As Turkey's inflation dips to 35%, will central bank pivot on interest rates? Inflation has slowed to the lowest level since 2021, sparking speculation that the central bank could resume easing monetary policy amid mounting pressure on Turkey's finance chief — but analysts caution against a rush. Turkey
Analysis Gulf wealth funds weather US stock dip, target Amazon, Bitcoin in Q1 We take a look at the region’s exposure to American equities as the US president departs the Gulf. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Mubadala investments soar by 33% as UAE deepens AI ties with US Mubadala made 119 billion Emirati dirhams ($32.4 billion) worth of investments in 2024, up 33.7% from the previous year, according to a Thursday statement from the UAE fund. United Arab Emirates
Lebanon secures initial World Bank approval for $400M loan Lebanon is seeking international support to cover an estimated $11 billion in reconstruction costs, as its government navigates ongoing political and security challenges. Lebanon
Turkey's Simsek says economy will ride out Trump tariffs without lasting scars Mehmet Simsek stressed that his government’s economic program has made the economy more resilient against internal and external shocks, highlighting that inflation has fallen and continues to drop. Turkey
UAE, Qatar investments fuel Jared Kushner's firm assets to $4.8 billion Commitments from Abu Dhabi–based asset manager Lunate and the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund, increased Affinity’s assets by $1.5 billion over a year. United Arab Emirates
Meet Karim Souaid, Lebanon’s new central bank chief with daunting mission The appointment of a new central bank governor comes nearly two years after the term of embattled governor Riad Salameh ended in July 2023. Lebanon
Imamoglu's arrest triggers emergency market measures as Turkey stocks plunge The Turkish lira and equities have fallen sharply since the arrest last week of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — on corruption charges, which he denies. Turkey
UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia finance startups lead Forbes Middle East Fintech50 Some 119 fintech startups across the Middle East and North Africa raised $700 million in 2024, accounting for 30% of the total MENA startup funding for last year. Saudi Arabia
Analysis A year on, UAE walks BRICS tightrope amid escalating US-Brazil rhetoric Trump is likely to go head-to-head with BRICS this year. He has declared the group to be "dead" and threatened to impose 100% tariffs on all imports from the member states if they planned to move against the dollar. By Jennifer Gnana In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics
UK removes 24 Syrian entities from sanctions list, including central bank The latest decision comes after the European Union lifted several sanctions across banking and energy on Syria on Feb. 24. Syria
Saudi Arabia's PIF bans PwC advisory, consulting services: What to know Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will stop granting consulting projects to PwC until February 2026, Bloomberg reported. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia markets Middle East's first euro green bond: What to know The kingdom, currently the world’s top oil exporter, looks to have half of its electricity powered by renewable energy by 2030. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Syria's new rulers set ambitious economic goals: Are they achievable? Syria’s financial woes run deep, prompting the new government to radically change its economic policy. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
What’s behind the power struggle at Mubadala-backed Turkish firm Getir? The start-up, once valued at more than $10 billion, has been struggling financially over the past year due to waning consumer demand. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
