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

Business and Economy Cover Image

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

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN - JULY 17: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a moderated conversation with former Trump administration national security official Olivia Troye and former Republican voter Amanda Stratton on July 17, 2024 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Chris duMond/Getty Images)

US election drama raises stakes for Mideast economic powers eyeing 2025

United Airlines passenger aircrafts are lined up at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Shekel drops 1.2% as United Airlines, Delta halt Israel flights after Haniyeh's killing

The currency fell by 1.2% after Hamas blamed Israel for the strike in the Iranian capital of Tehran, Bloomberg reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a national event at the Turkish Pavilion of Expo 2020, in the Gulf emirate of Dubai on February 15, 2022. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Growing Gulf-Turkey investment ties evolving unevenly following Erdogan’s $50B breakthrough

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Tourists walk past the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure on July 21, 2024 in Giza, Egypt. The colossal tombs near Cairo, built around 4,500 years ago for Pharaoh Khufu and completed circa 2560 BCE, are the only surviving wonders of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)

IMF greenlights release of $820M to Egypt, cites economic improvement

The Washington-based fund said in a statement that the decision was a result of the third review of Egypt’s 46-month Extended Fund Facility arrangement that was approved on Dec. 16, 2022.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech during a visit to Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes, north of England, on July 25, 2024.

UK’s new government reboots trade talks with Gulf, Israel, Turkey

New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made economic growth a priority of his Labour government and has pledged to make the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G20.

Members of the public walk along the high street on March 21, 2024, in Lewes, England.

Gulf investment in UK real estate to hit $4B annually, says BLME

Research predicts that demographic trends and supply shortages will make the UK's real estate sector a more popular option for investors in the future.

People visit the booth of Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD during the Indonesia International Motor Show in Surabaya on May 29, 2024.

Analysis

What's behind China carmakers' foray into Turkey following BYD deal?

As a growing number of Chinese carmakers have shown interest in investing in Turkey, Turkish companies in the sector are positioning themselves amid the Chinese foray.

Mustafa Sonmez

By Mustafa Sonmez

In Istanbul, reporting on economics

Beijing

China’s Baosteel ups investment in Saudi steel plate venture to $1B

A subsidiary of the world’s largest steelmaker, China Baeowu Steel Group, will have a 50% stake in a major new Saudi-based venture.

Turkey's Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek speaks during a breakout session on Creating Competitive Economies at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 15, 2024. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey returns $5B deposit to Saudi Arabia amid economic recovery

The Saudi Fund for Development decided to hold the funds in the Turkish Central Bank in March 2023 after ministerial meetings the previous year — the deposit helped Turkey firm up its weakened currency, the lira.

Foreign exchange rates are displayed against the Turkish lira on Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul, Turkey, March 21, 2024.

Turkey’s Central Bank keeps interest rates at 50% as inflation cools

The decision, part of a pause in monetary tightening since April, comes as the country’s annual inflation slowed down in June for the first time in eight months, but still remains above 70%.

A flydubai Boeing 737 Max taxis at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, on Nov. 22, 2023.

UAE's Flydubai says Boeing delays hurt airline’s expansion plans

The Virginia-based plane-maker has been beset by plane delivery delays since its best-selling narrow-body aircraft, the 737 MAX, was flagged for safety concerns and experienced technical problems and additional quality control processes.

United Arab Emirates

ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Why G7's economic policy toward Russia might alienate Saudi Arabia

The G7 has seized hundreds of billions of dollars in Russia’s frozen assets in response to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.