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Economy & Business

A Syrian citizen exchanges old banknotes for new notes released and distributed by the central bank, at a bank in the capital, Damascus, on Jan. 3, 2026.

Interview

UK fintech brings foreign currency accounts to Syrians at home

The launch comes as Syria’s new government attempts to stabilize the country’s shattered economy following the January 2025 rise to power of President Ahmed al-Sharaa after the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad.

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.

Latest News

Aramco profits jump 26% as Hormuz disruption chokes supply

Guests stand at the Aramco booth during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 3, 2025.

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

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.

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

This picture taken on Feb. 22, 2021, shows a view of vehicles in the Sayeda Aisha district of Egypt's capital, Cairo.

Egypt’s car industry suffers under dollar crisis

Car prices experienced a steep spike in Egypt over the past months as the dollar rose against the Egyptian pound and import restrictions were imposed amidst a decline in supply and a redirection of Egypt’s market shares to other countries.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) stands with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi (L).

Egypt, Congo boost ties with electricity deal

Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo agreed to partner in the field of electricity as part of Egypt’s plan to boost its presence in the African continent amid the stalled talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis.

Turkey economy

Currency shocks, wild inflation mark Erdogan’s time as executive president

Turkey’s currency has lost 73% of its value against the dollar since Erdogan assumed sweeping executive powers in 2018 and remains prone to fresh shocks amid growing economic fragilities.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (4th-R) poses for a group photo with the EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson (6th-R), Egypt's Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Mulla (5th-R), Israeli Minister of Energy Karine Elharrar (3rd-R) and other officials during the signing ceremony of a trilateral natural gas deal during the ministerial meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, Cairo, Egypt, June 15, 2022.

Egypt looks for boost from gas deal with Israel, EU

The EU, Egypt and Israel signed an agreement for the export of natural gas to Europe, which would reduce the latter’s dependence on Russian gas.

Saudi Minister of Energy, Industrial and Mineral Resources, Khaled al-Falih.

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power to develop wind project in Egypt

Wind power is slowly growing in the Middle East and North Africa, including in the oil-rich Gulf.

Jordan's King Abdullah II (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan strengthen ties with energy, mining deals

Saudi Arabia is now a major investor in Jordan.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (C) and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) are seen receiving Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 8, 2022.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia sign agreements on green hydrogen, infrastructure

The deals came during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Egypt.

This photo shows an aerial view of the southernmost tip of Egypt's Nile delta region, including the Qanater al-Khayreya Nile River barrages, north of the capital Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 15, 2021.

Egypt, France boost cooperation ahead of COP27

Egypt and France are boosting their bilateral cooperation, especially with respect to temperature-tolerant and sustainable crops, in the midst of Egypt's preparations to hold the COP27 conference at the end of this year.

A picture shows an Emirates Airlines airplane at Dubai International Airport on Feb. 1, 2021.

Middle East airlines to suffer losses again in 2022

The International Air Transport Association said that airlines in the region will fare somewhat better financially due to the return of long-haul flights.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is seen on a monitor during a video conference with European Council President Charles Michel at the European Council building, Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 10, 2022.

Iran, Kazakhstan boost trade relations with new railway network

Kazakhstan is a strong ally of Iran, and has helped the Islamic Republic circumvent sanctions.

Israeli passengers arrive from Ukraine via the border with Romania on an Israeli Israir flight at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, March 1, 2022.

Israel expects post-COVID tourism rebound this summer

Israeli experts do not expect tourism to reach this summer the record level of 2019, but they certainly notice a trend of increase on both outbound and incoming tourism.

Women buy bread from a local bread stand in Al Fustat neighborhood on May 2, 2022, in Cairo, Egypt.

Egypt rejects World Trade Organization agreements on global food crisis

Egypt objected to the WTO agreements to alleviate the global food crisis, as it refuses to be forced to export food when it is grappling with its own food crisis.