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

Business and Economy Cover Image

Economy & Business

a large billboard featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

What Netanyahu win or loss could mean for Israel’s economy

Economic concerns have taken a back seat to security as voters weigh Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s future — but rising deficits, cost of living and politically charged issues will be a challenge for whoever eventually prevails.

Qatar's Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy Saad Sherida al-Kaabi speaks during a press conference in Doha, on June 22, 2026.

Qatar locks in US LNG through 2054 as it looks beyond Hormuz

The Gulf state agreed to buy up to 4 million tons of US liquefied natural gas annually through 2054.

Saudi Arabia football supporters wave flags

China-Saudi consortium wins $306M World Cup stadium deal: What to know

The project is a vote of confidence to Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 agenda to diversify the economy away from oil, despite an uptick in attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on the kingdom in recent weeks.

Latest News

Gulf oil exports surpass prewar levels despite escalating tanker attacks

The Chinese-flagged container shipping vessel Hui Fa transits the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah east of the UAE, on Oct. 13, 2026.

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

Macron secures Gulf diesel supplies as France grapples with fuel costs, unrest

Benoit Tessier / AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Indonesia first foreign country to own property in Saudi Arabia's Mecca

Vehicles move along a main street in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on Sept. 16, 2026.

Saudi Arabia postpones 'Davos in the Desert' until 2027 amid Houthi attacks

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

US dollar banknotes and Turkish lira banknotes, photo taken in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 7, 2021.

Turkey’s 'covert' interest payments on course to exceed regular ones

The cost of state safeguards in a deposit scheme meant to curb dollarization in Turkey has ballooned to alarming levels as the Turkish lira continues to tumble.

A picture taken in the Saudi Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 14, 2022 shows a Saudi host addressing guests

UAE non-oil trade increases as Gulf state seeks reduced oil dependence

The news follows trade agreements the Gulf state made with Israel and India.

United Arab Emirates

Central Bank of Egypt Gov. Tarek Amer speaks during a press conference, Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 3, 2016.

Egypt's Central Bank governor resigns amid economic crisis

The resignation of Egypt's central bank governor has put the country's economy under pressure.

ABBAS MOMANI/AFP via Getty Images

Israel raises interest rates

The Bank of Israel's latest hike to battle inflation was the biggest in 20 years.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran-Pakistan ties tighten in economic commission

Iran has been seeking better ties with the South Asian country since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

UAE-Israel trade already tops last year

The increase in bilateral trade follows the signing of a trade agreement.

SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images

Giant retail companies to shake up Israeli market

In an effort to lower prices, the Israeli government is encouraging companies such as Carrefour and AliExpress into the domestic market.

A display highlights Mobileye's autonomous driving technology.

Israeli automotive startups dream of becoming next Mobileye

Vying for the same success of Mobileye, which was bought by Intel five years ago for $15 billion, Israeli startups are doubling their efforts to appeal to foreign investors.

Women walk past a vegetable stand, as workers clear the rubble of a building destroyed by Israeli bombing in May 2021, Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Sept. 30, 2021.

Israel considers issuing work permits to Gazan women

Israel announced it was considering issuing work permits for women in the Gaza Strip, a move Palestinian official and popular bodies questioned the objectives behind, while many women consider it a step toward financial independence.

Egypt power

Egypt creates plan to reduce electricity consumption

The government's plan to reduce wasted electricity is meant to boost natural gas exports to Europe but is receiving some pushback from domestic users.

Negotiations between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud took place in Jeddah Aug. 18, 2022.

Saudi Arabia strengthens ties with Uzbekistan via wind power, investment deals

Uzbekistan’s relations are also improving with the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey cuts interest rates as Erdogan continues to defy economic wisdom

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth as inflation runs rampant in Turkey.