Interview Franco-Gulf investment holds firm despite Iran war, French official says French investors are reallocating capital toward strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence and technology rather than pulling out of the region altogether. Axel Baroux France’s trade and investment commissioner for the UAE and Middle East
Gulf investment to turn inward to rebuild postwar infrastructure: QNB Charles-Emmanuel de Beauregard, Qatar National Bank’s head of corporate and institutional banking, said that the Gulf countries will need to rebuild their logistics capabilities after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar
Saudi Aramco's VC arm sees boom in emerging technologies, retail Anas Alqahtani, CEO of Wa'ed Ventures, expects strong growth in Saudi Arabia’s emerging technology and retail sectors over the coming years. Saudi Arabia
Oil falls below $80 as markets rally on Iran-US peace deal: What to know Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, fell around 3.15% to $79.99 as of 6:55 a.m. EDT on Monday. Iran
Analysis Gulf aluminum pursues global deals as Hormuz crisis accelerates shift By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
UK bans Israeli officials from major defense fair: What to know After suspending trade talks and sanctioning Israeli far-right ministers, the British government barred an official Israeli delegation from a major London defense fair. Israel
Somalia, UAE hold talks as tensions simmer over Puntland, Somaliland The visit occurred on the same day that Somalia's president met with Sudan’s intelligence chief. United Arab Emirates
Iran's currency plunges below 1M against dollar as E3 triggers snapback sanctions Iran's struggles with inflation and the depreciation of the rial could be compounded by Europe reimposing sanctions over the nuclear issue. Iran
ACWA Power, TAQA among Saudi firms backing Syria's energy comeback Some 14 years of civil war have wiped at least $800 billion from the country’s gross domestic product, according to UN figures. Syria
Egypt secures $220M from domestic, Gulf, Chinese investors for solar project Foreign investment from three countries comes at a pivotal time in Egypt’s recovery from its worst financial crisis in over six decades. Egypt
Lebanese PM meets Egypt’s Sisi amid Hezbollah disarmament push: What to know Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged support for Lebanon’s stability and reconstruction during talks in Cairo with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Lebanon
Abu Dhabi’s Lunate buys stake in UK hedge fund, launches $2B investment arm With $1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth, Abu Dhabi has long sought to establish itself as a global financial hub. United Arab Emirates
In China, Saudi investment minister looks to build on $100B+ trade ties China is the kingdom’s largest trade partner, with bilateral trade between the two reaching roughly $107.5 billion in 2024. Saudi Arabia
UAE president makes first-ever visit to Angola as part of Africa push The UAE president’s visit to Angola, his first, marks a major step in the already strong relations between the two nations. United Arab Emirates
Analysis Turkey to end costly $60B currency-protection scheme — for now Ankara could soon close the book on a monetary intervention launched to defend the lira in 2021, the latest pivot back to more conventional economic policies following the country's 2023 presidential election. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
China, UAE are transforming African economies, but on whose terms? China and the UAE are racing to get ahead in Africa’s economic future, each using a different playbook. United Arab Emirates
Qatari royal expands Africa push with $12B in Botswana after $39B in DRC, Zambia A Qatari delegation began a tour of 10 African countries on Aug. 13 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, to explore investment opportunities. Qatar
