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Economy & Business

Kaja Kallas

Breaking | Last Updated: May 11, 2026, 6:54 am

EU lifts economic pact to pledge fuller trade ties with Syria

The move marks a major economic step as Syria seeks recovery after its 13-year civil war and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images

China’s overland trade routes offer Iran wartime economic lifeline: What to know

Cargo rail traffic between China and Iran has reportedly surged since the US blockade began in April as Tehran seeks overland trade alternatives to help buy time.

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, the Iran-flagged tugboat Basim sails near a ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

What to know about Iran's 'Persian Gulf Strait Authority' to control Hormuz traffic

The establishment of an entity seeking to control maritime transportation in the Strait of Hormuz is the latest sign that Iran wants to formalize authority in the strategic waterway.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly speaks in Beirut on Dec. 19, 2025.

Egypt ramps up energy investments amid war-driven price pressures

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that Egypt has secured commitments exceeding $19 billion from international oil companies over the next three years.

Latest News

Few ships pass Hormuz despite US efforts to break Iran's hold

Tankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran strikes UAE’s Fujairah oil hub as US pushes Hormuz reopening

Meysam MIRZADEH / TASNIM NEWS / AFP via Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers

Crops of wheat and barley in Terbol village on May 10, 2022, in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

A general view during the star-studded Sake Ceremony hosted by Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper to inaugurate the grand opening of Nobu Dubai, at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 20, 2023.

First commercial brewery to open in United Arab Emirates

Previously, the only way a vendor or business could sell beer in the UAE would be if it was manufactured overseas.

United Arab Emirates

South African golfer Charl Schwartzel plays a last shot on the 18th hole during the third and final day of the LIV Golf Invitational Series event at The Centurion Club in St Albans, north of London, on June 11, 2022.

Analysis

What does Jon Rahm’s move to Saudi-funded LIV Golf mean for PGA Tour merger?

The star golfer’s move could spur the PGA Tour to move faster in the merger talks with its Saudi-backed rival ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

Saudi Arabia and Turkey's national flags flutter outside the presidential complex in Ankara prior to the arrival of the Saudi crown prince to Ankara, June 22, 2022.

With 32% trade boost, Turkey eyes Saudi investments amid domestic downturn

Trade between the two countries reached $5.86 billion in 2022, a 32.6% increase over the previous year.

The Chinese and the Saudi flags adorning a street in Riyadh ahead of the Chinese president's visit to the Saudi capital, Dec. 7, 2022.

Saudi PIF ups investment in China’s Alibaba-backed tech fund

eWTP Arabia Capital invests in energy and technology start-ups across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

In this handout image supplied by COP28, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (L3), President of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Marina Silva (L2), Minister of the Environment, Joko Widodo (R2), President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E Razan Al Mubarak (R1), President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Climate Change of Brazil and His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber (R3), COP28 President during the Nature Season at Al Waha Theatre during day two of the high-level segment of the UNFCCC CO

After US, India, UAE, World Economic Forum expects Brazil to enter green coalition

India, the UAE and the United States are part of the First Movers Coalition, a green alliance that Rob van Riet, senior adviser at the WEF's Center for Nature and Climate, told Al-Monitor he hoped Brazil will be the next to join.

United Arab Emirates

The Burj Khalifa (C) stands surrounded by other skyscrapers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 29, 2020.

Kuwait, Qatar, UAE telecoms merge assets into $2.2B tower company

Three Gulf companies will create a new entity, which has not yet been publicly named, combining around 30,000 tower assets in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Tunisia.

An Israeli flag reading "together we win" is reflected in a bus passing in front of a demonstration held by Israeli left-wing activists near the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv on December 5, 2023, calling for a ceasefire and exchange of hostages amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Explainer: Did investors profit from Hamas attack on Israel?

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange said there was no irregular trading after US researchers noted an increase in short volume and interest of some Israeli securities in the days leading up to Hamas’ deadly incursion.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

What is behind Turkey’s inflation spike to 61.9% in November?

November's consumer prices also rose by 3.28%, data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute showed on Monday.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 29: A banner hangs in a venue at the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference the day before its official opening on November 29, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The COP28 is bringing together stakeholders, including international heads of state and other leaders, scientists, environmentalists, indigenous peoples representatives, activists and others to discuss and agree on the implementation of global measures towards mitigating the effects of climate change. (Photo by Se

Why COP28 will likely end in compromise on phasing down some fossil fuels

Karim Elgendy

In Woking, reporting on regional politics

Iraq drought

How are climate change, water scarcity weighing on Iraq’s agriculture?

The Norwegian Refugee Council said farmers are being hurt economically by climate change, and suggested better irrigation techniques and water monitoring technology to improve the sector.

IMF

IMF chief urges governments to increase carbon prices, reduce fossil fuel subsidies

Kristalina Georgieva was addressing an audience of business leaders and philanthropists at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

United Arab Emirates

Police Officers stand in front of the Hofburg Palace, the venue of the 8th OPEC International Seminar, in Vienna, Austria, on July 5, 2023.

Breaking | Last Updated: November 30, 2023, 3:51 pm

Brazil to join OPEC+ as Saudi-led bloc agrees to oil cuts

Saudi Arabia, which leads the alliance of oil producers, has been instituting voluntary production cuts in an effort to keep prices up.