A comprehensive analysis of legislative frameworks to enhance business regulation, governance, and economic development across the Arab region.

Background 

The growing interest in legal and institutional reform for business facilitation and better governance in the Arab region has led governments, donors, and development agencies to increasingly focus their attention on improving the regulatory framework for doing business. Efficient markets and effective governance are essential for successful national development planning, fostering healthy competition, innovation, and sustainable growth. Regulatory reforms reduce barriers to competition and market openness, while also promoting transparency and reducing corruption, which are crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. 

 ESCWA is undertaking a Development Account project titled “Towards the Arab Horizon 2030: Enhancing Integrated National Development Planning in the Arab Region.” This project aims to support member countries in their national planning processes and to identify challenges for integrated and better-coordinated development planning. Within this framework, Triangle was commissioned by ESCWA to conduct an assessment and analysis of legislative regimes governing business regulation in the WANA region. The goal is to compile a comprehensive repository of existing legislation and identify the main challenges and recommendations for enhancing the efficiency of the regional business environment.

The Challenge 

Despite efforts to modernize business regulations, several challenges persist across the WANA region. Outdated or inconsistent regulatory frameworks hinder market competition and investment, while a lack of transparency and gaps in consumer protection and anti-corruption measures weaken governance structures. Additionally, the absence of a comprehensive, accessible database on business laws limits knowledge-sharing and reform efforts. Regulatory inconsistencies across countries further create obstacles to regional economic integration and foreign direct investment (FDI). Addressing these challenges requires targeted reforms that promote consistency, transparency, and efficiency in business regulations across the region. 

Our Approach 

• Legislative Review and Regulatory Mapping: Conducted an in-depth review of laws governing FDI, competition, consumer protection, and anti-corruption, while mapping existing regulations across Arab countries.
• Development of an Interactive Repository: Triangle created the first business regulation portal in the WANA region, consolidating key laws on FDI, competition, consumer protection, and anti-corruption. This digital platform enhances accessibility, supports legislative updates, and facilitates regulatory comparisons for policymakers and investors. 
• Benchmarking Best Practices: Identified and compared effective regulatory models from global and regional contexts to inform policy improvements. 
• Comparative Evaluation Matrix: Designed a framework to assess gaps and inconsistencies in regulatory environments across WANA countries, highlighting areas for harmonization and reform. 
• Policy and Technical Recommendations: Developed a technical paper with evidence-based recommendations for legal reforms that enhanced investment climates, market transparency, and business efficiency. 
• Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building: Collaborated with government officials, legal experts, and business leaders to validate findings and ensure practical, locally relevant policy recommendations. 
• Implementation Support and Knowledge Transfer: Provided training sessions and workshops to equip policymakers and stakeholders with the tools to apply recommended reforms effectively. 

Results and Impact 

• First-of-its-Kind Business Regulation Portal: A key outcome of this project, the portal provides real-time access to business regulations, improving transparency, investment confidence, and policy harmonization across the region. 
• Increased Awareness & Knowledge: The assessment provided stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the business regulatory landscape, highlighting key challenges and opportunities for reform. 
• Improved Investment Strategies: The analysis offered guidance for investors by identifying regulatory gaps and suggesting reforms to foster a more conducive business environment. 
• Strengthened Policy Advocacy: The findings informed advocacy efforts to enhance regulatory environments, ensuring better governance and transparency in business operations. 
• Sustainable Growth Pathways: The study outlined strategies to strengthen the resilience of the business sector and promote long-term economic sustainability through regulatory improvements. 
• Trainings and Capacity Building: Produced portals, reports, and followed up with capacity-building trainings in several countries 

Looking Ahead 

Sustained regulatory reforms are essential for fostering a competitive, transparent, and investment-friendly business environment in the WANA region. Triangle pledges its commitment to supporting and collaborating with regional stakeholders to drive economic growth and governance improvements across the Arab region.