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April 20, 2026

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FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi stocks hit 2026 high, bucking global war-driven volatility

The kingdom's stock market climbed to its highest level of the year on Wednesday, with the kingdom’s equities now far outperforming the S&P 500 and other global and regional indices.

A man walks through the atrium during the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, on April 14, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)

IMF slashes Mideast outlook by nearly 3 points as Iran war hits economies

The International Monetary Fund cut gross domestic product forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa, with the fallout from the conflict exposing stark divergences between the region’s energy exporters and importers.

Latest News

Analysis

How fast can Gulf energy production rebound after US-Iran ceasefire?

picture of Qatar Energy's operating facilities on March 3, 2026, in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

EIA hikes 2026 oil price forecasts 22% as Hormuz fuels long-term market fallout

Gas prices over $6.00 are displayed at a Shell station across from the Marathon Petroleum Corp's Los Angeles Refinery on April 02, 2026, in Carson, California.

AirAsia stays course on Bahrain hub as Iran war clouds aviation growth plans

AirAsia aircraft with two engines landing on Kota Kinabalu International airport runway, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia, March 4, 2017.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Karen Young

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy

Reve Chaaban

In Doha reporting on culture

The Canadian Military in an armoured personel carrier drive away from a house that is flooding after dropping off people to sandbag because of high water levels on the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba 30 April. The water on the Red River continues to rise and over 20,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. AFP PHOTO/Carlo ALLEGRI (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images)

Canada’s arms exports boom to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar

Some 92% of Saudi Arabia's purchases were armored combat vehicles with most of the shipments coming from a $15 billion contract reached in 2014 but only approved for export by Canada’s current government.

Qatar Airways plane 2

Qatar Airways first in Mideast to sign Shell deal for 3K tons of sustainable fuel

The airline said that the deal will allow it to reduce emissions on flights from Amsterdam by approximately 7,500 tons of CO2 for the fiscal year.

Qatar Economic Forum

Qatar forum warns of economic downturn, shift in cryptocurrency

One Qatar Economic Forum participant says it will take at least a generation to reach a point where the world can depend on clean power.

Qatari men walk next to a Qatar Airways cargo airplane on the tarmac of Hamad International Airport near the capital Doha, as the first commercial flight to Saudi Arabia in three and a half years following a Gulf diplomatic thaw prepares to take off, on January 11, 2021. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Qatar Airways struggles to rebound in China with post-COVID labor shortages

CEO Akbar Al Baker said that his airline was seeing a huge demand for travel post-pandemic but a “massive shortage” of capacity due to supply chain issues.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Qatar rolls out $275M market program in latest foreign investment push

The Qatar Investment Authority is setting up a market-making initiative to draw in more foreign investor interest and build up its capital markets.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Angelo Ogbonna of West Ham United battles for possession with Rodrigo Moreno of Leeds United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leeds United at London Stadium on May 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim awaits Manchester United decision as West Ham rumors swirl

A report by El Pais linked the Qatari royal to the east London-based team.

Yemen water shortage

Entire UAE, Qatar, Bahrain populations vulnerable to extreme heat, study says

The UAE is particularly vulnerable, with more than 80% of its population exposed to extreme heat even after a 1.5 C (34.7 F) rise in global temperatures over pre-industrial levels.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (L) shakes hands with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Germany, Italy hold talks with Saudi Arabia, Qatar to strengthen energy ties

Italy is looking for capital from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for a new fund Rome is setting up to help domestic companies in strategically important sectors.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) poses with Hungarian Prime minister Viktor Orbán after they met for discussions on Syria and migration on Nov. 7, 2019 in Budapest, Hungary.

Turkey Election: Foreign allies prematurely rush to congratulate Erdogan

In a split from standard diplomatic practices, the Turkish President’s foreign allies openly voiced their support of Erdogan ahead of a critical runoff poll.

Qatar rugby

Culture

Qatar makes bid to host Rugby League World Cup

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are all working to host more international sporting events as they diversify their economies. Rugby league has a following in Lebanon, but is relatively unknown in the region.

People walk past a poster showing the portrait of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of the main opposition alliance, and the words translating to "Promise to You," Istanbul, Turkey, May 05, 2023.

Analysis

Turkey Elections: Gulf investments likely to be challenged if Erdogan loses

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party and presidential competitor, said he will reevaluate Gulf country purchases in Turkey if he wins in the May 14 elections.

By Salim A. Essaid

Qatar Airways Cargo

Qatar Airways becomes first Middle East airline with cargo hub in Africa

The Qatar Airways Group, which owns Qatar Airways Cargo, already owns a 49% stake in RwandAir, Rwanda's national carrier.