From Cairo to Riyadh: What Arab Countries Plan to Discuss at the 2025 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings
The 2025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) will take place from April 21 to 26 in Washington, DC. The theme is “Jobs – The Path to Prosperity.” These meetings are an important chance for countries to talk about the global economy. Arab countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait will attend. Each of them has its own goals based on their economic needs and recent or planned work with the IMF.
Middle East
Lebanon
Lebanon is joining the 2025 Spring Meetings to get international help as it struggles with a serious economic crisis. Since 2019, the country’s economy has shrunk by over 40%. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber is leading the team to hold important talks with the IMF and World Bank, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
The main topics include fixing the banking system, stabilizing the currency, and creating more jobs. Unemployment has gotten worse since the 2020 Beirut port explosion and the conflict with Israel.
News outlet Annahar said Lebanon had a “balanced start” to the meetings. Officials met with the US Treasury and IMF to push forward economic reforms and try to unlock frozen bank deposits.
In 2022, Lebanon and the IMF agreed on a $3 billion aid package, but the money hasn’t been given yet because reforms haven’t been completed. These include new banking laws and budget changes. A key meeting with the IMF is set for Friday to discuss releasing the funds.
The World Bank invited Lebanon to the meetings after the country made important appointments at the Central Bank and the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR). Lebanon now has a new Central Bank governor who is working on a plan to rebuild the banking sector. A new law to end banking secrecy has been sent to Parliament, and a new CDR board will be chosen soon.
Jordan
Jordan is attending the meetings to show its strength in a tough region. Its focus is on creating jobs—especially for young people and Syrian refugees—and supporting the private sector.
The IMF recently reviewed Jordan’s economic program and expects the economy to grow by 2.7% in 2025. This growth is helped by a return of tourists and more foreign investment.
Talks will likely focus on helping Jordan deal with problems caused by nearby conflicts, improving job training, and tackling climate issues. Jordan is working toward a new deal with the IMF called the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
Jordan also wants more World Bank funding to support clean energy projects, like the Aqaba solar plant, which could bring thousands of new jobs.
Jordan is under a $1.2 billion IMF deal approved in January 2024. The latest review was finished on April 17, 2025, releasing $130 million. The program helps Jordan improve its budget and public services, aiming to cut national debt to 80% of GDP by 2028.
Syria
Syria is returning to the world stage with its first big international visit in more than 20 years. A top team, including the finance and foreign ministers, is attending the 2025 Spring Meetings.
This visit comes after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, ending 14 years of civil war. The country wants to get financial support, rebuild its infrastructure, and create jobs, as its economy has shrunk by over 50% since 2010, according to the World Bank.
Syria’s state news agency (SANA) said officials met with a World Bank leader to talk about rebuilding, especially in energy and farming.
Saudi Arabia helped by paying $15 million of Syria’s debt to the World Bank, which opens the door to more international aid. Syria also has access to over $500 million in IMF funds, but it needs approval from countries holding most of the voting power—especially the US, which can block decisions with its 16.5% share.
Saudi Arabia also hosted talks about Syria’s reconstruction, though UN experts say sanctions and funding needs are still major problems.
North Africa
Egypt
Egypt is attending the meetings to keep up progress on its economic reforms, especially as part of its $8 billion deal with the IMF.
Talks will focus on reducing government spending, selling state-owned companies, and creating jobs—especially for young people. Egypt’s “Decent Life” program aims to provide more work in rural areas and fits well with the goals of the meetings.
In March, the IMF gave Egypt $1.2 billion after its fourth program review. The IMF is allowing some budget flexibility so Egypt can spend more on social programs. The program started in 2022 and includes reforms like letting the exchange rate move more freely and reducing the role of state-run companies.
The IMF expects Egypt’s economy to grow by 3.8% in 2025 because of these efforts.
Morocco
Morocco will likely talk about its growing economy, especially the tourism sector, which had 4 million visitors in early 2025—22% more than last year.
The country will discuss sustainable development, better government services, and creating jobs. These plans follow Morocco’s New Development Model, as highlighted by the IMF in early 2025. Morocco might also ask for help building infrastructure that can handle climate change.
Morocco has a $5 billion credit line from the IMF, renewed in 2023, to protect its economy from outside risks. The IMF praised Morocco’s financial management and expects its economy to grow by 3.5% in 2025. While no new deals are in place yet, Morocco may look for more support from the IMF to fund green projects.
Tunisia
Tunisia is attending the 2025 Spring Meetings to fix its weak economy and attract investors. The country wants to reform the job market, especially to help young people, and deal with its high public debt.
Tunisia will talk about programs like “Tounes Wijhetouna,” which supports small businesses in poor areas.
Its $1.9 billion loan deal from 2022 is delayed due to slow reforms, and no money has been released in 2025. The IMF expects 1.4% growth this year—but only if reforms move faster, including cutting subsidies and improving public services.
Tunisia hopes to restart its IMF support and get World Bank help to restructure its debt. It may also share efforts to digitize government services to increase transparency and bring in foreign investment.
Libya
Libya’s team, led by the Central Bank Governor, wants to fix economic problems caused by political issues and oil production problems in 2024.
They’ll talk about making oil production more stable, improving financial systems, and creating jobs to reduce unemployment.
The IMF and World Bank say Libya’s economy shrank by 2.7% last year but could grow by 9.6% in 2025 if oil output returns to 1.2 million barrels a day.
Libya is asking the IMF for help with managing its money system and wants World Bank support to grow private businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, to reduce its reliance on oil.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia will focus on its Vision 2030 plans, which aim to grow the economy beyond oil and create jobs. Even though the IMF cut its overall growth forecast to 3% due to less oil production, other sectors like entertainment and logistics are doing well.
Saudi Arabia will talk about improving business regulations and boosting private investment. Projects like NEOM are expected to bring over 100,000 jobs by 2030.
The IMF praised Saudi Arabia’s work to raise money outside oil, like adding a corporate tax for non-oil businesses.
Saudi Arabia will likely push for public-private partnerships and may seek help from the IMF to improve job opportunities for women, whose workforce participation rose to 36.2% in 2024.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The UAE, led by Finance Minister Mohamed Al Hussaini, will use the meetings to build global partnerships and tackle worldwide economic issues.
The UAE wants to support strong financial systems, encourage new business growth, and adjust to changing economic conditions. It will promote policies that support private investment and startups.
The country doesn’t have any active IMF loans, showing its strong finances. Instead, it works with the IMF for policy advice and support in shifting away from oil. The IMF expects 5% economic growth in 2025 thanks to business-friendly reforms and green tech incentives.
The UAE is expected to promote international teamwork on digital money and fintech, in line with its push to lead in blockchain technology. It may also seek IMF help to further expand its economy into renewable energy and AI.
Qatar
Qatar will focus on growing its economy beyond natural gas and investing globally. The country will also discuss making its labor market more flexible and improving job training.
Qatar works with the IMF through policy talks, not loans. The IMF expects 2.4% growth in 2025, mostly from non-energy sectors. No new IMF deals are planned.
Kuwait
Kuwait, led by Finance Minister Nora Al-Fassam, will focus on creating jobs and developing non-oil sectors like logistics and technology, in line with its “New Kuwait 2035” plan.
Kuwait doesn’t have any IMF loans but talks with the IMF about policies. The IMF predicts 2.9% growth in 2025, driven by non-oil industries. Kuwait may ask for IMF advice on reforming public spending and seek World Bank funds for infrastructure projects.
Published: 24th April 2025
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