Economy and trade

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih with Moroccan Industry Minister Riad Mezzour

Saudi investment minister visits Morocco, Senegal on Africa trade drive

Saudi Arabia has pledged more than $41 billion in investment in sub-Saharan Africa over the next decade.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov chairs the annual meeting of the Caspian Sea littoral states foreign ministers, known as the Caspian Five, in Moscow, on Dec. 5, 2023.

Iran, Russia, Central Asia states ink Caspian Sea pact, plan naval drills

The navies of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening security in the Caspian Sea basin as the four countries deepen their relations.

A picture taken from a station of Dubai's Palm Monorail, shows traffic on a road in Palm Jumeirah on August 28, 2025.

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%.

Australian Prime Ministry

UAE deepens Asia ties as Malaysia, Australia trade deals kick in

Asia accounts for around 60% of the world’s gross domestic product and pursuing trade deals there helps the UAE hedge against dependence on both the US and China.

United Arab Emirates

Latest News

What’s next for Saudi Arabia’s budget balancing act as deficit doubles?

A Riyadh Metro train makes its way along a track in the middle of a road in Riyadh on December 3, 2024.

After China, Saudi industry minister visits Vietnam in eastward economic push

The Saudi delegation meets with Vietnamese officials in Hanoi, Sept. 29, 2025.

Sudan, Russia sign trade deals as Khartoum seeks funds, Moscow eyes Red Sea port

MAXIM SHEMETOV/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

OECD forecasts 3.7% growth for Saudi Arabia, citing US tariff shield

Pictured is the entrance to King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah, on Feb. 3, 2009.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

The Ritz hotel is pictured in central London on May 18, 2020.

UK Islamic bank: Soccer boosting Gulf property investments

Andrew Ball, the CEO of the Bank of London and The Middle East (BLME), spoke to Al-Monitor about how soccer is fueling a rise in Gulf investment in northern England.

A sign for Moody's rating agency is displayed at the company headquarters in New York, on Sept. 18, 2012.

Moody’s issues warning about Israel’s judicial reform

The credit agency is one of several institutions to warn the controversial reform could hurt the Israeli economy.

Ali Shamkhani (R), Iran's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, meets with Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L).

Iran says it signed 'aviation cooperation' memo with UAE

The UAE and Iran have cordial economic and political relations, despite being on opposite sides of some regional rivalries.

People walk beneath advertisement billboards at Boulevard entertainment city in the Saudi capital Riyadh, late on January 19, 2022. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia mulls tax relief for global companies relocating regional HQs

On the sidelines of the International Conference on Justice that began on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia granted three foreign law firms licenses to practice in the country.

Passengers are seen at Moscow's Domodedovo airport, the day S7 Airlines canceled all its international flights due to sanctions imposed on Russia over the country's invasion of Ukraine, March 5, 2022.

Russia to add Gulf countries to visa-free travel list

Russia stated that it was preparing visa-free travel agreements with a total of 17 countries, which include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Syria.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani hosts UAE's national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed and deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed at Lusail Palace in Doha. (Qatar’s Diwan)

Analysis

Qatar-UAE 'fraternal' meetings offer sign of growing rapprochement

Although immediate economic partnerships or deals from the UAE and Qatar meetings have yet to be announced, the latest meetings are still a sign that the two Gulf nations are headed into a thaw after years of boycott.

By Salim A. Essaid

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shokry (R) and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov shake hands during a joint press conference in the capital Cairo, on July 24, 2022. - Russia's top diplomat will address the Arab League at its Cairo headquarters, the organisation said, days after Russia took part in a summit hosted by Iran, a regional rival of some Arab states. (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt, Russia find opportunity in crisis

Analysts say boosting trade between Russia and Egypt in the ruble and the pound is a win for both countries amid Western sanctions on Moscow and the dollar crunch in Egypt.

HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia invests $51 billion in first wave of Shareek diversification

The Shareek investment and diversification strategy is set to create more than 64,000 jobs by 2040.

Boats are anchored in the Dubai Creek surrounded by high-rise buildings in the Gult emirate, on February 18, 2023. - Home to towering skyscrapers and ultra-luxury villas, Dubai saw record real estate transactions in 2022, largely due to an influx of wealthy investors, especially from Russia. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE's Dubai ranks fourth in luxury residential sales in 2022

Luxury home sales that exceeded $10 million each in Dubai amounted to 219 in 2022, only ranking behind New York (244), Los Angeles (225) and London (223).

A fisherman sells his fish at a public market where customers shop in the historical district of Ulus in Ankara on December 30, 2022. (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey's economy grows 5.6% in 2022, but labor’s income share shrinks

In a sign of deepening income disparities, the share of Turkey’s labor force from the national income has dropped to 26.5%, a far cry from 36% in 2016.

Officers of the Directorate of Narcotics Control of the Interior Ministry sort through tablets of Captagon seized during a special operation and presented before AFP afterward, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 1, 2022.

UAE busts 4.5 million Captagon pills in food cans after smuggler arrest

Amphetamine fenethylline, known by its brand name Captagon, has increasingly become the drug of choice among youth in Gulf Arab states.

United Arab Emirates

New banknotes of Israel background.

Analysis

Israel raises interest rates in eighth consecutive hike in 10 months

Fighting rising inflation, Bank of Israel Gov. Amir Yaron took the unpopular decision of increasing the interest rates to 4.25%.

Danny Zaken

In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel