UAE steps in to support banks as war pressure builds: What to know The United Arab Emirates' banks have seen their stocks plummet since the war erupted on Feb. 28. United Arab Emirates
Analysis Iran war tests Gulf dealmaking as foreign investors assess risks A multibillion-dollar pipeline sale in Kuwait has emerged as one of the early signs that the Gulf’s dealmaking machine is taking a hit from the US-Israel-Iran war. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis How long can markets hold their bet on Gulf resilience as war drags on? A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued assaults on Gulf energy infrastructure are likely to lead to regionwide credit deterioration, experts say. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Group of 32 states to release 400M barrels of oil reserves: What to know The move would mark the agency's largest ever release of oil reserves to stabilize the global market. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis Egyptians in for another expensive Ramadan despite recovering economy Egyptians tend to spend more during the Islamic holy month relative to the rest of the year, but high inflation and low wages have reduced their purchasing power. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Meet Fahad Al-Saif, PIF exec and Saudi Arabia's new investment minister Saif previously led investment strategy at the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund and has held senior roles at the Saudi Awwal Bank and HSBC Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia names new investment minister as Vision 2030 funding lags The leadership change comes as slowing megaprojects and weak foreign inflows expose gaps in the kingdom’s ambitious economic overhaul. Saudi Arabia
Abu Dhabi merges ADQ into new wealth fund L'IMAD: What to know Under the new structure, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, will oversee a broader swath of the emirate’s investment holdings. United Arab Emirates
UAE Central Bank approves first US dollar-backed stablecoin: What to know The approval marks a milestone in the UAE’s development of digital currency infrastructure and positions USDU as the Gulf country’s first USD-denominated currency for digital assets. United Arab Emirates
Iran internet blackout estimated to cost $37M+ daily, crippling businesses and society The ongoing digital disconnection is severely stalling commerce, draining millions of dollars daily and pushing many businesses toward collapse. Iran
Can Iran’s promised economic reforms quell unrest? The Iranian government has made several economic pledges to protesters, though some carry risk of increasing inflation further. Iran
MidEast VC funding hits record $3.8B in 2025, driven by strong Gulf showing Many emerging venture markets contracted in 2025, but the Middle East and North Africa bucked the trend. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, UAE accelerate cashless payment push in 2026: What to know Dubai is targeting 90% cashless transactions by the end of 2026, while Saudi Arabia is now set to enforce an e-payments rule for domestic workers. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia to open stock markets to all foreign investors in February: What to know The Saudi Capital Market Authority announced that it would remove restrictions that have historically limited foreign investors' access to the country’s Tadawul stock exchange. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia awards record number of mining licenses in Vision 2030 push Riyadh estimates the country’s mineral resources to be worth $2.51 trillion. Saudi Arabia
Gulf accounted for 43% of global sovereign wealth fund investment in 2025 Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was the world's highest spending sovereign wealth fund in 2025, investing some $36.2 billion. Saudi Arabia
