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
Dubai, Abu Dhabi make world’s top 5 destinations for wealthy: What to know In Savills’ Spotlight on Wealth Trends 2025 report, Dubai topped the charts while Abu Dhabi ranked fifth. United Arab Emirates
Gorka praises Lebanon's President Aoun, discusses money laundering Gorka, who led the US Treasury Department delegation that met Aoun, referred to the president as a “friend” and "Christian leader" in a post on X and said he could help expand the Abraham Accords. Lebanon
Billion-dollar AI, clean energy deals headline Saudi 'Davos in the Desert' Humain, an AI firm backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the PIF, signed a $3 billion deal with AirTrunk, a company backed by US asset manager Blackstone, to build a data center campus in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Syria finance chief meets US, World Bank officials as Trump admin pushes more sanction relief Less than two weeks ago, the US Senate approved a measure to repeal the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act sanctions on Syria as part of its 2026 defense budget. Syria
Interview Gulf real estate investors choose UK over US amid political instability The London-based lender is seeing an increase in demand from Gulf investors in UK real estate as US markets have become less predictable. Khaled Alanani Head of real estate finance and investments, Bank of London and The Middle East
Singapore's DBS Group, Banque Saudi Fransi ink Asia-Gulf trade deal Trade between Southeast Asia and the GCC reached about $130.7 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow by another $50 billion by 2027, according to the Singaporean lender. Saudi Arabia
Libyans rush banks amid cash crunch, government to print $11B in dinars to ease crisis The Libyan Central Bank has been printing more money in response to cash shortages in the country, as falling oil prices and corruption take their toll. Libya
Somaliland leader courts Ethiopia in recognition push: What to know Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi visited Ethiopia for talks focused on security and economic cooperation as the Somali breakaway territory seeks global recognition. Somalia
Hong Kong exchange expands Gulf presence with new Dubai commodities arm The emirate has positioned itself as a global commodities trading hub, with the UAE ranking second globally after the US in last year’s Commodity Trade Index. United Arab Emirates
World Bank ups Middle East 2025 economic outlook as oil, tourism rebound The lender expects gross domestic product growth in the region to average 2.8% this year, up from its April forecast of 2.6%. Iran
Supreme Court clears path for Turkey’s Halkbank trial over Iran sanctions The Turkish president personally raised the Halkbank case with US President Donald Trump at the White House, as Ankara pushes for a settlement to avoid a drawn-out legal battle. Turkey
Culture Marrakech's African Contemporary Art Museum reinvents itself two years after quake Marking the two-year anniversary of the 2023 earthquake, Marrakech’s Museum of African Contemporary Art highlights the city’s recovery and its growing role as a hub for African art. Morocco
