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
Fuel shortage, long queues anger Tunisians Tunisians are growing angry amid successive crises, most recently a fuel shortage, while the government sits idle. North Africa
UAE and Japan agree to visa-free travel The two countries also recently pledged to boost economic, industrial and energy cooperation. United Arab Emirates
Gazan workers fall prey to brokers claiming to offer work permits Amid the poor economic conditions and as thousands of Gazans seek to obtain work permits inside Israel, fraudulent brokers have spread in the besieged enclave claiming to be able to secure permits. Palestine
Egypt venture capital firm for startups develops solutions to climate change The Climate Resilience Fund targets nature-positive and sustainable projects that address mainly land and sea misuse. Egypt
Egypt's released political prisoners get economic aid A presidential initiative puts former political detainees on economic track after their release. Egypt
Egypt freezes Russian MIR payments to avoid US sanctions Acceptance of MIR bank cards would have eased Russian tourists’ payments inside Egyptian hotels and resorts. Egypt
Egypt claims wheat self-sufficiency despite Ukraine war Over the past three months, Egypt has bought 3.5 million tons of wheat from local farmers as it works to achieve self-sufficiency and weather the effects of the global crisis caused by the Russian war on Ukraine. Egypt
Egyptian pound hits nominal record low ahead of IMF deal The global economic storm has put a lot of pressure on the local currency, which nevertheless remains strong against other currencies. Egypt
Saudi minister meets with Google, Zoom in California The official visit comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to grow its industrial sector. Saudi Arabia
Syria and Iran lower tariffs per free trade agreement Syria and Iran signed a free trade deal more than 10 years ago but are still working out the details. The two countries are not major trade partners despite being political and military allies. Iran
From homes to guesthouses: some Lebanese find ways to survive economic meltdown Despite Lebanon's worst financial crisis since its civil war, guesthouse investment is growing as rural tourism soars, generating much-needed revenue for its cash-strapped citizens and empowering local communities and talents. Lebanon
Lebanon to shift to new official lira-to-dollar exchange rate Lebanon is shifting to a new official exchange rate to the US dollar, three years after an unprecedented financial and economic crisis that has plunged a large portion of its population under the poverty line. Lebanon
