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Economy & Business

Jag Vasant, an Indian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that transited through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle East war, remains docked at an offloading terminal along the coast in Mumbai on April 1, 2026.

Uptick in Chinese tankers transiting Hormuz amid Trump-Xi summit

President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, a meeting closely watched in Iran.

United Arab Emirates

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

Latest News

EU restores economic pact to pursue fuller trade ties with Syria

Kaja Kallas

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

CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images

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.

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

APM Terminals.

Jordan’s port in Aqaba signs $242 million investment deal

The agreement with the Dutch firm APM Terminals could help increase trade through the Red Sea port.

David Hecker/Getty Images

Qatari oil, gas exports up 100% in 2022

Qatar is working to export more gas to Europe in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Residential buildings are seen unilluminated in the evening on Sept. 10, 2022, in Berlin, Germany.

UAE to help Germany reduce dependence on Russian gas

Qatar is also reportedly close to supplying the European country with natural gas amid the Ukraine war.

United Arab Emirates

Cranes move shipping containers on a Maersk Sealand ship.

Egypt explores production of green fuels for ships

Egypt plans to cooperate with the Maersk global shipping group to establish a national network to produce and distribute green fuel for ships, depending on new and renewable energy sources, as the country gears up to host the COP27 climate summit.

Palestinian farmers harvest cucumbers in a field near Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Sept. 7, 2022.

Palestinian economy falters despite pandemic recovery

Despite the end of the coronavirus pandemic, an improvement in the Palestinian economy does not seem very likely given other factors.

Israel gas

Natural gas profits finally put Israel's wealth fund into business

After four disappointing years, Israel’s wealth fund, based on tax revenues from natural gas companies, has enough money to begin making investments.

A giant banner of the Russian national Mir card payment system.

Halt of Mir use deals blow to rising Putin-Erdogan cooperation

The specter of Western sanctions could curb other economic activities between Turkey and Russia as the surging bilateral trade comes under growing scrutiny.

A corn vendor waits for customers on a street in Istanbul on Sept. 6, 2022.

In shock move, Turkey cuts interest rates again

Inflation is historically high in Turkey, but President Erdogan continues to defy economic wisdom as the country's central bank slashed policy rates further.

Palestinian laborers work at a stone quarry during International Workers Day, Gaza City, Gaza Strip, May 1, 2021.

Palestinian businessman seeks self-funded projects to support Gaza economy

An agreement of $1 million was signed to restore industrial facilities that were destroyed in the May 2021 war on Gaza, which came as a glimmer of hope for the stricken industrial city.

Gulf banking

Gulf banks raise interest rates, following US Federal Reserve

Gulf states often follow the American central bank in their interest rate decisions.

University student Najd Fahd.

Saudi esports success depends on local businesses, say industry players

After Saudi Arabia released its esports strategy last week, members of the region’s local gaming industry say community players, developers and startups are key to actualizing the plan’s ambitious goals.

Egyptian laborers work at a charcoal factory in Sharkia governorate in the fertile Delta, north of Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 29, 2020.

Egyptian coal factory shuts down in lead-up to COP27

El-Nasr Company for Coke and Chemicals was liquidated recently, less than a year after another industry and steel company was closed down, as the Egyptian government seeks to abandon coal in its factories and rely more on clean energy.