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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

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund

US rate hikes make Gulf sovereign wealth funds go-to source for capital

Sebastian Castelier

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP via Getty Images

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia deny supporting OPEC oil production increase

Oil prices dropped after news broke of a potential production increase but have since rebounded.

Delegates gather at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Center in Egypt.

Egypt, Israel seek to boost trade exchange following COP27

Israel offered Egypt to develop rice cultivation using the latest technologies and curb the water shortage crisis in Cairo, within the framework of the two countries’ efforts to increase trade exchange.

A policeman regulates traffic at an intersection during a power outage in Tehran, on May 23, 2021.

Iran begins linking electricity with Russia

Tehran is seeking help from neighboring states in part due to the impact of US sanctions on Iran’s power grid.

Google invests more than $15 million in Israeli high-tech training

World Cup stadium in Qatar

New PRO Memo: 3 scenarios for Qatar's record-breaking World Cup investment

Qatar can capitalize from pouring $300 billion into hosting the World Cup...if it can avoid more controversy.

World Cup stadium in Qatar

Qatar’s record-shattering $300B World Cup bet will deliver returns, despite missteps

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

DENOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Gas deal strengthens Qatar-China ties

China’s connections to the Gulf continue to expand.

A doctor in the oncology department of the Hotel-Dieu de France reviews anticancer drugs in the hospital pharmacy, Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 7, 2022.

Lebanese turn to alternative medicine as health care costs soar

Many in Lebanon are opting for alternative medicine to treat physical and psychological maladies after no longer being able to afford health services.

Journalists take images of Peugeot 207 and 206 car production lines at the Iran Khodro auto plant.

Iran sanctions French carmakers

Peugeot, Renault and Citroen all do considerable business in Iran. The move follows new European Union sanctions against Iran in relation to the anti-government protests in the country.

Al-Monitor business correspondent Salim A. Essaid moderates a panel with global regulators from the US, India, Italy, and the UAE at Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) on November 15th 2022.

Who’s to blame for FTX, future cryptocurrency failings?

As the crypto world reels from the FTX currency exchange's bankruptcy, how can the industry protect the cryptocurrency market?

BudZero

Qatar reverses course, bans alcohol at World Cup

Budweiser had obtained exclusive rights to sell beer in the stadiums, but can now sell it only in luxury boxes.