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

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Economy & Business

Kaja Kallas

EU restores economic pact to pursue fuller trade ties with Syria

The move marks a major economic step for Syria's recovery after its 13-year civil war and the fall of the Assad 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

Egypt food market

Egypt’s headline inflation hits all-time high of 38.2% in July

Surging food prices helped July’s headline inflation numbers break the record of 36.8% in June.

Riad Salameh

Breaking | Last Updated: August 10, 2023, 12:00 pm

Riad Salameh, Lebanon's ex-central bank chief, hit with US sanctions

In addition to Riad Salameh, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on his family members and assistant.

This picture taken on March 13, 2020 shows an aerial view of low-rise luxury housing in the residential suburb of Madinaty, some 40 kilometres east of the centre of Egypt's capital Cairo. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt’s real estate shows strong fundamentals amid economic turmoil, but risk remains

The Egyptian government announced in mid-July that it had begun the procedures to allow foreigners to own as many properties in the country as they want, revoking the existing cap of two.

Marc Español

A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022.

UAE's ADNOC to expand gas processing with $3.6 billion contract

ADNOC Gas announced it would award the contract to a joint venture between ADQ state-fund-owned National Petroleum Construction Company and Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas.

United Arab Emirates

AFP via Getty Images

Iran says daily oil output to hit 3.5M barrels in September

Iran's oil output will reach 3.5 million barrels per day by Sep. 22, the state-run news agency reports.

The sun sets behind road lamps along a highway in El-Shorouk.

Egypt’s power cuts persist amid heat, declining natural gas production

Egypt wants to export more natural gas, including in cooperation with neighboring Israel, but domestic production is declining amid the government’s efforts to reduce consumption.

From Beijing to Chengdu, UAE’s ENOC establishes first China jet fuel network

The Dubai government-owned oil and gas company said the expansion will extend to strategic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu.

United Arab Emirates

A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022.

International business development is next challenge for UAE's ADNOC

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has a range of corporate objectives, including oil production growth, self-sufficiency in natural gas and a net zero emissions target by 2045.

Gerald Kepes

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends

A man stands in front of Argentina's Central Bank in Buenos Aires, on May 15, 2023.

Qatar loans Argentina $775 million to repay IMF

Qatar continues its practice of assisting financially strapped countries by providing a loan to Argentina, which is also planning to use the yuan to purchase Chinese imports.

A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022.

UAE’s ADNOC buys stake in Azerbaijan gas field

The move follows a wind and solar energy deal between an Emirati firm and Azerbaijan.

AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images

Arab moviegoers wait to see 'Barbie' as UAE, Saudi screenings loom

The summer box office hit is maintaining its delayed premier date of Aug. 31 in the UAE, Al-Monitor confirmed with Vox Cinemas.

United Arab Emirates

PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s new economy team wins over foreign investors

Turkey’s economy czar and central bank chief have met with foreign investors amid a fresh push to draw foreign funds.