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Economy & Business

Indian vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat state on March 17, 2026 after Iran allowed it to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy corridor that remains disrupted by the Middle East war.

Iran’s Hormuz choke hold leaves West divided as energy markets reel

Between March 1 and March 19, there were only 114 crossings of the strait, according to analytics firm Kpler — 95% less than prewar traffic.

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

Latest News

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

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.

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

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

An Egyptian farmer harvests wheat on Qursaya Island, Cairo, Egypt, May 16, 2022.

Egypt hopeful after Russian return to Ukraine grain deal

Russia’s return to the agreement on grain exports from Ukraine will help North African countries secure their wheat needs, as they heavily rely on the two warring countries for their imports.

A woman poses for a picture in front of a globe on November 10, 2022, inside the venue hosting the COP27 climate conference, at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of the same name. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Latest PRO Memo: COP27 to boost Egypt’s green ambitions

Explore Egypt's new opportunities at the UN climate conference for green energy projects by getting your free PRO trial.

A woman poses for a picture in front of a globe on November 10, 2022, inside the venue hosting the COP27 climate conference, at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of the same name. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

COP27 to boost Egypt’s green energy ambitions

Marc Español

Israel technology

Israeli tech in trouble as funding, job openings decline

The nation's growth engine has hit a slowdown marked by layoffs, fewer hiring opportunities, and less investment capital.

COP27 UAE President

The Gulf Briefing: As COP27 kicks off in Egypt, ‘collective action or collective suicide’

In our weekly Gulf Briefing newsletter, we round up key stories to keep you ahead of the game. Check out this week’s edition on COP27.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

More gas discovered off Israeli coast

The discovery is below the area that was previously disputed between Israel and Lebanon.

Tunisian cow

Tunisia's cows disappear into Algeria

Tunisia's livestock is being increasingly smuggled to Algeria as a severe shortage of milk is hitting Tunisian markets.

A woman walks out of a currency exchange shop displaying a giant US dollar banknote in the Zamalek district of Egypt's capital Cairo on August 24, 2022. - Depleted foreign currency reserves are casting a shadow on Egyptian streets, with the government moving to dim lights to free up energy for export. More natural gas exports means more hard currency, a dire need as experts say a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and an adjacent currency liberalisation is inevitable. (Photo by Khaled DESOU

Egypt to stick to flexible foreign exchange rate regime amid economic turmoil

Marc Español

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

IMF tells Turkey to raise interest rates

Inflation is rampant in Turkey, but Turkey's Central Bank stubbornly continues to cut interest rates under pressure from President Erdogan.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Turkish inflation hits 85.5% as doubts linger over official data

Alternative surveys put Turkey’s inflation rate well above the official figure, nourishing suspicions that the statistics agency is tweaking market realities under government pressure.

Delegations attend the 46th ordinary session of the Council of Arab Central Banks and Monetary Authorities Governors, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 18, 2022.

Gulf banks raise interest rates in response to the Fed, Kuwait stays put

Saudi Arabia could be in store for a liquidity crunch, according to a leading credit rating agency. Kuwait has a history of not following the trend on interest rates.

Egypt trade

Egypt reports increased trade with Arab states

Saudi Arabia is Egypt's top trading partner in the region.