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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.

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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

Western Sahara

Analysis

Why is trade between Algeria and Spain still at a standstill?

Since last June, the two countries have severed business and trade relations over Spain's support of Morocco's claim to the contested Western Sahara.

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

Turkey oil

Oil flow from Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkey remains stopped, threatening sector

Oil flows to Turkey remain frozen following the agreement between Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. The impasse could hurt the autonomous region’s oil sector and revenue.

Saudi and foreign journalists are pictured at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) badge collection centre.

Saudi Arabia opens four special economic zones with eye on foreign investment

The special economic zones offer incentives such as competitive corporate tax rates, 100% ownership of companies and flexibility in employing foreign labor.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Moody’s downgrades Israel’s credit outlook

Despite calls by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, Moody's has changed Israel's credit outlook from "positive" to "stable."

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.