Maersk resumes Red Sea passage after two-year halt amid easing Houthi threat A ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas in October has prompted some shipping companies to consider resuming services, but security concerns persist. Yemen
Egypt lands $572M UAE-backed solar deal, expanding Gulf's clean-energy footprint Gulf companies have been increasing their investments in North African renewable energy. Egypt
Newsletter: Business & Tech World Cup spending boosts Morocco stocks This week, Morocco’s stock market surged on 2030 World Cup hype, Egypt secured its first Qatari industrial investment in sustainable aviation fuel, Yemen’s oil-rich south saw renewed conflict, and AI-driven robots are helping the UAE meet construction demands. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Morocco’s markets rise as World Cup spending fuels largest IPO in decades Shares in SGTM jumped by 10% on Dec. 16 after the construction firm raised roughly $550 million from its IPO, underscoring demand in a market that has featured few new listings in recent years. Morocco
Analysis Yemen’s oil heartland fuels new conflict as STC seeks new political power By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Will BRICS throw a lifeline to dollar-strapped Egypt? Economists believe BRICS membership will give Egypt a chance to ease pressure on the dollar, but is not a quick remedy for the country’s economic woes Egypt
Drought puts Morocco’s water infrastructure projects into overdrive Morocco’s budget for water infrastructure is rising as desalination and dam projects advance amid droughts and increasing international partnerships. North Africa
Analysis Tadawul posts losses but Saudi markets remain fundamentally strong 'A bit of a correction' sheds some prior gains on the Saudi stock index, but professionals see reasons to keep investing in the kingdom. By Harry Clynch In London, reporting on Middle East economics
Turkey ends lira protection scheme as banks tally up damage With Turkey’s inflation on course to hit 70% by the year-end, the plan to convince depositors to shift to regular deposits with yields well below the inflation rate appears unviable. Turkey
Saudi Arabia’s soccer spending spree reshapes Middle East sports sector The kingdom is gunning to become a professional sports powerhouse.
Lebanon’s acting central bank chief pleads for reform as crisis continues Wassim Mansouri has been urgently calling on the Lebanese government to enact reforms since becoming acting governor of Banque du Liban following the end of the embattled Riad Salameh’s term. Lebanon
Saudi Arabia mulls Chinese bid to build nuclear plant The news will irk Washington, which wants Riyadh to not be able to develop nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia
Iraq to receive gas from Turkmenistan Iraq is largely dependent on Iran for gas, despite having its own sizable reserves. The relationship has been complicated by US sanctions on Iran, and Iraq is also seeking international help to utilize its gas reserves. Iraq
Fossil fuel subsidies in Middle East nearly doubled since 2020, says IMF The fund said that fossil fuel companies globally benefited from $13 million in subsidies per minute last year. Legacy: Gulf
Turkey’s Central Bank shifts gears, hikes interest rates to 25% The 750 basis point rise was higher than analysts' expectations, prompting lira to rebound from a record low. Turkey
Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE to join BRICS The Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank, or so-called “BRICS bank”, had already admitted the UAE and Egypt as shareholders. Iran
Israel to export more gas to Egypt as cooperation grows Israeli-Egyptian cooperation on gas matters has increased significantly in recent years, despite Egyptian criticism of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians. Egypt