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An aerial view shows port of the western Syrian port city of Latakia, on Dec. 18, 2024.

Analysis

Can a UAE-backed Syria-Iraq corridor become Gulf's next trade route?

On June 26, Emirati and Syrian officials discussed plans for a logistics corridor connecting Syrian ports to Gulf markets via Iraq.

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

Oil drilling near Dakhiliyah in the desert region of Hasakah, Syria, Jan. 25, 2026.

Syria launches gas project with Saudi firm in latest Gulf energy partnership

The project is the latest in a series of Gulf-backed investments aimed at rebuilding Syria's energy sector after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Crude oil tankers, bulk carriers and vessels sit anchored around Qaboos Port on June 22, 2026, in Muscat, Oman.

Oil falls below $71 as US-Iran talks continue, Gulf exports rebound

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an X post on Wednesday that Iran and the United States had made "positive progress."

Latest News

Trump earns $810M from UAE-backed crypto firm: What to know

People walk past a cryptocurrency exchange office with a screen featuring US President Donald Trump holding cryptocurrency coins in Hong Kong on March 12, 2025.

United Arab Emirates

Kuwait's Zain eyes $1.5B mobile network in postwar Syria: What to know

Omar Albaw / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Here's what to know about Iraq's corruption as Zaidi launches crackdown

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Traffic plummets through Strait of Hormuz after Iran, US trade fire

AFP via Getty Images

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

Obsolete Turkish lira banknotes.

How realistic are Ankara’s hopes of trading in Turkish liras?

While the Turkish lira continues to tumble, Turkey’s currency swaps with China and other countries have failed to live up to their stated objective of boosting trade in local currencies, official data show.

Ras al-Khaimah

UAE doubles tax inspections in first half of 2022

The Gulf state is seeking to increase its financial transparency and boost tax revenue.

STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Oil falls below $100 to lowest price in two weeks

US President Joe Biden failed to convince Saudi Arabia to significantly increase oil production during his recent trip to the region but the boosts endorsed by the OPEC+ alliance came into effect this month.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff

Libya oil

Libyan oil production to return to normal following resolution of dispute

Tribes loyal to former rebel Khalifa Hifter shut down oil fields and ports in eastern Libya recently over a dispute with the transitional government.

MAHMOUD kHALED/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt to list more state companies on stock exchange

Egypt is selling state firms amid its economic crisis and Gulf entities are particularly interested in acquiring them.

A partial view shows residential buildings in Tehran on Dec. 22, 2021.

Iran's middle class priced out of housing market

As housing costs in Iran see record increases, officials are exchanging blame.

Egypt McDonald's

Reports: McDonald’s raises Big Mac price by 50% in Egypt

One Egyptian media outlet is encouraging people to make McDonald’s food at home in response to the price hike, which comes amid soaring food costs across the region.

an. 13, 2022, photo shows the broadcasting headquarters of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union in Cairo.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt go in on media project ahead of COP27

Preparations are underway in Egypt to launch an international news channel after securing an agreement with Saudi Arabia to fund the media project.

(L-R) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Russia to invest $40 billion in Iran’s oil sector

The news came during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iran and may have been motivated by US sanctions.

(L to R) Amos Hochstein, the US senior adviser for Energy Security, speaks with the Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih.

Venture capital investments in Saudi startups triple to $584 million

Saudi Arabia is proud of its emerging startup scene, but oil remains the bedrock of the Saudi economy.

A picture taken on Jan. 29, 2018, shows a man walking on the Iraqi capital's Rasheed Street, one of the oldest streets of the city.

Mega projects do little to calm Iraq's housing crisis

Despite several mega housing projects launched in Iraq, most notably the Al-Rafeel City project and Bismayah New City in Baghdad, Iraq still needs millions of houses to end the housing crisis.

A general view taken on April 9, 2014, shows the oil terminal of Marsa al-Hariga in Libya.

Explainer: Libya exports oil to Italy after end of shutdown in east

Tribes affiliated with Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who fought the government during the civil war, closed several oil fields due to a dispute with Libya’s state oil company.