It has been two years since the beginning of COVID-19, a one-of-a-kind crisis in recent history. The global economy was disrupted entirely in a few months and most economies faced shutdowns. While many disruptions can be explained, especially the economic disruptions, parts of the puzzle remain unanswered. In this instant insight, we examine the exceptional behavioral shift and trend break in remittance outflows from Saudi Arabia, which ranks in the top-five countries for remittance outflows globally.

Research Lead Abdulelah is a research lead at KAPSARC and an economist with expertise in various fields, including macroeconomics, energy, international trade… Abdulelah is a research lead at KAPSARC and an economist with expertise in various fields, including macroeconomics, energy, international trade and investment flows, financial development and public policy. He is currently leading the application of a behavioral economics project for energy policymaking in Saudi Arabia, utilizing econometric modeling and counterfactual analysis. Abdulelah's publications have been featured in several peer-reviewed journals. In 2020, during the Saudi G20 presidency, he was a member, co-author, and task force coordinator for the Trade, Investment, and Growth Taskforce for Think20 (T20), an official Engagement Group of the G20. Before joining KAPSARC, Abdulelah worked as an economic consultant, providing policy analyses, modeling, and forecasting the impacts of public spending on social and economic indicators. Abdulelah obtained a master's degree in applied economics and a bachelor's degree with honors in banking and financial economics. He received the King Abdullah scholarship and is a member of the Saudi Economic Association and the Saudi Association for Energy Economics.
Expertise
- Macroeconomics
- Economic Growth
- International Trade and Investment
- Financial Development
- Energy Demand and Public Policy
- Econometrics
- Energy Transition and its impact on the global economy
Publications See all Abdulelah Darandary’s publications

Commercial Electricity Demand Modeling: Do Regional Differences Matter for Saudi Arabia?
It has been two years since the beginning of COVID-19, a one-of-a-kind crisis in recent…
26th September 2023
Saudi Arabia’s Input-Output Table: Computing Type I Multiplier
It has been two years since the beginning of COVID-19, a one-of-a-kind crisis in recent…
5th September 2023