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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

Jordan's King Abdullah II (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan strengthen ties with energy, mining deals

Saudi Arabia is now a major investor in Jordan.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (C) and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) are seen receiving Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 8, 2022.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia sign agreements on green hydrogen, infrastructure

The deals came during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Egypt.

This photo shows an aerial view of the southernmost tip of Egypt's Nile delta region, including the Qanater al-Khayreya Nile River barrages, north of the capital Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 15, 2021.

Egypt, France boost cooperation ahead of COP27

Egypt and France are boosting their bilateral cooperation, especially with respect to temperature-tolerant and sustainable crops, in the midst of Egypt's preparations to hold the COP27 conference at the end of this year.

A picture shows an Emirates Airlines airplane at Dubai International Airport on Feb. 1, 2021.

Middle East airlines to suffer losses again in 2022

The International Air Transport Association said that airlines in the region will fare somewhat better financially due to the return of long-haul flights.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is seen on a monitor during a video conference with European Council President Charles Michel at the European Council building, Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 10, 2022.

Iran, Kazakhstan boost trade relations with new railway network

Kazakhstan is a strong ally of Iran, and has helped the Islamic Republic circumvent sanctions.

Israeli passengers arrive from Ukraine via the border with Romania on an Israeli Israir flight at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, March 1, 2022.

Israel expects post-COVID tourism rebound this summer

Israeli experts do not expect tourism to reach this summer the record level of 2019, but they certainly notice a trend of increase on both outbound and incoming tourism.

Women buy bread from a local bread stand in Al Fustat neighborhood on May 2, 2022, in Cairo, Egypt.

Egypt rejects World Trade Organization agreements on global food crisis

Egypt objected to the WTO agreements to alleviate the global food crisis, as it refuses to be forced to export food when it is grappling with its own food crisis.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov (C) and Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif (R)in Baku on Aug. 8, 2016.

Iran, Russia to establish trade centers

The two countries will focus on energy-related trading and establishing a north-south corridor to rival the Suez Canal.

FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM to build renewable-powered desalination plant

The controversial planned city will partner with a Japanese and a French company in the endeavor.

SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images

Crisis-stricken Hamas borrows from local banks

The Hamas movement has been forced to borrow from the local banks to fund the salaries of its 45,000 employees amid low local revenues, costly subsidies and declining Qatari financial grants.

This picture shows an aerial view of farmland near the city of al-Khankah in Qalyoubiyah province in the fertile Nile Delta agricultural region, north of Cairo, Egypt, May 28, 2021.

Egypt puts up for sale land plots for expats wishing to build cemeteries

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities in Egypt has put up for sale cemetery lands for Egyptians abroad in four new cities, priced in dollars, as part of the government’s efforts to counter a severe foreign currency shortage.

ASAAD NIAZI/AFP via Getty Images

Iraq connects electrical grid with Saudi Arabia

The move could help Iraq with its electricity woes and reduce energy dependence on Iran.