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Economy & Business

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UAE steps in to support banks as war pressure builds: What to know

The United Arab Emirates' banks have seen their stocks plummet since the war erupted on Feb. 28.

United Arab Emirates

The city skyline is pictued in Dubai on March 11, 2026. The oil-rich Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks in response to US-Israeli strikes that sparked the Middle East war, with Tehran targeting US assets but also civilian infrastructure. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Iran war tests Gulf dealmaking as foreign investors assess risks

A multibillion-dollar pipeline sale in Kuwait has emerged as one of the early signs that the Gulf’s dealmaking machine is taking a hit from the US-Israel-Iran war.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

The city skyline is pictured in Dubai on March 11, 2026.

Analysis

How long can markets hold their bet on Gulf resilience as war drags on?

A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued assaults on Gulf energy infrastructure are likely to lead to regionwide credit deterioration, experts say.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Latest News

Iran war hits Gulf aluminum exports, risking nearly 10% of global supplies

Aluminum ingots in the Aluminium Dunkerque plant of the American Industrial Partner group on Jan. 13, 2022, in Loon-Plage, near Dunkirk, France.

IEA's Asian members begin deploying emergency oil reserves

A fuel pump is seen while refuelling a car at a gas station on March 13, 2026 in Kobe, Japan. Japan will release oil reserves to address the rise in gasoline and other petroleum products prices starting next Monday, said Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that its member countries agreed to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, responding to the disruption in energy markets caused by the Middle East War. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/G

Analysis

How Russia stands to win, lose as Iran war squeezes Gulf oil exports

Lukoil

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Alternative supply routes emerge as Iran war tests Gulf food security

Saudis shop for fresh products at a market in Riyadh on Feb. 18, 2026, on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Turkey elections

Turkey Elections: Fears of internet restrictions mount with over a dozen under Erdogan

With a critical presidential election runoff on Sunday, Turks are on high alert for potential censorship and internet shutdowns.

A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

ADNOC boosts Middle East IPO activity as Saudi Aramco debates next moves

Amid an enduring global IPO slump, the Middle East continues to produce new listings in 2023 — headlined by Abu Dhabi’s national oil company ADNOC with the largest IPO globally of Quarter 1.

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

UAE Sultan Al Jaber

UAE unlikely to remove oil CEO as COP28 head despite Western protests

With his experience in both renewables and fossil fuels, the United Arab Emirates sees Sultan Al Jaber's role as important in bridging climate negotiators' interests and creating energy company buy-in.

United Arab Emirates

Qatari men walk next to a Qatar Airways cargo airplane on the tarmac of Hamad International Airport near the capital Doha, as the first commercial flight to Saudi Arabia in three and a half years following a Gulf diplomatic thaw prepares to take off, on January 11, 2021. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Qatar Airways struggles to rebound in China with post-COVID labor shortages

CEO Akbar Al Baker said that his airline was seeing a huge demand for travel post-pandemic but a “massive shortage” of capacity due to supply chain issues.

Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo (R) meets Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (L) in Jakarta, on May 23, 2023, during Raisi two-day state visit to the most populous Muslim country.

Iran's Raisi visits Indonesia, announces agreement to ditch dollar

The Iranian government has signed a dozen agreements with Indonesia, pressing ahead with its pushback on sanctions that has also involved strategic deals with China, Russia and India.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Qatar rolls out $275M market program in latest foreign investment push

The Qatar Investment Authority is setting up a market-making initiative to draw in more foreign investor interest and build up its capital markets.

A Lebanese anti-government protester hold a mask of Lebanon's Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh during a protest in front of the central bank headquarters in Beirut to protest against the economic policies of the bank on November 27, 2019. - Since September, debt-saddled Lebanon has had a liquidity crisis, with banks rationing the supply of dollars. As a result, the dollar exchange rate on the parallel market has topped 2,000 Lebanese pounds -- a spike from the pegged rate of 1,507. (Photo by JOSEPH EID /

Double trouble: Lebanon’s Salameh gets second arrest warrant from Germany

Riad Salameh is under increased scrutiny in Europe on suspicions of money laundering at a time Lebanon is grappling with a deteriorating financial and economic crisis.

Egypt bank

Egypt’s mounting debt raises doubts amid stalled reforms and inflows

High allocations and revenues tied to debt in the draft budget for the next fiscal year are causing concern at home and abroad.

This picture taken on Aug. 23, 2022, shows a view of the exterior of the headquarters of the Bank of Israel.

Israel raises interest rates to highest level since 2006

The Israeli economy was also affected by the government’s controversial judicial reform plans earlier in the year, though the situation may normalize following the reform’s pause.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United battles for possession with Rodrigo Moreno of Leeds United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leeds United at London Stadium on May 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim awaits Manchester United decision as West Ham rumors swirl

A report by El Pais linked the Qatari royal to the east London-based team.

Yemen water shortage

Entire UAE, Qatar, Bahrain populations vulnerable to extreme heat, study says

The UAE is particularly vulnerable, with more than 80% of its population exposed to extreme heat even after a 1.5 C (34.7 F) rise in global temperatures over pre-industrial levels.

Kemi Badenoch

UK business minister heads to Gulf to discuss GCC trade deal

Kemi Badenoch will meet her counterparts in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as well as the new GCC secretary general in a five-day trip.