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Sharaa taps Visa as Syria reconnects to global finance: What to know

Visa and Mastercard announced Wednesday that their networks can now be used to make international card payments in Syria.

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.

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

BAY ISMOYO / AFP via Getty Images

Large UAE delegation set to arrive in Lebanon in major investment push

Lebanese Presidency

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

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

A picture taken on Jan. 29, 2018, shows a man walking on the Iraqi capital's Rasheed Street, one of the oldest streets of the city.

Mega projects do little to calm Iraq's housing crisis

Despite several mega housing projects launched in Iraq, most notably the Al-Rafeel City project and Bismayah New City in Baghdad, Iraq still needs millions of houses to end the housing crisis.

A general view taken on April 9, 2014, shows the oil terminal of Marsa al-Hariga in Libya.

Explainer: Libya exports oil to Italy after end of shutdown in east

Tribes affiliated with Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who fought the government during the civil war, closed several oil fields due to a dispute with Libya’s state oil company.

Mazeej community products at a HORECA booth in Beirut, Lebanon, March 24, 2022.

Lebanese initiative to support struggling zaatar producers

Small-scale producers in Lebanon are struggling to stay in business due to harsh economic conditions, but projects like Mazeej are helping them to turn things around for the better.

People line up in front of a bakery to buy bread in Lebanon's southern city of Sidon on June 22, 2022.

War in Ukraine leaves Lebanon hungry

As wheat imports from Ukraine and Russia dwindle, Lebanese people are in danger of going hungry.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Indian company among buyers of Israel's Haifa Port

India is pursuing better economic relations with the UAE and Iran as well.

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UAE builds first railway over water

The Emirates is working on a national railway system as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

A currency exchange vendor shows a sheaf of Euro currency notes at Tahtakale in Istanbul, on March 22, 2021.

Turkey’s economy stands to suffer from euro’s downturn

The ramifications of the euro’s slide threaten to further stoke Turkey’s currency woes and soaring inflation.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Saudi Public Investment Fund continues UK investment with Aston Martin stake

Saudi Arabia already owns a Formula One racing team with the British car company, which is struggling financially.

Iran SCO

Iran increases non-oil trade with Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The uptick in trade comes at an important time for Iran’s relations with Russia, Kazakhstan and India.

A man counts Indian rupee notes in Mumbai on May 9, 2022.

India’s use of rupee for import, export payments could boost Iran trade

Iran is seeking to boost trade with both Russia and India at present.

Egyptian workers wait for clients at a petrol station on July 5, 2014, in Cairo as the government drastically raised fuel prices to tackle a bloated subsidy system.

Egypt again raises fuel prices

The price of Brent crude oil actually recently fell to its lowest point in several months.

DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images

TikTok launches new program for Israeli startups

With one billion users worldwide and Israeli startup companies growing by the minute, TikTok has launched a special program to assist Israeli entrepreneurs.