Saudi and UAE central bank chiefs are in favour of retaining dollar pegs, but Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, is pushing for regional currency reform to avert possible unilateral revaluations designed to curb inflation.

According to Hamad Saud al-Sayyari, governor of the Saudi central bank, floating the Saudi riyal would not be appropriate for an economy that relies on oil exports.
   
"Floating is beneficial when the economy and exports are diverse ... as for the kingdom it remains reliant on the export of a single commodity," he said.
   
Investor attraction

 

The dollar peg was also defended by Sultan Nasser al-Suweidi, the UAE central bank governor, at a conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

 

He said the policy was helping Gulf states attract foreign investments.

 

"They did very well for our economies because it has led to more capital flows," al-Suweidi said.
    
Qatar, has the region's highest inflation, and is considering the revaluing of the Qatari riyal to combat inflation currently at 13.74 per cent.
   
The exchange rate contributes to about 40 per cent of inflation in Qatar, where the riyal is believed to be 30 per cent undervalued.

Qatar's stand

 

"We prefer always to act with all the GCC countries," Sheikh Hamad said.

 

Qatar currently chairs the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.
   
"It's now time for the Gulf to have its own currency," he said.