Interview Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO Around 70% of Saudi Arabia's population is 35 years old or younger, according to the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics, providing ample opportunity for an educated and technology-savvy national workforce in the coming decades. Olivier Badard CEO of Armada Holding
Analysis Why the Hormuz oil shock never became an energy catastrophe The US-Israel-Iran war produced a historic oil supply shock but not a severe global economic crisis, due to ample prewar supplies, China's energy pivot and strategic reserve releases. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Oil falls below $74 as Hormuz traffic recovers after Iran war Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, was trading at $73.81 a barrel at 10:40 a.m. EDT, down 4.2% from Tuesday's close. Iran
Explainer Lebanon advances controversial $500K golden visa law: What to know While its supporters say the scheme would help Lebanon's economy recover, critics say it could offer a channel for corruption. Lebanon
Interview US-Egypt fund makes case for economic statecraft in hard power era Cornelius Queen Senior Vice President of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund
Analysis US-Iran deal delivers $300 billion controversy, reconstruction questions By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Shops reopen in Bahrain as government rolls back restrictions Bahrain is allowing stores to reopen if they follow social distancing guidelines but theaters and tourist locations remain closed and food delivery and takeout remain the order of the day for restaurants. Legacy: Gulf
Turkey offers fresh money to companies, seeks donations for the poor amid coronavirus crisis While enhancing monetary expansion measures to prop up companies and banks against the coronavirus crisis, Ankara is calling for donations from the public to support the poor. Turkey
Tehran stock market could remain strong despite Iran's economic downturn Now might be a good time to list companies on Tehran’s booming stock exchange. Iran
Syrian Kurds hunker down amid fears of COVID-19 Most people in northeastern Syria seem to be obeying a lockdown imposed by the Kurdish autonomous administration to contain the spread of the coronavirus, but many are wondering how they will survive financially. Syria
How will the COVID-19 crisis impact US-Iran tensions? If Iran can hold out long enough against COVID-19, Tehran and Washington might be able to come to terms. United States
Iranians look to each other, not government, for solidarity amidst COVID-19 Iranians attempt to lift each other's spirits with comedy, online cooking shows and by writing off debts, among other ways. Iran
Egypt takes economic action to counter coronavirus effects The Egyptian government announced a series of widely welcomed economic measures to help protect the industrial sector against the negative repercussions of the coronavirus. Egypt
Ankara’s economic measures bring little relief against virus crisis The embattled Turkish lira has continued to nosedive and Turkey’s risk premium has climbed to new highs despite a package of government measures to stem the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Turkey
Lebanon struggles to cope with COVID-19 amid financial crisis As Lebanon reels under the brunt of the worst financial crisis in its recent history, the government struggles to provide the necessary equipment to be able to cater for a potential increase in novel coronavirus cases. Lebanon
Pakistan seeks to control spread of virus from Iran Pakistan kept its border open with Iran, a COVID-19 hotspot, perhaps longer than it should have and is now screening thousands of its citizens returning from pilgrimages for the new coronavirus. Iran
Israel dreads coronavirus outbreak in Gaza So far, the closure has protected the Gaza Strip from the coronavirus, but Israeli specialists estimate that a COVID-19 outbreak there is just a matter of time. Palestine
Coronavirus damages Iraqi economy with fall in tourism, oil prices COVID-19 has harmed both the private and public sectors of the Iraqi economy. Iraq
