Summer
Programs
Summer
Programs
Exchange
students
Exchange
students
Student
Life
Student
Life
Our
Difference
Our
Difference
Bachelor Programs
Overview Overview
Course content Course content
Admissions Admissions
Fees and Financing Fees and Financing
MBA Programs
MBA MBA
Executive MBA Executive MBA
TRIUM EMBA TRIUM EMBA
PhD Program
Overview Overview
HEC Difference HEC Difference
Program details Program details
Research areas Research areas
HEC Community HEC Community
Placement Placement
Job Market Job Market
Admissions Admissions
Financing Financing
FAQ FAQ
Executive Education
Home Home
About us About us
Management topics Management topics
Open Programs Open Programs
Custom Programs Custom Programs
Events/News Events/News
Contacts Contacts
HEC Online
Overview Overview
Executive programs Executive programs
MOOCs MOOCs
Summer Programs Summer Programs
Youth programs Youth programs

The geographic scope of study is limited to the "core" Arab Middle East, meaning the area stretching from Egypt to Iraq. Other countries such as Iran and Turkey will be considered to the extent that their policies or internal developments have a material effect on the ’core’ area.

The course will consist in two parts. The first one will concentrate on the economic structure and business environment of the region. It will draw on personal direct involvement in business strategy making and development as well as in executing financial transactions on behalf of regional customers. Based on this experience, a description of the most remarkable and peculiar characteristics of the regional business environment will be discussed, with a comparison of the main economic models.

The second part will discuss the strategic/geopolitical backdrop of economic and business activities. An understanding of regional political ideas and of the formation of the state system is fundamental. A grasping of the peculiar nature of regional inter-state relations is also important for understanding business practices and economic flows.


The course has the following objectives:

  • Provide an understanding of the Middle-Eastern state system, its roots and dynamics
  • Offer a first-hand view of the region’s economic and business environment.
  1. The business environment and principal sectors of activity
  2. The case of the Gulf countries
  3. The origins of the state system and its dynamics.