Economy and trade

Tankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes on June 23, 2025.

UAE eyes first multifuel pipeline as Hormuz crisis drags on

State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is considering building a refined oil products pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.

United Arab Emirates

The symbols of bitcoin and the stablecoin Tether (USDT) are displayed at a cryptocurrency store in Hong Kong on July 29, 2025.

Interview

Saudi Arabia eyes state-backed stablecoin amid digital finance push

Tokenization in Saudi Arabia has rapidly evolved from concept to early-stage execution since the early 2020s.

Muslim worshippers walk along the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Mecca on May 22, 2026, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Gulf celebrates Eid al-Adha under shadow of war

The holiday marks the first time in decades that Gulf states are observing one of Islam’s holiest celebrations against the backdrop of a regional conflict.

United Arab Emirates

Ships navigate the Bosphorus Strait on May 02, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, forcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and together with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, global shipping routes have been severely impacted. Soaring shipping costs, lengthening delivery times and less efficient routes have seen increased pressure on energy markets and supply chains worldwide. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Analysis

Why Turkey sees opportunity in Hormuz crisis to boost Middle Corridor

Ankara seeks to exploit transport disruptions from the Iran, Ukraine wars to push the corridor, but high costs, logistical bottlenecks and South Caucasus politics pose obstacles.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Analysis

Pushed out of Sahel, Macron turns to Egypt and Africa's anglophone countries

French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto during a reception at the State House ahead of the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi on May 10, 2026.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist , Rosaleen Carroll

Analysis

Pakistan’s six corridors offer Iran a trade lifeline, could outlast Hormuz crisis

Iranian cargo trucks cross into the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan, Balochistan province, on June 18, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Analysis

From hoarding to unemployment: Iran's economy buckles under US pressure

Women shop from a street vendor at Enghelab Square in the capital Tehran on Nov. 11, 2025.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Ports and infrastructure: UAE embraces new economic order in Syria

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives to attend the second day of the first Syrian-Emirati (United Arab Emirates) Investment Forum, at the People's Palace in Damascus on May 12, 2026. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP via Getty Images)

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

A container ship is docked at the port of Jebel Ali, operated by the Dubai-based giant ports operator DP World, in the southern outskirts of the Gulf emirate of Dubai, on June 18, 2020.

Amid Trump tariffs, UAE, Singapore to form trade group of small nations

The new group, the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT-P), is expected to include around 10 countries, with the UAE, Singapore, and New Zealand being founding members.

United Arab Emirates

People unload containers at the port of Latakia in western Syria on Dec. 30, 2024.

US eases export controls to boost Syria's recovery

The move is the Trump administration’s latest bid to assist the country's postwar reconstruction.

A K9A2 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) from Hanwha is seen on day one of the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) fair at ExCel on Sept. 12, 2023 in London, England.

UK bans Israeli officials from major defense fair: What to know

After suspending trade talks and sanctioning Israeli far-right ministers, the British government barred an official Israeli delegation from a major London defense fair.

His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, president of the Federal Republic of Somalia (R), received His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, minister of state, at the start of a working visit to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Aug. 28, 2025.

Somalia, UAE hold talks as tensions simmer over Puntland, Somaliland

The visit occurred on the same day that Somalia's president met with Sudan’s intelligence chief.

United Arab Emirates

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's currency plunges below 1M against dollar as E3 triggers snapback sanctions

Iran's struggles with inflation and the depreciation of the rial could be compounded by Europe reimposing sanctions over the nuclear issue.

Saudi companies signed agreements with Syria’s Ministry of Energy during the kingdom’s participation in the Damascus International Fair in Damascus, on Aug. 28, 2025.

ACWA Power, TAQA among Saudi firms backing Syria's energy comeback

Some 14 years of civil war have wiped at least $800 billion from the country’s gross domestic product, according to UN figures.

An aerial view of the solar mirrors at the Noor 1 Concentrated Solar Power plant some 12.5 miles outside the central Moroccan town of Ouarzazate, on Feb. 4, 2016.

Egypt secures $220M from domestic, Gulf, Chinese investors for solar project

Foreign investment from three countries comes at a pivotal time in Egypt’s recovery from its worst financial crisis in over six decades.

Lebanon's new Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam delivers a statement at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on Jan. 14, 2025.

Lebanese PM meets Egypt’s Sisi amid Hezbollah disarmament push: What to know

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged support for Lebanon’s stability and reconstruction during talks in Cairo with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

A view of buildings in Abu Dhabi, on June 26, 2023.

Abu Dhabi’s Lunate buys stake in UK hedge fund, launches $2B investment arm

With $1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth, Abu Dhabi has long sought to establish itself as a global financial hub.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Faleh speaks during the fourth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference at the capital Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel on Jan. 27, 2021.

In China, Saudi investment minister looks to build on $100B+ trade ties

China is the kingdom’s largest trade partner, with bilateral trade between the two reaching roughly $107.5 billion in 2024.

uae angola visit

UAE president makes first-ever visit to Angola as part of Africa push

The UAE president’s visit to Angola, his first, marks a major step in the already strong relations between the two nations.

United Arab Emirates

In this photo illustration, Turkish liras are displayed, on Aug. 27, 2018, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Analysis

Turkey to end costly $60B currency-protection scheme — for now

Ankara could soon close the book on a monetary intervention launched to defend the lira in 2021, the latest pivot back to more conventional economic policies following the country's 2023 presidential election.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech