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Economy & Business

Excess gas is burned at the oil refinery in Israel's northern city of Haifa late on March 19, 2026.

Analysis

Iran expands energy targets beyond Gulf as Red Sea and East Med come into play

In retaliation for strikes on its energy sector, Tehran's campaign against regional oil and gas infrastructure has intensified and broadened to include Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port and an Israeli refinery in Haifa.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives to attend an event in the East Room of the White House, Washington, DC, March 5, 2026.

US weighs easing Iran oil sanctions amid Hormuz crisis: What to know

A possible move by the Treasury would reduce pressure on Iranian crude as Washington seeks to offset supply losses tied to Iran's virtual closure of the strait.

A picture of Qatar Energy's operating facilities on March 3, 2026 in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

Analysis

How Iran's strike on Qatar gas field could impact LNG market for years

Damage from an Iranian strike on the world's largest LNG export hub could take significant supply offline for years as Qatar considers whether to declare force majeure on long-term contracts supplying Europe and Asia.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

In this aerial view, Storage tanks at Grain LNG importation terminal, operated by National Grid Plc sit near the River Medway in the Thames Estuary on March 12, 2026, in Isle of Grain, England.

After 35% surge, how far could Gulf disruptions push European gas?

Benchmark European natural gas futures were up as much as 35% to above 68 euros ($78.09) per MWh on Thursday.

Latest News

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

AFP via Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

Iran war tests Gulf dealmaking as foreign investors assess risks

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)

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

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

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

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

A picture taken in the Saudi Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 14, 2022, ahead of a visit by the United States' president to the desert kingdom, shows hosts and journalists during a presentation on the Saudi Green Initiative, which also includes goals for tree-planting and reducing emissions. - (Photo by Amer HILABI / AFP) (Photo by AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images)

From fields to clouds: the Middle East's bid for the digital economy

In recent years, the Middle East has made efforts to capitalize on the massive long-term upside of the digital economy. This new Pro Trend Report takes a deep dive into those efforts and if they'll pay off.

Vacher

Analysis

Ball now in Tunisia's court regarding $1.9bn IMF bailout

Officials from the IMF, the World Bank and Italy have all commented on the proposed bailout package this week as a Tunisian delegation joins the spring meeting of the multilateral institutions in Washington.

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

A view of a desalination plant in the Omani port city of Sur, south of the capital Muscat, on Nov. 27, 2019.

Oman activates first floating desalination plant

The mobile desalination plants are meant to service 70 seaport villages and are the first of their kind in the Arab world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Saint Petersburg on Oct. 11, 2022.

UAE will not ‘jeopardize’ rules to attract Russian wealth: Trade minister

The Emirates has been criticized for hosting companies engaged in sanctions-busting following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but is making efforts to clean up its act.

A man pulls a cart loaded with boxes in Tehran on February 21, 2023. - Iran's currency plunged to new lows on January 20 amid fresh European Union sanctions, crossing the psychologically important rate of 500,000 rials to a dollar in foreign exchange markets. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

China’s growing role in Middle East won’t solve Iran’s economic woes

Bijan Khajehpour

Bijan Khajehpour

In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics

Atul Gupta

South Africa to appeal UAE ruling against extradition of Gupta brothers

The UAE said on April 7 that South Africa's extradition request did not meet legal documentation standards and that the two brothers wanted for money laundering and fraud would be released from custody.

A farmer waters potted pineapple plants at a greenhouse in al-Awir desert in the Gulf emirate of Dubai on July 7, 2022. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE bets on agtech to meet food security targets ahead of COP28

The UAE had the strongest food security in the region last year. Focusing on agtech is helping it achieve local food production goals.

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Etihad Airways

Two Etihad Airways ads banned in UK over greenwashing claims

The Gulf carrier was accused of exaggerating climate claims by the British Advertising Standards Agency.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East debt issuances nearly triple in Q1 2023 as Saudis take lead

In Q1 of 2023, Saudi Arabia was the leading debt issuer in the MENA region.

IVAN PISARENKO/AFP via Getty Images

China’s Sinopec acquires stake in Qatar gas project

Chinese energy firms are increasingly cooperating with their Qatari and Saudi counterparts as the People’s Republic makes further inroads into the region.

Algeria oil field

Sonatrach announces six new oil discoveries in Algeria

The state-owned oil company made several discoveries in the first quarter of this year.

A painted Turkish national flag is seen on the wall of a collapsed building, two months after a 7.8-magnitude jolt and its aftershocks wiped out swathes of Turkey's mountainous southeast, in Antakya on April 5, 2023. - Many of the survivors blamed the government and its stuttering response to Turkey's worst disaster of its modern era for a death toll that has now surpassed 50,000. But that fury is gradually giving way to a mixture of fatalism and reviving trust in the man this province gave three-fourths of

Turkey's industries see biggest decline since 2020 in quake aftermath

Production output fell by 8.2% annually in February, the same month the earthquakes wreaked havoc on the country, according to new data.