Large UAE delegation set to arrive in Lebanon in major investment push A large Emirati delegation of around 70 business leaders and government officials is heading to Beirut, in the latest sign of thaw between the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. Lebanon
France, Saudi Arabia announce more than $10B in deals on MBS visit Among the deals included a 6 billion euro ($7 billion) pledge from the Public Investment Fund in three manga-themed amusement parks on the outskirts of Paris. Saudi Arabia
China slams Trump over economic war on Iran: What to know China’s once significant oil imports from Iran have been impacted by the war in the region and increasing US sanctions. Iran
Explainer King Abdullah visits China as region hedges against US unpredictability With no end in sight to the war in Iran and an unchecked Israeli policy across the region, the kingdom is hedging against future uncertainty and a less predictable US policy. China
Who is really driving the slump of the Turkish lira? Though the flight of foreign investors is often cited as the main factor behind the slump of the Turkish lira, official data indicate that growing distrust in the currency stems largely from domestic actors. Business
Saudi Arabia, Iran vie for economic influence in Iraq Saudi Arabia is seeking to enter the Iraqi market aggressively, along with a political presence, and increase the competition with its opponent Iran in the Iraqi arena. Saudi Arabia
How Turkey's 'doping-induced' growth backfired into hasty elections The Turkish government’s rush to hold elections in June is driven by economic woes that even its attempts at "doping-induced" growth have failed to overcome. Turkey
Egypt establishes sovereign fund The Egyptian government has moved to establish a sovereign fund as part of reforms intended to boost the economy and shrink unemployment. Egypt
Iran pushes for transparency to deal with currency instability While Iran’s push for transparency is positive, its new integrated system for hard currency transactions seems ill-prepared to manage the complexities of the Iranian currency market. Iran
Iran’s currency tensions spur crypto ban Iran’s recent move to ban cryptocurrencies is not only far from clear in its scope, but also likely a mere temporary fix amid efforts to combat capital flight. Iran
Economic disobedience looms in Gaza Gaza’s private sector is threatening to start acts of economic disobedience in a bid to pressure the Palestinian Authority and Israel into alleviating the economic crisis plaguing the enclave. Palestine
Can 'nudge theory’ change citizens’ behavior, government policy in Lebanon? An upcoming conference on behavioral economics in Beirut will examine a political tool that could shape national policies and improve public services. Lebanon
Can 'de-dollarization' break Iran’s economic isolation? While there are many risks involved with currency swaps, such endeavors do present an opportunity for Iran to enhance the stability of its economy. Turkey
Saudi Arabia eyes Iraq's Anbar for potential investments Riyadh is considering significant investments in Iraq's Anbar province, but is facing opposition from certain Iraqi political forces and Shiite factions. Saudi Arabia
Egypt's street vendors face new restrictions Egypt’s parliament is drafting a law regulating the work of street vendors, which would save street vendors from remaining under the mercy of local authorities. Egypt
Why Iran moved to unify dual exchange rates Iran’s government was left with no choice but to resort to unifying the official and open market currency exchange rates to tame the rial's slide during a currency crisis, which has spurred some positive efforts. Iran
