Russia agrees to supply Iran with 55 bcm of gas, fund nuclear plant: What to know Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad is in Moscow this week, meeting with Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev on Friday. Iran
UK lifts sanctions on Syrian ministries, intelligence agencies It marks the second raft of sanctions on Syria lifted by the United Kingdom since the toppling of long-time dictator Bashar Al-Assad in December and the formation of a new government. Syria
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar face uneven 2025 growth as trade tensions rise: IMF While Gulf economies face only the Trump administration’s baseline 10% tariffs, the levies have already impacted oil prices and revenue, especially for rentier states like Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
IMF appoints first Syria mission head in 14 years: What to know Syria's new government faces the task of revitalizing an economy that has been devastated by 14 years of war and ravaged by international sanctions. Syria
Analysis Why low oil prices under Trump are unlikely to curb Middle East output By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Turkey's Simsek says economy will ride out Trump tariffs without lasting scars Mehmet Simsek stressed that his government’s economic program has made the economy more resilient against internal and external shocks, highlighting that inflation has fallen and continues to drop. Turkey
OPEC+ members boost output as Trump tariffs bring down oil prices The US president has been calling on Saudi Arabia and other top oil producers to boost production and bring down prices. Saudi Arabia
How Trump's latest tariffs impact the Middle East Gulf countries were relatively spared, with the US imposing only a 10% tariff, whereas other Middle Eastern nations are facing steeper trade penalties. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Can Gulf states slash costly reliance on Western consultancies? A one-year ban on PwC acquiring work in Saudi Arabia has highlighted the Gulf states' dependency on Western firms and the need to develop local consultancies and talent. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Morocco's economic growth slows as drought, locusts deplete farmland The North African country is grappling with a sixth year of drought, the longest in Morocco’s modern history. Morocco
Analysis Turkey turmoil tests Gulf investors as crackdown fuels market unease Improved relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had raised Ankara's hopes for a dealmaking boom, but the arrest of Istanbul's mayor could jeopardize it. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
UAE, Qatar investments fuel Jared Kushner's firm assets to $4.8 billion Commitments from Abu Dhabi–based asset manager Lunate and the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund, increased Affinity’s assets by $1.5 billion over a year. United Arab Emirates
Gulf markets dip after Trump announces 25% automotive tariffs Donald Trump announced on Wednesday 25% tariffs on imported cars and light trucks entering the United States, set to take effect on April 2, further fueling the ongoing trade war and contributing to market volatility. Saudi Arabia
Tesla to launch in Saudi Arabia next month as Musk-PIF tension cools Tesla said it would hold a launch event in Riyadh on April 10 to display its electric vehicles and other products, including solar energy solutions and battery technology. Saudi Arabia
Egypt, China ink $1.65B deal for steel factories in Suez: What we know The deal was signed by Egypt’s General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the Industrial Development Authority with Xin Feng Egypt Steel and its parent company, Xin Feng China as Cairo-Beijing ties grow closer. Egypt
Exclusive 'Cloud First' policies give Saudi Arabia, UAE edge in AI race: Amazon exec In March 2024, AWS announced plans to invest $5.3 billion in Saudi Arabia to launch a cloud infrastructure region in the kingdom by 2026. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
How UAE AI firm's past China links stalled this US chipmaker's IPO Cerebras Systems executives had been hoping that the Trump administration would fast-track the national security review that has left the chipmaker’s initial public offering in limbo for five months, Reuters reported Tuesday. United Arab Emirates