Economy and trade

Children and families gather to receive free meals shortly before Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan at a displacement camp in central Gaza City, on Feb. 27, 2026.

Iran war deepens Gaza crisis as prices soar, aid falters

Gazans fear that Israel could exploit the wider regional war to reenter Gaza, especially as buffer zones along the border continue to expand and civilians are targeted to keep them away.

Daoud Kuttab

By Daoud Kuttab

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on Aug. 29, 2022.

Israel energy minister says gas flowing to Egypt, Jordan despite shutdown reports

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen told Al-Monitor that despite security concerns and partial shut down of marine gas platforms, Israel continues to supply gas to Egypt, Jordan and Israeli consumers.

YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia launches new Bahrain maritime link as Hormuz routes strain

The service connects King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port.

US President Donald Trump and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi clasp hands as they speak to the press before their meeting on Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

How Egypt is navigating limited options in Iran war to stay neutral

Egypt, so far spared from Iranian retaliatory attacks, is pushing for a diplomatic solution as the war with the US and Israel threatens its already fragile economy.

Latest News

Analysis

How Iran's strike on Qatar gas field could impact LNG market for years

A picture of Qatar Energy's operating facilities on March 3, 2026 in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

UAE steps in to support banks as war pressure builds: What to know

AFP via Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

How long can markets hold their bet on Gulf resilience as war drags on?

The city skyline is pictured in Dubai on March 11, 2026.

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

Iran war hits Gulf aluminum exports, risking nearly 10% of global supplies

Aluminum ingots in the Aluminium Dunkerque plant of the American Industrial Partner group on Jan. 13, 2022, in Loon-Plage, near Dunkirk, France.

An employee wearing a face mask against the coronavirus, is pictured 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.

UAE’s DP World to invest $5B in India's infrastructure: What to know

The Dubai-headquartered logistics firm has already invested $3 billion into the South Asian nation over three decades.

United Arab Emirates

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

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.

Shark Tank Lebanon

Culture

'Shark Tank Lebanon' debuts, offering entrepreneurs hope amid economic turmoil

A Lebanese version of the popular US reality TV show "Shark Tank" hit the airwaves in Lebanon, where unemployment rates have reached record highs in the past years due to a protracted economic and financial crisis and the Israel-Hezbollah war.

AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images

Iran to host Pakistani interior minister as border security, trade talks advance

Iran is finessing its relations with Pakistan, seeking to bolster border security and increase trade in response to sanctions.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for pictures before the signature of joint statements and agreements during the EU-Egypt summit in Brussels, on Oct. 22, 2025.

Analysis

EU-Egypt summit unlocks over $4B for Cairo as investments beckon

The landmark summit came 19 months after the EU and Egypt signed a 7.4 billion euro ($8.6 billion) strategic and comprehensive partnership aimed at stabilizing the North African nation’s economy and curbing irregular migration to Europe.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Picture of ore as mineral cassiterite (SnO2).

US, UAE strike $1.8B critical mineral venture amid China tensions and Gulf rivalry

United Arab Emirates

Iran's Deputy Defense Minister Majid Ebnoreza (L) sits next to Andrei Matsiyevich.

Grappling with Western sanctions, Iran, Belarus strengthen military ties

Defense-related cooperation between Iran and Belarus has accelerated considerably in recent years, particularly after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s trip to Tehran in 2023.

This picture taken on February 6, 2023 shows a view of Tibbin dual fuel (natural gas and fuel oil) powerplant and Helwan Steelworks, in the Helwan suburb south of Egypt's capital. (Photo by Amir MAKAR / AFP) (Photo by AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt discovers 18 oil, gas wells as Cairo looks to up energy output

The discoveries support the government's ambition to increase Egypt's domestic energy supply.

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Turkey, Qatar sign defense deal as Ankara eyes Doha’s Eurofighters

The Turkish president’s visit to Qatar during his Gulf tour largely centered on defense ties and Qatar’s little-used Eurofighters, as Ankara moves to quickly rebuild its air power.

A ship sails along Egypt's Suez Canal near Ismailia, on April 16, 2025.

China deepens textile investments in Egypt's Suez Canal Zone

The agreements will establish new textiles factories covering 238,000 square meters, which are expected to create more than 3,000 direct job opportunities.

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yasser Barniyeh

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.

Aerial view of wind turbines and solar panel farm in Kayseri, Turkey.

Analysis

Turkey's Gulf energy drive gains momentum with $1B Masdar deal

As part of a goal to quadruple wind and solar capacity by 2035, Turkey is hoping to seal major deals with Masdar and ACWA Power to overcome recent dealmaking headwinds.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech