Iraq devalues dinar 13% as Hormuz disruption hits oil revenue The central bank said in a statement that it had revised the official exchange rate to 1,520 Iraqi dinars per dollar from around 1,320. Iraq
Erdogan aide named suspect in Turkey financial scandal Former AKP deputy chairwoman Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya is facing allegations of being linked to a market manipulation scandal. Turkey
UAE-Syria move ahead on $20 billion real estate mega-developments Major housing and tourism projects in Damascus and Latakia are set to advance following a new agreement with UAE real estate tycoon Mohamed Alabbar. Syria
Iran’s economy deteriorates, oil minister resigns, workers protest: What to know Iran’s oil minister has resigned amid mounting economic pressure from US sanctions and restrictions on the country’s exports. Iran
Analysis Turkey’s $20B fund crisis: Who profited, and who will pay? By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
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
UAE-China ink multibillion-dollar deals as ties grow The United Arab Emirates and China are major trade partners and have strengthened cooperation in both finance and energy in recent months. Legacy: Gulf
What does Saudi Arabia hosting of Expo 2030 mean for its economy? Winning the rights to host the world fair follows news that the kingdom will likely host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, among several other major events. Legacy: Gulf
Italy and Saudi Arabia in talks for major deals as ties grow under Meloni The government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which came into power in October 2022, has been working to deepen ties with energy- and cash-rich states in the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia
As Israel’s economy slows, investors ask how long will Hamas war go on Despite fears, previous periods of violence in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank showed the Israeli economy emerging stronger on the other side. Israel
Why is Turkey securing trade with Israel as Erdogan cheers on Hamas? The Turkish president may be the loudest leader speaking up for the Palestinians, but he has paid no heed to calls for sanctions that could really bite Israel. Turkey
Business & Tech Briefing: Dubai gears up for COP28 By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
What $6.9B China-Saudi currency swap means for Beijing’s efforts to globalize yuan China’s increasing economic influence and the high price of the US dollar, which has increased amid increasing interest rates to tame inflation, have led some economies to switch to cheaper yuan-denominated transactions. Saudi Arabia
Analysis How the Hamas war wreaked havoc on Israel’s economy Israel’s central bank said that the war with Hamas is a “major shock” to the economy and has been more expensive than initially estimated. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
What awaits Turkey's economy as its foreign exchange woes ease? After the March local polls, Ankara will be free of major domestic political concerns and is expected to enact a stern program to cool the economy and make real progress in fighting inflation. Turkey