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Economy & Business

An aerial view shows the destruction across Yarmouk camp, Damascus, Syria, on November 8, 2025. Established in 1957, Yarmouk was once the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria, but years of conflict left much of it in ruins. (Photo by Omar Albaw / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by OMAR ALBAW/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

Syria’s new order faces old problems: Sanctions, reconstruction and volatility

Although President Ahmed al-Sharaa has obtained major commitments from potential foreign investors, the economic and political challenges ahead remain significant.

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

This picture taken on December 11, 2019, shows an oil tanker at the port of Ras al-Khair, about 185 kilometres north of Dammam in Saudi Arabia's eastern province overlooking the Gulf. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia advances gas ambitions as $100B Jafurah plant comes online

The Finance Ministry reported that initial output at the massive Jafurah gas field has begun, with a capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day.

An aerial view shows the destruction across Yarmouk camp, Damascus, Syria, on Nov. 8, 2025.

What role is Jordan playing in Syria's reconstruction?

As Syria’s southern neighbor, Jordan is already positioning itself as a logistics hub and diplomatic broker for Syria’s reconstruction.

RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi PIF eyes $27B Japan portfolio as kingdom courts Asian investment

Saudi Arabia is strengthening economic ties with Asian countries as it pursues its economic transformation goals.

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

Latest News

Analysis

US-Gulf critical minerals ties grow in bid to weaken China’s grip on industry

Spots of gold-rich ore speckle a stone pictured during a press tour at the Al-Amar Gold Mine, in the Riyadh region on May 28, 2008.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Saudi Arabia opens Nomu Parallel Market to new investors: What to know

A man monitors the board at the Stock Exchange Market (Tadawul) bourse in Riyadh, Dec. 12, 2019.

Jordan-Syria trade surges as Damascus restores transit routes

Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

UAE showcases global AI ambitions with $1B Africa pledge at G20

His Excellency President CyrilRamaphosa welcomes G20 Heads of State and Government to the G20 Leaders’ Summit, hosted by South Africa at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Gauteng, on Nov. 22, 2025.

United Arab Emirates

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

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

SUEZ, EGYPT - NOVEMBER 3: A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on November 3, 2024 in Suez, Egypt. The shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk recently said it did not expect to resume sailing through the Suez Canal until 2025 due to the continued threat of attacks in the Red Sea. The Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen has launched regular attacks on vessels off its coast since late 2023, disrupting a vital shipping route in east-west trade. A report this summer indicated that Suez Canal traffic

Maersk raises rates as Red Sea crisis costs Egypt $800M per month

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have resumed attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the United States is escalating its military campaign against the Iran-backed group.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Ben & Jerry’s says CEO ousted by Unilever over activism: What to know

In an ongoing legal battle, the ice cream maker and its parent company, Unilever, have locked horns over Ben & Jerry’s social activism and particularly its advocacy for Palestinians during the Gaza war.

Sheikh tahnoon

UAE seals cloud deal with Microsoft, Core42 as Sheikh Tahnoon visits US

The deal follows Microsoft's $1.5 billion investment last year in G42 to accelerate AI development.

United Arab Emirates

In this handout image provided by the UK Ministry of Defence, a Royal Air Force Typhoon FRG4s is being prepared to conduct further strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen at RAF Akrotiri on Feb. 3, 2024 in Akrotiri, Cyprus.

US strikes on Yemen's Houthis, China stimulus drive surge in oil prices

Brent crude was up 1.3% to $71.53 a barrel on Monday morning compared to close on Sunday.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon makes first US visit since Trump reelection: What to know

The UAE's influential national security advisor, who chairs some of the country's most important funds and firms, will reportedly meet with White House officials and business leaders including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

United Arab Emirates

NYSE

Analysis

US stock plunge poses dilemmas for Gulf investors while exposing PIF, Mubadala risks

Middle East investors are bracing for steep losses and questioning about their long-term investments in America amid a drop in the US stock market.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Participants arrive to attend the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on Oct. 29, 2024.

UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia finance startups lead Forbes Middle East Fintech50

Some 119 fintech startups across the Middle East and North Africa raised $700 million in 2024, accounting for 30% of the total MENA startup funding for last year.

Aerial view of shipyard dry dock maintenance and repair cargo ship transport and oil ships in Istanbul.

Turkey wants to export gas to Syria, Ukraine, energy minister says

In 2020, Turkey discovered the a massive gas field in Turkish waters of the Black Sea that would help it meet domestic needs and export the energy.

An oil refinery in the northern town of Ras Lanuf is seen in this photo, Libya, June 3, 2020.

Libya now politically stable, 'attractive' to foreign oil firms: NOC chairman

Since the ousting of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, Libya’s oil sector has been unstable amid political unrest between two warring factions in the east and the west of the country.

Digital generated image of abstract AI chat icons over digital surface.

AL-Monitor FutureVerse: AI superpowers clash

An exclusive sneak peek of an interview with a top Saudi tech diplomat who is helping shape the future of AI collaboration among emerging economies.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President of COP28, speaks during the opening ceremony of the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference on Nov. 11, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

UAE’s XRG to make big investment in US energy, ADNOC chief says

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said his new low-carbon energy company wants to become a one-stop shop for gas in the United States.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas, on March 18, 2024.

Saudi Aramco CEO warns of 'painful awakening' as energy costs rise

Amin Nasser said that green energy would not replace oil as demand for crude continues to grow, especially from the Global South.