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Economy & Business

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

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.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

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

Traders are awaiting details about new US measures sure to further disrupt Iranian oil flows.

Khor Fakkan Container Terminal

Analysis

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

The Gulf state suspended trade with Iran after new attacks in August. Experts point to risks for both sides as the Trump administration seeks to squeeze Tehran economically.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

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.

Latest News

Trump’s Iran ‘economic D-Day’ threat sends oil prices above $94

Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard at Enghelab Square in central Tehran, Aug. 3, 2026.

Explainer

Iraq seeks special Hormuz access from Iran in scramble to keep oil flowing

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey looks to expand Syria energy footprint into oil, gas

President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar at the People’s Palace in Damascus, Syria, on Aug. 19, 2026.

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

An image of Karim Attiyeh.

Meet Karim Attiyeh, youngest Arab American billionaire of Lebanese origin

Karim Attiyeh, a Lebanese-born technologist, has been named by Forbes Middle East as the youngest billionaire of Arab origin in the United States, joining the list of the 125 richest immigrant billionaires in the US.

BAKR ALKASEM/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia to invest $6B in Syria in boost to Sharaa: What to know

The kingdom has been at the forefront of diplomatic and economic efforts to support Syria's recovery.

A man carries the Syrian and the Saudi flags past a billboard thanking Qatar, in Damascus, on May 14, 2025.

Saudi Arabia offers travel permits to Syrian businessmen, investors: What to know

Syrian entrepreneurs can now directly apply for travel licenses at the Saudi Embassy in Damascus, while Saudi investors seeking to visit Syria can register via the Interior Ministry’s e-platform.

An export train to Russia and China leaves the Ankara station, on Jan. 29, 2021.

Turkey secures $2.8B green financing for Azerbaijan railway: What to know

The 223-kilometer railway will connect to the existing train route that joins Turkey’s northeastern city of Kars and the Georgian and Azerbaijani capitals of Tbilisi and Baku.

A flame from a Saudi Aramco oil instillation known as "Pump 3" is seen in the desert near the oil-rich area of Khouris, 160 kilometers east of the Saudi capital Riyadh, on June 23, 2008.

Saudi crude oil exports hit 3-month high as production soars: What to know

The increase comes as the kingdom is reeling from negative effects of lower oil prices and production boosts from OPEC+ under US pressure.

Boats sail near the shore in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of El-Gouna, on Nov. 1, 2024.

Egypt pitches new investment plan to US firms: What to know

Egypt is hunting foreign investment as part of its Vision 2030 strategy for sustainable development.

Iraqi workers tend to a pipe at the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline in Karkuk, northern Iraq, Dec. 1, 2000.

Why Turkey plans to end its 52-year oil pipeline deal with Iraq

The Turkish decree stipulated that the 1973 Turkey-Iraq Crude Oil Pipeline Agreement — along with all amendments to the deal — would be terminated effective July 27, 2026.

A picture taken on December 7, 2022 in Riyadh, shows the Chinese and the Saudi flags adorning a street ahead of the Chinese president's visit to the Saudi capital. - Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia this week, meeting the king and de facto ruler of the world's biggest oil exporter. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia's Diriyah awards Chinese firm $1.53B contract: What to know

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has awarded a major contract to China Harbour Engineering Company for the development of a Vision 2030 project.

MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Trump tariffs, BRICS threats unlikely to erode Middle East’s trade war edge

The US decision to delay tariff penalties until Aug. 1 doesn't dramatically impact the Middle East, but the coming weeks could still have important ripple effects in the region.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (R) meets with China's Premier Li Qiang at his office in Cairo on July 10, 2025.

Egypt banks on Beijing as premier visit seals yuan, payment deals

The deals were announced during the visit by a senior Chinese delegation led by the country’s premier to Cairo this week.

US President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025, in Washington.

From Iraq to Algeria, Trump’s looming tariffs could target 4 MENA countries

The United States has a trade deficit with Iraq, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, according to the US government, prompting the president to send them letters warning of new tariffs.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev at Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi.

UAE, Azerbaijan sign trade deal as officials meet in Abu Dhabi for Armenia peace talks

The deal is expected to contribute around $680 million to the UAE’s gross domestic product by 2031, according to UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.

United Arab Emirates