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Economy & Business

gas station in Cairo, Egypt

Eni presses ahead with Egypt gas projects as war raises investment risks

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi on Tuesday, with the Italian energy giant revealing it could make a crucial investment decision in coming months.

A Syrian Air passenger jet lands at Aleppo airport on March 18, 2025, the first aircraft to land after it was shut during the offensive that toppled former President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian Airlines expands Europe comeback with Vienna, Copenhagen flights

Syrian Airlines currently flies to 14 destinations across eight countries, with four additional routes planned.

BAY ISMOYO / AFP via Getty Images

China warns US not to interfere with Iran trade: What to know

China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing was firmly opposed to what it called “illegal unilateral sanctions” and would take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its rights.

Lebanese Presidency

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.

Latest News

France, Saudi Arabia announce more than $10B in deals on MBS visit

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shake hands

Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Analysis

UAE-Iran trade relationship becomes key test of Trump’s wartime strategy

Khor Fakkan Container Terminal

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

China slams Trump over economic war on Iran: What to know

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian holds a press conference on Aug. 19, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) invites Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (L) to view an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony inside the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China, March 16, 2017.

China’s CICC plans UAE, Saudi expansion as Xi builds Middle East ties

CICC has about five to six people in its Middle East offices serving the entire region with a mix of Chinese and regional staff.

An engineer sets up new beehives, part of the high-tech Beehome project, in Israel's Kibbutz Bet Haemek in the northern Galilee, on May 14, 2022. - They function as normal hives, but apiaries built at a kibbutz in Israel's Galilee are decked out with high-tech artificial intelligence systems set to ensure longevity for these vital pollinators. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Growing demand for AI to spare Israel from prolonged tech downturn

The medium-term prospects for Israel's AI sector look uniquely strong.

David Rosenberg

David Rosenberg

In Tel Aviv, reporting on business and tech

Patrick Pouyanne, CEO, TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies confirms $10 billion investment in Iraq oil fields, solar plant

The long-delayed deal is expected to bolster the regional electricity grid in the south of the country.

TotalEnergies CEO

Iraq to take 30% stake in $27 billion TotalEnergies project

Progress had stalled on multi-million-dollar deal amid disagreements with Iraqi lawmakers over terms.

Workers work on the construction site of the Golden Gate towers at Bahrain Bay in Manama on March 25, 2023. - With a multi-billion dollar economic revamp in full swing, tiny Bahrain is vying to keep pace with its Gulf neighbours after more than a decade beset by political unrest. (Photo by Mazen Mahdi / AFP) (Photo by MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Bahrain launches 'Golden License' to attract major investment, jobs

Only companies with major investment and project portfolios will be eligible for the license, with either a $50 million value or a plan to create 500 jobs in the country, according to the Bahrain Economic Development Board.

MARWAN IBRAHIM/AFP via Getty Images

Oil deal reached between Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government

The Kurdistan Regional Government says an agreement will result in the resumption of oil exports to Turkey after a legal dispute stopped outflows.

A picture taken on September 9, 2022, shows people walking along a street in the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia sees 'steep decline' in demand for large houses

The kingdom's growing younger population is seeking to move out of their family homes earlier to seek jobs elsewhere in the country.

This photograph taken on March 24, 2023 in Geneva, shows a sign of Credit Suisse bank. - The marriage of UBS and Credit Suisse was hastily arranged to prevent a global financial meltdown -- but the size of the resulting megabank could cause domestic problems in Switzerland, the central bank admitted on March 23, 2023. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Credit Suisse calamity could see Gulf investors shift priorities, avoid banking deals

Credit Suisse’s March meltdown continues to reverberate across the Gulf. Here's how it could impact regional investments going forward.

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

In this illustration photo taken on July 18, 2022, Elon Musk's reply tweet to Parag Agrawal, CEO of Twitter.

Saudi firms face 6.7% higher Twitter verification fees than US

Syria, Sudan, Iran, the West Bank and Gaza Strip are not on the price list and appear to be unable to purchase this subscription.

This picture taken on August 23, 2022 shows a view of the exterior of the headquarters of the Bank of Israel, the country's central bank, in Kiryat Ben-Gurion in Jerusalem. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Bank of Israel raises interest rate again, warns about judicial fallout

The OECD is predicting GDP growth rate to slow in Israel this year, while the Bank of Israel has worked out different scenarios based on fallout from the judicial reform controversy.

Picture of crude oil storage tanks at the plant of Colombian petroleum company Ecopetrol in Acacias, Meta Department, south of Bogota on February 10, 2023. (Photo by Juan BARRETO / AFP) (Photo by JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

Oil prices rise by 5% after OPEC's surprise output cut decision

Brent Crude had its sharpest price increase in almost a year on Monday after reports that major oil producers will slash their output.

OPEC ministers

OPEC+ likely to maintain output in light of Kurdish oil dispute

Analysts say the OPEC+ alliance is unlikely to cut production and there could be be a oil glut in the second half of 2023.