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

Flags are set up during Israel's Negev Summit attended by the US Secretary of State, alongside Foreign Ministers of Israel, Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE, and Morocco, at Sde Boker in the southern Negev desert on March 28, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel likely to see accelerated capital influx, especially from new regional alliances

Daniel Frankenstein

Daniel Frankenstein

AD Ports signed a joint venture agreement with SEG, one of the largest oil and gas companies in Uzbekistan.

Emirati port operator, Uzbek oil company to open trade hub, cooperate on freight

Other Middle Eastern states are also seeking better economic relations with Central Asia.

Kurdish oil

Oil services companies stop work in Iraqi Kurdistan after court ruling

Iraq’s supreme court recently ruled that the autonomous part of northern Iraq cannot conduct oil deals independent of the federal government, resulting in significant tension.

Dubai skyline

UAE signs free trade agreement with Indonesia after deals with India, Israel

The UAE has a similar deal in the works with a South American country next.

Gaza food

Price hikes worsen food insecurity in Palestine

Thousands of Palestinian families are facing the threat of food insecurity, as a result of the significant rise in the prices of basic commodities, while officials fail to address the issue.

Syria Turkey

Syrians adapt to tumultuous Turkish environment

In the decade-old Turkish diaspora, thousands of Syrians have started businesses that fill niches in Turkey and open up new export markets — but economic and political challenges are rising.

Obsolete Turkish lira banknotes are seen in the window of an exchange office on May 05, 2022, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey’s runaway inflation soars to near 79%

The Turkish government’s continued failure to stabilize the battered lira raises the prospect of inflation topping 100% in the fall.

Saudi women wait in line in the "women's section" of a fast food restaurant in Faysalia mall, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 26, 2011.

Saudi fast food giant ready to challenge KFC in Egyptian market

The introduction of Saudi fast food chain Albaik to Egypt is part of the $7.7 billion investment package announced during the recent visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Cairo.

ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Expats to bring Lebanon relief in summer wave

Lebanon expects more than 18,000 visitors during the first part of the summer season as tourism shows signs of rebounding.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes revive Egypt's dream of reducing wheat imports

Expecting Ukraine war-induced wheat supply problems, Egypt is experimenting with using sweet potatoes in bread, amid hopes that the new measure will significantly reduce wheat imports.

egypt fintech

Egypt’s growing fintech ecosystem transforms country’s finances

A population of over 100 million, young, largely unbanked, with a high penetration of internet and mobile subscriptions paves the way for innovation in Egypt's fintech sector.

India port

Dubai’s DP World logistics firm strengthens connections with India

The UAE and India also signed a trade agreement recently, and appear to have moved past the controversy surrounding an Indian politician's criticism of Islam.