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Economy & Business

The city skyline is pictured in Dubai on March 11, 2026.

Analysis

How long can markets hold their bet on Gulf resilience as war drags on?

A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued assaults on Gulf energy infrastructure are likely to lead to regionwide credit deterioration, experts say.

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

Aluminum ingots in the Aluminium Dunkerque plant of the American Industrial Partner group on Jan. 13, 2022, in Loon-Plage, near Dunkirk, France.

Iran war hits Gulf aluminum exports, risking nearly 10% of global supplies

The Gulf region is a critical hub for aluminum production, supplying roughly 8% to 9% of global output, with disruptions linked to the war now set to ripple through industrial supply chains.

A fuel pump is seen while refuelling a car at a gas station on March 13, 2026 in Kobe, Japan. Japan will release oil reserves to address the rise in gasoline and other petroleum products prices starting next Monday, said Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that its member countries agreed to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, responding to the disruption in energy markets caused by the Middle East War. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/G

IEA's Asian members begin deploying emergency oil reserves

International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol said Asian members were releasing more than 100 million barrels of crude to stabilize markets.

Lukoil

Analysis

How Russia stands to win, lose as Iran war squeezes Gulf oil exports

As crude prices surpassed $100 per barrel with the Strait of Hormuz shut, Russia is reaping benefits amid new US sanctions flexibility — but experts say Moscow faces challenges capitalizing on this new market opening.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Analysis

Alternative supply routes emerge as Iran war tests Gulf food security

Saudis shop for fresh products at a market in Riyadh on Feb. 18, 2026, on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia.

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

Iran war hits fertilizer supplies as Fitch warns prices could rise some 25%

Young wheat shoots emerge from moist soil in farmland near Zakho, Iraqi Kurdistan region, Dec. 19, 2025.

Oil jumps above $100 as energy crisis called worst in history: What to know

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

Group of 32 states to release 400M barrels of oil reserves: What to know

Sakis Mitrolidis / AFP via Getty Images

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

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) reviews the honour guard as he welcomes Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (R) during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on June 22, 2022. - Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler took a big step out of international isolation on June 22, 2022, paying his first visit to Sunni rival Turkey since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Ge

With Gulf charm offensive, Turkey’s Erdogan sets up dealmaking deluge across defense, energy

A Turkish drone factory is coming to Saudi Arabia following a $3.1 billion deal with defense firm Baykar — one of many key deals that should soon take flight across numerous sectors as Turkey deepens cooperation with former Gulf rivals.

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

A child watches as Jasmine (not pictured) paints amidst the rubble in the city of Jindires on Feb. 28, 2023, near Aleppo, Syria.

Protests in southern Syria as economy worsens

Syria’s economy is in tatters, and the removal of subsidies has led to relatively rare protests in government territory.

An employee works at a bakery selling baguettes in Tunis on August 7, 2023. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

Head of Tunisia’s bakery owners union arrested amid bread crisis

President Kais Saied is targeting those he accuses of monopolizing flour amid an ongoing bread shortage.

Israeli soldiers walk near an Israeli Irone Dome defence system (L), a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the MIM-104 Patriot (C), and an anti-ballistic missile the Arrow 3 (R) during Juniper Cobra's joint exercise press briefing at Hatzor Israeli Air Force Base in central Israel, on February 25, 2016. - Juniper Cobra, is held every two years where Israel and the United States train their militaries together to prepare against possible ballistic missile attacks, as well as allowing the armies to learn to

US greenlights Israel's $3.5B sale of Arrow 3 air defense system to Germany

Germany has been trying to acquire the system for around a year now, with tension rising between Russia and NATO over the Ukraine war.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Saudi Arabia, China sign $1.33 billion in housing deals

The Saudi-China Business Forum represents the latest sign of increased Chinese interest in Saudi Arabia.

A Royal Air Maroc (RAM) Boeing 787-9 'Dreamliner' aircraft lands at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Lod on March 13, 2022, after flying RAM's first scheduled commercial flight from Casablanca. - Royal Air Maroc took off from Morocco's economic capital Casablanca bound for Tel Aviv on March 13, in the carrier's first direct flight to the Jewish state since the two countries normalised ties in 2020. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Morocco to continue to attract likes of Boeing and Airbus as aeronautics industry grows

Morocco’s aeronautics industry has come a long way over the past decade.

Francisco Serrano

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

This picture taken on Dec. 11, 2019, shows an oil tanker at the port of Ras al-Khair.

Saudi oil exports fall to 21-month low

The decline in the kingdom’s oil exports follows its production cuts as well as those of Russia. Saudi Arabia may face difficulties maintaining price stability moving forward.

Beirut airport

Offshore gas rig sets up in cash-strapped Lebanon

The arrival of the machinery marks a significant development for Lebanon, which hope gas exploration will revive its ailing economy.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s inflation drops to 3.3%, beating expectations

Inflation in Israel has dropped to 3.3% from 4.2% in June, even as analysts predicted it would rise in July.

JOHNNY BUGEJA/AFP via Getty Images

Iran’s oil exports to China hit 10-year high

Iran is growing politically and economically closer to China in light of US sanctions.

Then-Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (C) with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (L) before a ceremonial reception at the Indian President's house in New Delhi on Jan. 25, 2017.

How significant is India's first ever use of rupees for UAE oil payment?

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) received the rupee payment of an undisclosed amount from Indian Oil Corp., according to an Indian Embassy statement acquired by Reuters.

United Arab Emirates

Borsa Istanbul

Moody’s upgrades outlook for Turkish banks amid economic U-turn

The US-based rating agency projected Turkey's economic growth to be 4.2% at the end of 2023, falling from 2022’s 5.6%.