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

Business and Economy Cover Image

Economy & Business

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2026, and was warmly received by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport. The PM is shown being accorded a Guard of Honor upon his arrival.

UAE unveils $5B India investment push during Modi visit: What to know

India and the UAE signed deals related to energy supplies and maritime security, further strengthening ties amid the war in the region.

United Arab Emirates

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

Latest News

Syria restores Raqqa oil field in former ISIS stronghold: What to know

Pictured in this undated image is the Al-Thawra oil field in Raqqa governorate, as rehabilitation works continue to restore production capacity.

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

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 on Feb. 1, 2021 shows a view of the downtown Dubai skyline, with Burj Khalifa, as seen from the Dubai Frame vantage point.

Israel-UAE economic relations grow further with free trade agreement

A variety of economic, cultural and energy-related deals preceded the free trade agreement signed in Dubai today.

Workers on bikes deliver Egyptian traditional Baladi bread.

How interest rate hikes affect Egypt’s economy

The central bank may raise rates further by 100 to 200 basis points in 2022 to be in line with tightening global monetary policies. Yields on T-bills are set to rise.

Egyptian men work in a bakery at a market in Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2022.

Egypt to receive wheat shipments from Ukraine by rail from Poland

Cairo agreed with Kyiv on four wheat cargoes, which will reach Egypt by rail to Poland, raising hopes of restoring food security.

Barham Salih, prime minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Government, speaks during a conference of Kurdistan-Iraq Oil and Gas forum, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, Nov. 13, 2011.

Dispute over Iraqi Kurdistan's energy resources ramps up

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has announced plans to establish a new oil company for the Kurdistan Region.

An Emirati female trader watches a quotation board from a computer screen at the Abu Dhabi stock exchange, June 7, 2006.

Abu Dhabi special acquisition firm begins trading on stock exchange

The ADC Acquisition Corporation is listed on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange to raise funds for the Emirati sovereign wealth fund ADQ and Abu Dhabi's Chimera Investment.

The Israeli Firkat Alnoor orchestra at the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, May 21, 2022.

Israel seeks to double trade with Egypt

The visit to Egypt of the Israeli Firqat Alnoor Orchestra reflects a clear trend in the past year and a half of cultural, environmental and economic ties warming up between the two countries.

An Egyptian laborer is pictured at Al-Reesa seawater desalination plant in el-Arish city, in the northern Sinai Peninsula, March 20, 2022.

Egypt grants new incentives to foreign investors

The Egyptian government announced the granting of a special license to foreign investments in three specific fields, which expedites procedures to implement projects, as part of efforts to revive the ailing economy in the country.

STEVE PARSONS/AFP via Getty Images

Qataris to receive visa-free access to UK, invest $12.5 billion

Qatar and the United Kingdom have announced they will cooperate on energy projects while Qatar’s energy minister criticized Europe for “demonizing” oil and gas companies.

Iran economy

The economics of social unrest in Iran

While the protests themselves are unsurprising, given the economic crises plaguing the country, the fact that they were centered in the southwestern province of Khuzestan is significant.

A general view of the Egyptian Exchange, Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 7, 2022.

Egypt to sell state-owned firms amid economic crisis

Ten of Egypt's largest state-owned companies will be listed this year on the stock exchange, while others will be sold in the coming years as the government tries to attract foreign investors to relieve economic hardships.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company announces IPO price for Borouge

The joint venture between ADNOC and the Austrian energy company Borealis will soon be listed on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Knesset

Israeli legislator promotes cooperation with Palestinians on climate

Knesset committee chair Emilie Moatti is hosting meetings on cooperation with Palestinians in the fields of water treatment, climate change, agriculture and environmental protection.