Crypto crash collides with UAE’s big bet on digital assets After hitting record highs in 2025, Bitcoin’s sell-off is roiling global markets and making waves in the UAE. United Arab Emirates
Merz courts Gulf as Germany seeks energy alternatives to US, China Berlin is seeking to capitalize on ties with Gulf energy giants as relations with the United States have cooled amid strains over transatlantic defense commitments, Washington’s pursuit of Greenland and tariffs. Qatar
Gulf markets recover after gold rout, buoyed by Iran de-escalation hopes Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index, TASI, rose 1.4%, a day after falling the most in nearly 10 months amid a broad sell-off in the commodities market. United Arab Emirates
Analysis As envoys recalled, what's driving Israel-South Africa rupture? South Africa has expelled the Israeli charge d'affaires, deepening the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Saudi Arabia downsizes megaprojects, chases cash amid AI push By Samuel Wendel , Jack Dutton
Saudi PIF invested $31.6B in 2023, record in global sovereign wealth funds The PIF is estimated to have nearly $800 billion in assets and wants to become the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund by 2030. Saudi Arabia
Turkey’s exports to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Russia shoot up in 2023: Erdogan The Turkish president also said the country’s total export revenues reached an all-time high. Turkey
2023 in review: Iran sees opportunity in Gaza war, steps up crackdown at home Iran's theocratic establishment engaged in a flurry of foreign diplomacy to try to ease the international isolation it is facing, while at home it intensified its crackdown on dissent. Iran
What is behind Iran-Russia de-dollarization deal as sanctions bite? The long-awaited agreement was one among several solutions the two countries have sought to salvage their battered economies, which remain cut off from key international banking systems. Iran
Saudi mining firm Ma’aden announces gold discovery Saudi Arabia seeks to boost its mining sector, including via investment at home and abroad. Legacy: Gulf
Explainer: Major shipping giants resume Red Sea routes amid Houthi attacks The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have fired on international ships and Israel’s port in the Red Sea since the Gaza war began, wreaking havoc on the global shipping industry. Legacy: Gulf
How Starbucks fell from favor with pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists The coffee giant is no stranger to frothy accusations of being pro-Israel, and now a pro-Palestinian post on one of its union's social media accounts has sparked a boycott. Israel
Houthi missile hits Norwegian-flagged tanker in latest Red Sea attack Iran-backed rebels hit a Norwegian-owned chemical tanker with a cruise missile, but the ship had no clear connection to Israel, signaling the Houthis may be widening the aperture of their attacks. Legacy: Gulf
With 32% trade boost, Turkey eyes Saudi investments amid domestic downturn Trade between the two countries reached $5.86 billion in 2022, a 32.6% increase over the previous year. Turkey
Kuwait, Qatar, UAE telecoms merge assets into $2.2B tower company Three Gulf companies will create a new entity, which has not yet been publicly named, combining around 30,000 tower assets in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Tunisia. Legacy: Gulf
What is behind Turkey’s inflation spike to 61.9% in November? November's consumer prices also rose by 3.28%, data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute showed on Monday. Turkey
IMF chief urges governments to increase carbon prices, reduce fossil fuel subsidies Kristalina Georgieva was addressing an audience of business leaders and philanthropists at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. United Arab Emirates
