What is the present situation in the Middle East? ?

Question

Need to know what the present situation is in the Middle East and does it present new opportunities for new businesses (oil reserves, drilling, etc)?

Answer 1

The middle east is in tormoil and no westerner is safe.  

Answer 2

Depends what you mean by "the middle east".

In areas like Dubai there is already huge amounts of business going down over there and new business opportunities show up all the time involving everything from jewelery to technology.

In places like Jordan they are not as glamorous as dubai (yet) but the economy there is actually improving at a startling rate so that's probably a market you should watch (FYI Jordan has very little oil)

Iraq is violent and dangerous but the economy has seen major growth in the past few months (mostly from oil)

Most of the other countries are following the same path as jordan and Dubai though so not all of the middle east is as violent as iraq.