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

Yuan banknotes and US dollars are seen on a table in Yichang, Hubei province, China, Aug. 14, 2015.

Egypt to issue bonds in China’s currency yuan

The US dollar may be losing its dominance in the Middle East to the yuan.

Egypt wheat

Egypt looks further afield for wheat

Egypt recently bought 240,000 tons of wheat from Russia directly, as the government continues to work on plans to avert a food crisis and preserve local supplies.

Saudi chemical

Saudi-India economic ties grow closer with mining agreement

Saudi Arabia is seeking to boost its mining sector, and India is a natural partner in this endeavor.

Egypt investment

Egypt attracting more investment from Arab states

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have invested heavily in Egypt recently, and Qatar may soon follow.

The EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson (L) looks on.

Israel to invest more in Egyptian renewable energy projects

Israel plans to invest more in the field of power generation with renewable energy in Egypt, after two Israeli companies announced a major plan to carry out several projects to this effect.

Saudi Arabia's army soldiers march during the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad on March 23, 2022.

Saudi Arabia to invest $1 billion in Pakistan, following UAE and Qatar

Pakistan is seeking help from the Gulf amid its foreign currency reserves crisis.

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. via Getty Images

South Korea to work with Russia on Egypt’s first nuclear power plant

The move further cements Egypt and South Korea’s strong economic and defense ties.

This picture taken on Nov. 17, 2019, shows the Hong Kong-flagged container ship CSCL STAR sailing through Egypt's Suez Canal.

Egypt-Chinese consortium to run terminals in Red Sea, Mediterranean ports

The Egyptian government signed new concessions with a Chinese alliance to build and operate two world-class container terminals in the ports of Sokhna and Dekhila, as part of a container logistics project to link the Red and Mediterranean seas.

A photo taken on March 14, 2022, shows the logos of Visa, Mastercard and Russian Mir payment systems on bank cards in Moscow.

Iran, Russia use own currencies for trade

Saudi Arabia and India have also signaled moving away from the US dollar.

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal city of Caesarea on January 25, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Middle East is building a big lead in global hydrocarbon investments

Gerald Kepes

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends

Egypt economy

UAE more than doubles investment in Egypt

Egypt is seeking to sell state companies, which has attracted Gulf investors.

A picture taken on Nov. 18, 2020, shows an electronic billboard bearing portraits.

Saudi Central Bank approves fintech companies Lean Technologies, Mod5r

Saudi Arabia recently launched a fintech strategy with the goal of becoming a regional hub for financial technology.