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Economy & Business

People walk past a cryptocurrency exchange office with a screen featuring US President Donald Trump holding cryptocurrency coins in Hong Kong on March 12, 2025.

Trump earns $810M from UAE-backed crypto firm: What to know

According to the disclosure, Trump earned $810 million from crypto token sales and sales of interests in UAE-backed World Liberty Financial.

United Arab Emirates

Omar Albaw / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Kuwait's Zain eyes $1.5B mobile network in postwar Syria: What to know

The Kuwaiti company is planning to invest more than $1.5 billion in Syria after securing a license to operate there, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Here's what to know about Iraq's corruption as Zaidi launches crackdown

Watchdogs and financial institutions regard Iraq as a significantly corrupt country as the new prime minister works to recover public funds.

Latest News

Traffic plummets through Strait of Hormuz after Iran, US trade fire

AFP via Getty Images

Interview

Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO

A student attends a training seminar at the Tourism Ministry Training center in the city of Riyadh on August 30, 2022.

Olivier Badard

CEO of Armada Holding

Analysis

Why the Hormuz oil shock never became an energy catastrophe

A tourist boat passes near crude oil tankers, bulk carriers, and other vessels anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman, June 19, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Explainer

Gulf states push incentives for investors, expats after war dents image

FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images

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

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 14, 2019. (Photo by Alexey NIKOLSKY / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Oil prices surge as Saudi Arabia, Russia extend 1.3 million barrel cut through December

The production cuts by Saudi Arabia, Russia and the OPEC+ alliance have succeeded in keeping oil prices up but have also had some negative effects on the Saudi economy.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi-China cooperation strengthens with stock exchange deal

China is growing closer to Saudi Arabia politically and economically as business deals pile up.

Wind turbines

Islamic finance will be 'crucial part' of climate transition: UK official

The UK is seen as a Western hub for the industry due to its high presence of Islamic banks and more than 70 sukuk bonds being listed on the London Stock Exchange.

A customer buys US dollars in exchange for Turkish lira at an exchange office, Ankara, Turkey, July 20, 2023.

Turkey's annual inflation rate nears 60% in August

Turkey’s economy minister says the country’s struggle with runaway inflation will take time.

A cannabis field is seen in the village of Azila in Ketama region at the foot of the marginalized and underdeveloped mountainous region of Rif, Morocco, Sept. 16, 2022.

In Europe's cannabis market, Morocco faces stiff competition from Israel

President of China Xi Jinping (R) and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) attend the China-Africa Leaders' Roundtable Dialogue on the last day of the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023. (Photo by ALET PRETORIUS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALET PRETORIUS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

What's driving Gulf interest to join BRICS?

Joining the bloc allows Gulf states to gain traction in their status and stake holding as providers of both a model of economic growth and development, and in the mechanisms to provide capital.

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy

UAE NZ

UAE trade offensive continues, this time with New Zealand deal

The UAE is looking to secure its sixth trade agreement of the year as it increases its non-oil trade globally, with intentions to reach $1.09 billion by 2031.

United Arab Emirates

President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on August 22, 2023. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP) (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Brazil set to capitalize on Saudi-UAE competition as investments take shape

South America’s largest economy has been actively engaging with the UAE and Saudi Arabia under newly reelected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

An oil tanker unloads imported crude oil at Qingdao port in China's eastern Shandong province on May 9, 2022. - China OUT (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran's oil production bounces back as exports to China rise despite sanctions

Iran's oil industry was hurt by the reimposition of US sanctions in 2018, but has largely recovered since then, in part due to increased exports to China.

Nvidia

US bans Nvidia, AMD AI chips' export to some Mideast countries, amid China fears

The technological war between the United States and China is heating up, with both countries imposing limits on their prized assets.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi sovereign wealth fund invests in US mixed martial arts league

The new area of sports investment follows major Saudi investments in golf and soccer.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Radhid Al-Maktoum 1

UAE’s non-oil trade hits record $340B in first half of 2023

Trade is set to increase after the BRICS bloc of major developing economies announced last week that the United Arab Emirates was among the list of countries invited to join the group.

United Arab Emirates