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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

Participants arrive to attend the annual Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, on Oct. 29, 2024.

Saudi Arabia's PIF signs $51B in MoUs with Japanese banks amid Asia push

The signings come amid the Future Investment Initiative this week in Riyadh, which attracted hundreds of international companies and investors to the kingdom.

Morocco's King Mohammed VI (C-R) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (C-L).

France, Morocco ink over $10B in deals during Macron visit

King Mohammed VI welcomed Macron to Morocco as part of a three-day visit by the French president in which around 20 deals were agreed upon.

HOLMES CHAN/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia's NEOM attracts $16B in private financing over 2 years

Saudi Arabia's flagship sustainability project has attracted substantial private investments and is looking for more.

AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Algeria lines up energy deals with US, Saudi firms as clock ticks on gas export ambitions

Algeria has launched a rare licensing round for oil and gas projects as it chases new interest in its upstream sector.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

A general view shows the solar plant in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, on March 29, 2018.

Saudi Arabia ramps up renewable tenders to 44 GW, doubles down on oil and gas

Saudi Arabia's renewable energy capacity under development will reach 44GW by end of 2024. However, its energy minister told an industry conference that the country will "monetize every molecule" of its oil and gas resources.

Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser speaks during the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on Oct. 29, 2024.

Saudi Aramco expects oil demand to average 104.5 million bpd in 2024

The CEO of the world's largest oil-exporting company sounded more bullish on oil demand compared with OPEC and the IEA.

BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 17: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd-L) meets with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2nd-R) at Great Hall of the People on March 17, 2017 in Beijing, China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, King Salman Bin Abdul-Aaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pay a state visit to China from March 15 to 18, 2017. (Photo by Lintao Zhang - Pool/Getty Images)

In first, Saudi Arabia to begin trading China-focused ETF: What we know

The ETF, which will begin trading on the Saudi Stock Exchange, has raised more than $1.2 billion.

This picture taken on Feb. 6, 2023, shows a view of the Tibbin dual fuel (natural gas and fuel oil) powerplant and Helwan Steelworks, in the Helwan suburb south of Egypt's capital, Cairo.

Analysis

Even with Greece venture, Egypt's energy hub ambitions remain far off

Egypt's key gas field has seen a slump in output while Cairo continues to import more gas from other countries such as Cyprus and Israel.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on Sept. 24, 2024.

Israel clinches $500M deal with Elbit Systems, Rafael for Iron Beam defense system

Expected to be operational within a year, the 100-kilowatt class, high-energy Iron Beam system is designed to complement Israel's existing Iron Dome defense system.

ENI headquarter in San Donato Milanese, near Milan, Italy, Oct. 27, 2017.

After decade halt, Eni, BP resume hydrocarbon exploration in Libya

Onshore drilling had been suspended for a decade, since the beginning of the Libyan civil war between rival factions in the country’s east and west.

Attendees arrive for the yearly Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Oct. 24, 2023.

Saudi Arabia pushes for Africa debt relief as private investments set to reach $25B

Saudi Arabia is pushing for debt relief for African nations burdened with more than $1 trillion in liabilities.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

India revokes UAE operator's authorization to handle cross-border transactions

India's central bank announced the decision in a statement noting that the UAE's exchange body showed “non-compliance with regulatory requirements.”

United Arab Emirates