Turkey lifts veil on unemployment data, revealing bigger army of jobless A new, broader set of labor statistics has exposed a big gap between Turkey’s official unemployment rate and the actual joblessness in the crisis-hit country. Turkey
Rights group criticizes Jordan over debt imprisonment Human Rights Watch has highlighted the plight of poor Jordanians imprisoned for failing to pay back loans taken out to meet basic needs. Jordan
COVID accelerates evolution of Gulf economies The economic policy response to COVID-19 is an acceleration of specific trends already underway across the Gulf Cooperation Council members, variously affecting tax policy, labor market regulation and immigration policy. Saudi Arabia
Iran receives COVID-19 vaccine from Cuba Iran enjoys warm relations with the Latin American state and the two countries are also developing a coronavirus vaccine together. Iran
New Suez Canal income slowly sinking The new Suez Canal is now two years old and facing public scrutiny, as it is far from achieving what officials pledged. Egypt
Turkey, the new address for Brazilian butts, thick hair and shiny teeth At a time when many economic sectors in Turkey are struggling, the health tourism sector has boomed, attracting hundreds of thousands of foreigners eager to get medical treatment and plastic surgeries for cheap. Turkey
As Qatar-Bahrain rift widens, economic costs emerge Qatar’s economic and geopolitical separation from Bahrain and other GCC states will come with economic costs. Bahrain
After years of sanctions, Persian rugs back to brighten world markets Iran’s world-renowned handwoven carpets are already making a strong comeback in global markets following the lifting of sanctions. Iran
New industrial policy poised to transform Iran’s political economy Iran’s lighter fingerprints on foreign investment and enterprise are gearing things up for a transformation of the country’s political economy. Iran
PA worries Egyptian aid to Hamas prolongs Palestinian division Gaza is in desperate need of Egyptian aid such as diesel fuel supplies and a planned free-trade zone, but some in Ramallah fear that if Gaza's financial crisis eases too much, Hamas will be less motivated to reconcile. Palestine
Foreigners take hold of Turkey’s food sector Amid a series of high-profile foreign takeovers in Turkey’s food industry led by Japanese investors, many are worried that the country is losing its self-sufficiency in food. Turkey
Despite Egypt's wheat self-sufficiency plan, imports increase Egypt is importing unprecedented quantities of wheat, despite a recent expansion in cultivated lands and wheat cultivation, raising doubts about the feasibility of the government's plans to achieve wheat self-sufficiency. Egypt
Cairo seeks to boost trade with Ankara, overlooking political deadlock Tarek Kabil, Egypt’s minister of trade and industry, said it is not in Egypt’s interest to hinder trade activities with Turkey. Egypt
The more Trump sinks, the more Turkey’s currency and government recover Discouraged by the US president’s dismal performance, global short-term investors are returning to emerging economies, including Turkey, boosting Ankara’s economic and political prospects in critical times. Turkey
Oil swaps bring Iran, Caspian neighbors together Iran’s newfound focus on oil swaps with its northern neighbors could provide strong mutual benefits at an opportune point in time. Regional
New program draws Egyptian women to tech An Egyptian tech school is looking to increase the representation of women in the tech industry with a new programming class exclusively for women. Egypt