Economy & Business - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Business and Economy Cover Image

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

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.

A man looks at the exchange board at the Stock Exchange Market (Tadawul) bourse in Riyadh displaying Aramco shares on the second day of their trading on December 12, 2019.

Saudi's Aramco could list in Hong Kong as China relations warm

Aramco's latest deals in the Chinese market are fueling speculation that the Saudi giant could be set to list one of its subsidiary companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE).

Israel technology

Report: Israel tech sector still among world’s strongest

Judicial fallout and layoffs have not hurt the industry's world standing, according to a report from Dealroom.co and Tel Aviv Tech.

A vendor sells traditional sweets at a market in the southern city of Sidon (Saida) on March 23, 2023 as Muslim devotees shop during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Grueling Ramadan for Lebanon's Muslims as prices, dollarization bite

As all goods are priced in dollars this year, food prices have skyrocketed, making the holy month more burdensome for the Lebanese whose wages are limited while the value of the local currency continues to deteriorate.

An Egyptian girl takes part in wheat harvest in Bamha village near al-Ayyat town in Giza province, some 60Km south of the capital on May 17, 2022. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt’s new grain security strategy put to test as Ukraine war enters second year

Egypt's new strategy to cope with major grain supply disruptions from the Ukraine war has worked well in its first year. But there are still challenges ahead.

Marc Español