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Economy & Business

Saudi Arabia football supporters wave flags

China-Saudi consortium wins $306M World Cup stadium deal: What to know

The project is a vote of confidence to Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 agenda to diversify the economy away from oil, despite an uptick in attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on the kingdom in recent weeks.

The Chinese-flagged container shipping vessel Hui Fa transits the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah east of the UAE, on Oct. 13, 2026.

Gulf oil exports surpass prewar levels despite escalating tanker attacks

According to data from Kpler, oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and alternative routes across the Middle East averaged more than 24 million barrels a day last week, surpassing prewar levels of 23.3 million.

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

Benoit Tessier / AFP via Getty Images

Macron secures Gulf diesel supplies as France grapples with fuel costs, unrest

France now has commitments for 295,000 metric tons of diesel per month from the Gulf, accounting for just over 10% of the European country’s consumption.

Latest News

Explainer

Indonesia first foreign country to own property in Saudi Arabia's Mecca

Vehicles move along a main street in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on Sept. 16, 2026.

Saudi Arabia postpones 'Davos in the Desert' until 2027 amid Houthi attacks

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

As Iran’s oil lifeline runs dry, can it outlast Trump's economic siege?

shoppers walking through the Tajrish Bazaar, a traditional market in Tehran

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

How much oil can cushion another Middle East supply shock?

A vessel transits the Gulf of Oman

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

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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 customer holds US dollar banknotes outside a currency changer on a street in Istanbul on September 6, 2022, as Turkey's economy is suffering its biggest economic crisis in decades ahead of one of the toughest elections of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule. - Turkey's official inflation rate barely changed on September 5, in a sign that a year-long crisis that has seen prices soar by 80 percent may finally be starting to ease. The TUIK state statistics agency said that consumer prices rose by 80.2 perc

Turkey's central bank keeps interest rate at 8.5%, citing inflation

The decision will be the bank’s final before Turkey’s crucial election in May.

Karen Young event

Should the US worry about China in the Gulf? Al-Monitor Pro webinar with Karen Young

Register to learn about the latest economic and political developments occurring within the Gulf as China's influence grows.

This picture taken on March 28, 2023 shows a vendor selling dates in the area of Multaqa in Sudan's Northern State, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. - Muslims follow the tradition set by the prophet Mohammed whom believers say used to break his fast by eating dates and drinking goat's milk during the fasting month. The dawn-to-dusk fast is conceived as a spiritual struggle against the seduction of earthly pleasures, but the evening iftar festive meals traditionally bring families together du

Analysis

Conflict in Sudan, GCC's food basket, rattles Gulf investments

In addition to its natural resources and agricultural output, Sudan's geographic location also makes it critical to Gulf security.

By Salim A. Essaid

Cars drive on a road in the Algerian capital Algiers on February 1, 2017. / AFP / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Algeria bets on Stellantis plant to relaunch country's automotive sector

Algeria's car production has taken a huge hit in recent years. Here's what it will take to get the automotive industry back on track.

Francisco Serrano

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

The Barbados-flagged ship"Nord Vind" coming from Ukraine loaded with grain is anchored for inspection in Istanbul, on Oct. 11, 2022.

Turkey imposes 130% tariff on grain imports

The move follows a tariff on electric vehicles and comes ahead of Turkey’s crucial elections.

A sign advertises the money transfer service Western Union on January 11, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Much of the German financial services, consumer goods and foodstuffs economy is dominated by nationwide chains and brands. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Western Union shuts services in Sudan's Khartoum 'until further notice'

The international money transfer service said its agents were unable to operate safely and securely in the restive country.

The Horn of Africa

The local government headquarters of Sudan's Red Sea State is pictured in Port Sudan on April 18, 2023. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Sudan conflict poses credit risk to economies in region: Moody’s

The credit agency warned that the fighting had shut down the Sudanese economy and could leave multilateral development banks exposed.

The Horn of Africa

An Iranian man works at an oil facility in the Khark Island, on the shore of the Gulf, on February 23, 2016. - Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh dismissed an output freeze deal between the world's top two producers Saudi Arabia and Russia as "a joke", the ISNA news agency reported. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran and GCC verge upon new era of oil ties

Bijan Khajehpour

Bijan Khajehpour

In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics

A picture shows a view of the SEA EAGLE, a vessel that reportedly left Ukraine with a cargo of wheat, anchored in Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast, on Sept. 9, 2022.

What's at stake for China in Sudan as fighting drags on?

China’s economic interests, deep-rooted diplomatic relations with Khartoum, leaves Beijing worried about instability in Sudan and the Horn of Africa.

Cruise ship A Sara is moored on the Nile River, where 45 suspected COVID-19 cases were detected and evacuated two days prior, Luxor, Egypt, March 9, 2020.

Egypt charges tourist ships in dollars as greenback crisis spirals

Egypt commits tourist boats arriving in its ports to pay in US dollars amid a tough dollar shortage crisis in the populous country.

Ukraine and Iraq foreign ministers

Analysis

What role will Middle East play in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction?

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, there has been a raft of commitments from Western allies to help rebuild the war-torn state, but few from the Middle East.

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

Lawyer and businesswoman Sofana Dahlan poses for a photo in her office at Tashkeil on June 21, 2018 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia poised to become the Gulf’s most competitive e-commerce market

The UAE has long been the Gulf’s most dynamic e-commerce market, a hub for industry players from Amazon to Uber. But Saudi Arabia’s digital economy is developing rapidly and could soon overshadow its smaller neighbor.

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech