Economy & Business - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Business and Economy Cover Image

Economy & Business

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian holds a press conference on Aug. 19, 2026.

China slams Trump over economic war on Iran: What to know

China’s once significant oil imports from Iran have been impacted by the war in the region and increasing US sanctions.

Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard at Enghelab Square in central Tehran, Aug. 3, 2026.

Trump’s Iran ‘economic D-Day’ threat sends oil prices above $94

In a Truth Social post, the president threatened that any country that provides a financial lifeline to Iran will face "tremendous economic consequences."

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Iraq seeks special Hormuz access from Iran in scramble to keep oil flowing

As Iran's parliament speaker holds talks in Baghdad, Iraq has asked Tehran for special consideration for its oil exports.

Latest News

Turkey looks to expand Syria energy footprint into oil, gas

President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar at the People’s Palace in Damascus, Syria, on Aug. 19, 2026.

Oil nears $92 on UAE missile alert as Trump claims Iran talks stuck

Leon Neal/Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Explainer

What US sanctions on Syria remain as Shibani, Barrack hold talks?

RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images

UAE billionaire Habtoor takes aim at Ben Gvir’s Gaza rhetoric

A picture take on Sept. 13, 2017, shows Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, attending the World Premiere of La Perle in Dubai.

United Arab Emirates

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

Masdar City, UAE

The Gulf Briefing: green deals and oil talks at COP27

In this weekly newsletter, Sebastian Castelier rounds up the biggest Gulf stories from the region.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

US, Europe pledge $500 million at COP27 for clean energy transition in Egypt

As COP27 continues in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh, dozens of countries have announced investments in climate-related projects including a $500 million package to help Egypt decarbonize.

An Iraqi worker adjusts a control valve at the Daura oil refinery, Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 5, 2009.

Iraq expands refining capacity to reduce oil product imports

Many of the refineries in Iraq are outdated and operate below capacity.

The new Iraqi dinar banknotes are shown ready for distribution at the Bank of Baghdad, as the currency is introduced for the first time, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2003.

Will Iraq's new government reconsider dinar exchange rate?

A number of leaders of the Coordination Framework, the bloc leading the new Iraqi government, are pushing to increase the value of the dinar in an attempt to support the poor — yet some argue the measure could backfire.

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