Foreign investment to West Asia falls. Flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) to West Asia fell by 9% in 2013 to a level of $44 billion dollars, according to the latest UNCTAD report on investment in the world for 2014. This is fifth year in a row since 2009 that FDI has fallen. The continuation of strong regional tension is fuelling political uncertainty and putting foreign direct investors off, although there are differences between the countries of the region. In countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, flows of FDI have continued their downward trend, and in others, such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, their recovery has been slow or unstable in recent years, and their total remains considerably below the level seen before the crisis. Incoming FDI increased only in Iraq and Kuwait in recent years, reaching record levels in 2013 and 2012 respectively. In detail: - Last year, Turkey remained West Asia's main FDI recipient country, with flows maintaining almost the same level as the previous year - close to $30 billion. Flows to the United Arab Emirates continued their recovery, positioning this country as the second-largest FDI recipient in the region after Turkey. They increased by 9% in that country to stand at $10.5 billion, but this is well below their 2007 level. Flows to Saudi Arabia declined for the fifth year in a row. They dropped by 24% to $9.3 billion dollars, pushing the country from second to third place of recipients in the region. Flows to Iraq reached new highs, despite the political instability. According to UNCTAD estimates, they increased by around 20% to $2.9 billion dollars in 2013. However, they were down by 41% in Kuwait, following record levels in 2012. Flows to Jordan were up by 20% ($1.8 billion dollars), but those to Lebanon were down (-23%). - Conversely, outgoing FDI from the countries of West Asia increased by 65%, driven by the increase in foreign investment by the Gulf States (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates), particularly Qatar (which has quadrupled its foreign investment) and Kuwait (+159%). (IL)