The Middle East story: How petrol pinches pay

With oil prices on a near free-fall, West Asia's oil-linked economies would never be the same again. The altered business climate has forced many businesses to revisit their growth and recruitment plans and alter their salary levels. To boot, average 2016 pay rises across Gulf Cooperation Council countries are set to be the lowest in the past 10 years. Energy companies have borne the brunt of the slowdown and laid off thousands while construction firms have also seen a slowdown in new business. But sectors such as retail and healthcare are showing high resilience and continue to outperform the overall economy, finds Saliha Nasline.