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Economy & Business

Oil tankers and cargo vessels are anchored off the coast of Oman after being stranded for days as congestion at Port Sultan Qaboos has prevented them from docking on June 23, 2026 in Muscat, Oman. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for the region's oil and gas, was effectively blockaded since the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran in late February. This week's provisional peace deal between the countries was meant to reopen the waterway to shipping traffic, but the pace of that reo

Oil prices ease as OPEC+ increases production, Hormuz traffic rebounds

Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.15% to $71.87 a barrel as of 8:07 a.m. EDT after dropping as low as $71.09 earlier in the session, its lowest level since before the US-Israel-Iran war began on Feb. 28.

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

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

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

A view of a French jeweller Cartier shop at Jumeirah mall, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 8, 2017.

Abu Dhabi removes COVID-19-related capacity restrictions, masks remain

The United Arab Emirates’ largest city also recently mandated the resumption of in-person classes for students, and is heading toward a return to the pre-coronavirus normal.

United Arab Emirates

Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

Israeli shekel at one-year low against dollar

There have been significant changes to Israeli monetary policy recently, including the addition of the Chinese yuan to the country’s reserves.