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Economy & Business

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Here's what to know about Iraq's corruption as Zaidi launches crackdown

Watchdogs and financial institutions regard Iraq as a significantly corrupt country as the new prime minister works to recover public funds.

AFP via Getty Images

Traffic plummets through Strait of Hormuz after Iran, US trade fire

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered somewhat before renewed fighting between Iran and the United States saw traffic drop sharply over the weekend.

A student attends a training seminar at the Tourism Ministry Training center in the city of Riyadh on August 30, 2022.

Interview

Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO

Around 70% of Saudi Arabia's population is 35 years old or younger, according to the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics, providing ample opportunity for an educated and technology-savvy national workforce in the coming decades.

Olivier Badard

CEO of Armada Holding

A tourist boat passes near crude oil tankers, bulk carriers, and other vessels anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman, June 19, 2026.

Analysis

Why the Hormuz oil shock never became an energy catastrophe

The US-Israel-Iran war produced a historic oil supply shock but not a severe global economic crisis, due to ample prewar supplies, China's energy pivot and strategic reserve releases.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Explainer

Gulf states push incentives for investors, expats after war dents image

FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Explainer

After UAE and Qatar, could Iraq be next to leave OPEC?

A worker at a market for fuel oil and automotive fuel on March 17, 2026, in Erbil, Iraq.

Explainer

Syria’s energy push could soon get a major boost from Chevron: What to know

Amjad Kurdo / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

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

Tamar drilling natural gas production platform is seen some 25 kilometers west of the Ashkelon shore in February 2013 in Israel.

Israeli gas sector strengthens with Chevron, Morocco deals

Israel is already exporting gas to Egypt and Jordan and is now eyeing greater energy ties with Morocco following the Abraham Accords.

A trailer truck filled with sand waits near a dock at the construction site of new residential towers on the Nile island of Warraq in Giza province, opposite the northern shore of Cairo, the slums of which are planned for development by the Egyptian government, Egypt, Aug. 31, 2022.

Egypt embarks on new plans to develop river transport on Nile River

Cairo has recently passed legal reforms to reorganize the river sector, which still remains marginal, in hopes this will catalyze much-needed private investments

ANDREA VERDELLI/AFP via Getty Images

China, Egypt establish civil body to promote mutual investments

The new Egyptian-Chinese Entrepreneurs Association will foster the growing economic relations between Cairo and Beijing as China intensifies its political activities with Washington’s allies in the Middle East.

US investment Middle East

How America invests in the Middle East

A man walks past OPEC headquarters on the eve of the 45th Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee and the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting held Oct. 5, 2022, in Vienna, Austria.

Oil prices fall to lowest since January despite Saudi-backed production cut

The price decrease could be worrisome for Saudi Arabia and its investment plans.

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

Saudi, Chinese companies sign investment deals on renewable energy, cloud services during Xi’s visit

Xi Jinping’s trip to Saudi Arabia has focused largely on economic and energy ties so far.

Abu Dhabi

UAE business center releases whistleblowing guidelines

The UAE is seeking to improve financial transparency among other major financial changes happening in the Gulf state.

Xi Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, China sign deals on tech, climate for Xi’s visit

The trip is a sign that Saudi Arabia is seeking more cooperation with China, especially in regards to energy and despite the kingdom’s relationship with the United States.

Water pours into an irrigation pool in Ghor al-Haditha, south of the Jordanian capital Amman, on April 20, 2021.

Jordan partners with USAID on water loss

Water loss is a major issue in Jordan due to theft and leakage.

Stock market brokers work at the Egyptian Exchange, Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 6, 2013.

Some Egyptian companies still dealing with Russia's alternative financial system

Some Egyptian companies are secretly dealing with a Russian alternative financial system, in anticipation of international sanctions by the United States.

Sarah Al-Ameri, the UAE Minister of State for Public Education and Future Technology, during the opening address of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate (ADSD) on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.

UAE, Israel align interests at international space event

Conference shows that space exploration and commercialization is opening up to more countries.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israel pursues climate cooperation with Morocco, Jordan

Israeli tech is sure to set the pace of climate cooperation in the region.