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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives to attend the second day of the first Syrian-Emirati (United Arab Emirates) Investment Forum, at the People's Palace in Damascus on May 12, 2026. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Ports and infrastructure: UAE embraces new economic order in Syria

UAE-Syrian ties have moved faster than expected, with Abu Dhabi embracing President Ahmad al-Sharaa and relations shifting from normalization to investment opportunities.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

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

AHMAD HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images

Abu Dhabi firm to create new shipping terminals, cruise lines for Egypt

Egypt is seeking to increase revenues from its ports as the economy struggles.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Explainer: Oman may follow as most Gulf central banks raise rates

Inflation in the Gulf has not been as severe as in other parts of the region.

Inflation soared to nearly 70% (69.97%) over one year in April in Turkey.

Turkish inflation jumps from 20% to 70% in just six months

Even if monthly price increases ease to an average of 5% in the coming months, Turkey would face an annual consumer inflation of over 100% in the fall and finish the year with a rate of some 90%.

STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

OPEC+ alliance endorses slight increase in oil production

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other have largely resisted US calls to boost production but settled on a marginal increase today.

NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP via Getty Images

Bulgaria looks to Turkey for help with gas shortage

Russia has cut gas exports to Bulgaria, leaving Sofia looking to Ankara, which has some tough decisions to make.

Carbon capture

Egypt to store carbon with Italy’s Eni

The Italian energy company is pursuing increased cooperation with Egypt as well as Algeria.

Stock market brokers work at the Egyptian Exchange, Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 6, 2013.

Egypt to list army-owned companies on stock exchange

Egypt plans to list army-owned companies on the stock exchange before the end of the year, after repeated delays.

A Saudi man browses through Twitter on his desktop, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 30, 2013.

Analysis

US praises Saudi progress on intellectual property, notes issues in Egypt, Turkey

The Office of the US Trade Representative said that pharmaceutical product inspection in Turkey and illegal streaming in Egypt are key issues.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Isabel Infantes/Getty Images

Explainer: Algeria-Spain gas controversy

The disagreement relates to both countries' troubled history with Morocco over the Western Sahara territory.

AHMAD HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt’s non-oil exports up 20% at start of 2022

Egypt’s main exports are related to oil and the non-oil sector has been hurt by the war in Ukraine.

MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

Israel reopens crossing to Gaza workers

After Gaza took huge financial and economic losses in just three days of closure, Israel has reopened the border to a small number of workers.

General view of the Emirates' Central Bank, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 3, 2017.

UAE announces date for auction of dirham bonds

The Emirati government began selling bonds for the first time last year in a bid to diversify financially. This is the first time bonds will be sold in the local currency, as opposed to the US dollar.

United Arab Emirates