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Economy & Business

Pictured in this undated image is the Al-Thawra oil field in Raqqa governorate, as rehabilitation works continue to restore production capacity.

Syria restores Raqqa oil field in former ISIS stronghold: What to know

Before Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, national oil production stood at between 400,000 and 500,00 barrels per day before falling to under 100,000 bpd during the conflict.

Guests stand at the Aramco booth during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 3, 2025.

Aramco profits jump 26% as Hormuz disruption chokes supply

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said the market has already lost around 1 billion barrels of oil supply since the US-Israel-Iran war erupted on Feb. 28.

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

Kaja Kallas

EU restores economic pact to pursue fuller trade ties with Syria

The move marks a major economic step for Syria's recovery after its 13-year civil war and the fall of the Assad regime.

CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images

China’s overland trade routes offer Iran wartime economic lifeline: What to know

Cargo rail traffic between China and Iran has reportedly surged since the US blockade began in April as Tehran seeks overland trade alternatives to help buy time.

Latest News

What to know about Iran's 'Persian Gulf Strait Authority' to control Hormuz traffic

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, the Iran-flagged tugboat Basim sails near a ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

Egypt ramps up energy investments amid war-driven price pressures

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly speaks in Beirut on Dec. 19, 2025.

Few ships pass Hormuz despite US efforts to break Iran's hold

Tankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

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

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid for Saudi Arabia's Pro League

Reports emerged this week that the 35-year-old French striker was offered a two-year contract worth €400 million to move to the Saudi Pro League's Al Ittihad.

A picture taken on October 31, 2017 shows advertising billboards in Cairo for "WE" a new mobile service from Egypt's state-owned company Telecom Egypt. In a country with more mobile phone subscriptions than residents, Egypt's only fixed-line operator is hoping to get in on the action with its new mobile service, WE. / AFP PHOTO / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP via Getty Images)

Telecom Egypt sale foreshadows Cairo's uncertain privatization path

The sale came as authorities in Cairo move to reduce the state’s footprint on the economy, give more space to the private sector, and secure liquidity to improve the state’s precarious financial position.

Marc Español

Wheat in Morocco

Drought threatens Morocco's bread basket economy: World Bank

Last year, the Maghreb experienced one of its worst droughts in decade, causing a 60% decline in Moroccan cereal production.

Israeli gas fields

Israel announces new natural gas field off its coast

The official announcement on the discovery of the Katlan-Orca natural gas field off Israel's coast paves the way for hydrocarbon exploration company Energian to seek development and exploitation permits.

Erdogan MBZ

Turkey, UAE ratify $40 billion trade deal after Erdogan's victory

Abu Dhabi’s ratification of the partnership agreement came three days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s election victory.

Qatar Airways plane 2

Qatar Airways first in Mideast to sign Shell deal for 3K tons of sustainable fuel

The airline said that the deal will allow it to reduce emissions on flights from Amsterdam by approximately 7,500 tons of CO2 for the fiscal year.

UAE financial

Explainer: Understanding UAE’s first-ever corporate tax

Taxes are increasing across the Gulf, and the UAE is seeking to boost tax compliance as well as cut down on money laundering.

People walk through an alley of a traditional souk in the old Medina of Marrakesh on Dec. 30, 2014.

Morocco’s textile industry rebounds, as demand spikes from Northern Europe

The head of Morocco's textile association said there is growing demand from Northern European buyers for locally made knitwear and corporate apparel.

A Chinese vendor displays notes during a cash transaction in Beijing 14 January 2007. The yuan was pegged to the US dollar until 2005 when Beijing decided to revalue it by 2.1 percent and place the unit in a currency basket, allowing a greater but still very tightly controlled margin of flexibility, but the yuan has since slowly but steadily risen in value on the back of China's booming economy and the breaching of the 7.80 level. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China’s push for trade in yuan has downsides for Gulf states

Paying for the import of Gulf fossil fuels in yuan is at the top of China’s list to lay the foundations for a greater global adoption of its currency.

Sebastian Castelier

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Men drink chai in the street the day after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was re-elected on May 29, 2023 in Istanbul,Turkey. Erdogan won another five-year term after being forced into a runoff with the opposition politician Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Erdogan prevailed despite criticism of his management of the country's economy and the government's response to the devastating earthquakes earlier this year. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Turkish lira slips to new low as Erdogan forms economic team

Turkey's currency has dropped again in the wake of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reelection.

People carrying flags of Pakistan take part in a rally to show solidarity with Pakistan's army in Islamabad on May 17, 2023, after military installations were allegedly damaged by supporters of former Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan following his arrest last week.

Instability in Pakistan increases risks for UAE, Saudi Arabia

Beach with parasols and blooming bougainvillea near Sharm el-Sheikh,Red Sea,Egypt.

Egypt’s tourism sector continues to lure private investors despite economic difficulties

Opportunities in the sector are set to increase following the government’s renewed bid to double the number of annual visitors from pre-pandemic levels and nearly triple annual tourism revenues to $30 billion by 2028, up from $12.2 billion in 2022.

Marc Español