Oil and gas

A man wearing a traditional cloth walks past national flags of Algeria near the Bay of Algiers in Algiers, on Aug. 25, 2022.

Analysis

Algeria hails new $60B energy plan but price slump threatens reform push

The OPEC member recently held its first oil and gas licensing round in a decade, attracting significant international interest and awarding five of six onshore blocks, signaling progress in its energy ambitions despite ongoing challenges.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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%.

People walk past a branch of Turkish bank HalkBank on Dec. 1, 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Supreme Court clears path for Turkey’s Halkbank trial over Iran sanctions

The Turkish president personally raised the Halkbank case with US President Donald Trump at the White House, as Ankara pushes for a settlement to avoid a drawn-out legal battle.

Latest News

Kuwait seeks renewable energy boost as 14 GW power expansion plan takes shape

The sun sets behind overhead power lines as the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity requested citizens to ration their electricity usage at peak times due to outages caused by the increased pressure on power stations amid soaring temperatures and heightened energy demand, Kuwait City, Kuwait, June 19, 2024.

Analysis

Egypt’s renewable power jumps 34% as country tackles energy crunch

wind farm

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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.

Iran rial hits record low 1.13M to dollar as UN snapback sanctions resume: What to know

Iranians drive next to a billboard displaying pictures of nuclear scientists, centrifuges and a sentence reading in Farsi, "Science is the power," at the Enqelab Square in Tehran, on Aug. 29, 2025.

United Arab Emirates Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber speaks during CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston, Texas on March 6, 2023. (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE's Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 head, calls for 7% emissions cut, swifter energy transition

The Emirates’ Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber talked about the importance of carbon capture and hydrogen at the CERAWeek conference.

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.

Abraj Energy Services.

Oman's Abraj signs energy deal with Saudi's Chevron, Kuwait's Gulf Oil

Oman’s Abraj Energy Services will also sell a major stake on the Muscat Stock Exchange soon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Saint Petersburg on October 11, 2022. (Photo by PAVEL BEDNYAKOV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Ukraine war at year 1: Has Gulf's neutrality on Russia invasion paid off?

Gulf countries — mainly the United Arab Emirates, then Qatar — as well as Turkey have been major recipients of Russian real estate investment in addition to direct financial injections.

By Salim A. Essaid

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.

Explainer: Israel is now an oil exporter with Energean deal, how significant?

Experts told Al-Monitor that the export is not a significant development despite the media buzz, though it may have good public relations value for Israel’s energy sector.

(From left to right) Israel's Energy Minister Haim Katz.

Despite divide over settlements, Israel expands energy cooperation with Egypt

Israel’s Energy Minister Israel Katz chose to travel to Egypt for his first visit abroad since taking office.

UAE Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber speaks during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibion and Conference at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 13, 2017.

COP-28 head Sultan Al Jaber: UAE ‘running toward’ energy transition

As the climate summit president continues to face criticism for his role as head of the UAE's state oil producer, Sultan Al Jaber argued that his position will serve more as an asset than an obstacle to energy transition.

An employee works at the Tunisian Sergaz company, that controls the Tunisian segment of the Trans-Mediterranean (Transmed) pipeline, through which natural gas flows from Algeria to Italy, in El-Haouaria, some 100km east of the capital Tunis, on April 14, 2022.

Is Italy pursuing a 'rebalancing' in North Africa?

Algeria is set to double liquified natural gas exports to Europe as Algeria finesses ties with Italy.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman looks on during a press conference after the 45th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee and the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting in Vienna, Austria, on October 5, 2022. (Photo by VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP via Getty Images)

OPEC+ likely to maintain oil output at meeting, in gesture to US

While the OPEC+ group is expected to maintain oil production at its virtual meeting set for Feb. 1, global demand for oil is estimated to reach a record high in 2023.

Oman's Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy.

Oman continues economic reforms by listing drilling company on stock exchange

Oman’s fiscal performance has improved in the last year, and the country wants to produce more alternative forms of energy, such as hydrogen.

OPEC Fund Director General - Abdulhamid Alkhalifa

OPEC Fund raises $1 billion via sustainability bond

Gulf states in the organization are showing increasing interest in funding projects related to the environment, renewable energy and green technology.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (C), Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar (R) and head of the Turkish Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan (L).

Turkey's intel chief visits Libya following trip by CIA head

Turkey’s intelligence chief Hakan Fidan paid a visit to Libya only days after his American counterpart, William Burns, traveled to the conflict-torn country.