Economy and trade

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik pose during a meeting with business leaders in Paris on June 29, 2026.

Oman's sultan meets Macron in first France visit since 1989: What to know

French President Emmanuel Macron has been pushing against any form of toll for the Strait of Hormuz.

AFP via Getty Images

Traffic plummets through Strait of Hormuz after Iran, US trade fire

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had recovered somewhat before renewed fighting between Iran and the United States saw traffic drop sharply over the weekend.

A student attends a training seminar at the Tourism Ministry Training center in the city of Riyadh on August 30, 2022.

Interview

Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO

Around 70% of Saudi Arabia's population is 35 years old or younger, according to the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics, providing ample opportunity for an educated and technology-savvy national workforce in the coming decades.

Olivier Badard

CEO of Armada Holding

A tourist boat passes near crude oil tankers, bulk carriers, and other vessels anchored off Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman, June 19, 2026.

Analysis

Why the Hormuz oil shock never became an energy catastrophe

The US-Israel-Iran war produced a historic oil supply shock but not a severe global economic crisis, due to ample prewar supplies, China's energy pivot and strategic reserve releases.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Oil falls below $74 as Hormuz traffic recovers after Iran war

Elke Scholiers/Getty Images

Explainer

Lebanon advances controversial $500K golden visa law: What to know

A picture shows the four seasons hotel in Beirut with the snow covered mountain of Sannine in the background on March 8, 2019.

Explainer

Qatar blast underscores challenges in race to restart Gulf energy flows

Qatar's Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy Saad Sherida al-Kaabi speaks during a press conference in Doha on June 22, 2026.

Interview

US-Egypt fund makes case for economic statecraft in hard power era

A worker counts banknotes after filling up the tank of a vehicle at a petrol station in Giza on March 10, 2026.

Cornelius Queen

Cornelius Queen

Senior Vice President of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund

Qatar

Qatar International Islamic Bank retains A credit rating from Moody's

The leading Islamic bank’s head said the rating reflects its ability to withstand the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iraqis stand outside the parliament building, or Council of Representatives, in Baghdad's Green Zone on Feb. 27, 2020.

The Takeaway: Iraq takes first steps toward new government: What comes next

Updates from our regional correspondents on Turkey, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt; multimedia on Israel and Iran — all in about 1,000 words.

Sarahbeth Maney/Getty Images

Israel pledges to keep US in loop on trade with China

In the face of growing American concerns, Jerusalem has reportedly promised Washington it will keep it abreast of any major business deals with Beijing.

Bennett

As omicron spreads, Israelis turn against Bennett

Many Israelis feel that the government and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett have lost control over battling the spread of the coronavirus omicron variant.

Chinese Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum on May 14, 2017 in Beijing, China.

Syria joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative

The admission of Syria into the Chinese economic project is the latest sign of strengthening relations between Damascus and Beijing.

A Lebanese woman walks past closed stores in the northern city of Tripoli on Feb. 25, 2020.

Economic meltdown revives forgotten occupations in Lebanon

Occupations that disappeared over time, most notably that of cobbler and tailor, have been revived due to the decline in citizens’ purchasing power.

Cryptocurrency

Hamas plans to continue using cryptocurrencies for operations

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz signed an order to seize more than $800,000 on cryptocurrency on its way to Hamas, but a spokesperson for the movement said that the Israeli announcement was exaggerated.

Israel technology

Despite pandemic, Israeli high-tech industry soars

The Israeli high-tech sector has thrived through the end of 2021, with Israeli unicorns making more money than ever before and entering the US stock exchanges.

A file picture dated Nov. 24, 2008, shows an Egyptian patrol ship navigating the Suez Canal.

Suez Canal to establish sovereign wealth fund

The Suez Canal Authority has unveiled a plan to establish a sovereign wealth fund to shield the canal from fluctuations in global trade and crises like COVID-19.

Lebanese army troops take part in a military parade held at the Defence Ministry in Yarzeh on the eastern outskirts of Beirut on Nov. 22, 2021.

Lebanon and Iraq ink defense cooperation agreement

Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Sleem is in Iraq for an official visit.

Turkey tourism

Egyptian travel companies profit on Turkey visits due to falling lira

Egyptian tourism companies are seeking to take advantage of the low exchange rate of the Turkish lira to promote their programs in Turkey even after the summer season is over.

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Egyptians carry on tradition of entrusting savings to gold

Many Egyptians see gold as the safest investment option for their savings, especially in times of economic uncertainty.