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August 6, 2026

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diamonds

Explainer

Qatar launches diamond exchange as Hormuz crisis chokes LNG exports

Qatar's new diamond exchange is an effort to diversify from the country's main exports, LNG and petroleum products, which have been severely cut as a result of the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

A ship sails off the coast of Ajman on July 10, 2026.

Interview

Why Strait of Hormuz no longer rattles oil markets as much: IMF

The fund's Middle East director, Jihad Azour, told Al-Monitor that the big Gulf energy producers now have more capacity to absorb the shock.

Jihad Azour

Jihad Azour

Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund

Latest News

Oil soars more than 6% as Trump rules out Iran deal, threatens more strikes

A cargo ship is pictured off coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on June 28, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Karen Young

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy

Reve Chaaban

In Doha reporting on culture

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Does Hamas have a future after Gaza war?

Also: Qatar’s outsized diplomacy and we need to talk about Iran.

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

Palestinian Hamas supporters raise flags as they rally in support of the occupied West Bank and the Nablus-based Lion's Den armed group (Areen Al-Asood), following the Friday noon prayers in Gaza City, on Nov. 25, 2022.

After Israel attack, US follows Hamas trail of money

As Israel fights Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the United States is waging its own battle against the militant group’s finances.

Harry McGuire Man Utd

Qatar pulls out of Manchester United acquisition race

The Qatari royal and banker had bid 5 billion pounds ($6 billion) for the British soccer club but further talks last week have broken down, the BBC reported Sunday.

Iranians attend a gathering in Tehran on October 7, 2023, to express their solidarity with Palestine after Hamas militants launched a deadly air, land and sea assault into Israel from the Gaza Strip. A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced support for a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, calling it a "proud operation". (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

US, Qatar reportedly agree to pause Iran's access to $6 billion fund

The Biden administration faced mounting congressional pressure to punish Iran over the surprise attack on Israel carried out by its proxy, Hamas.

Man Utd 1

Jim Ratcliffe revises Manchester United bid as Qatar's offer is considered

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, a Qatari banker and the son of a former Qatari prime minister, is the only other party to have publicly stated that they are trying to buy the British soccer club.

Oil pumpers

China’s Bomesc to build $220M Qatar offshore oil, gas facility for Italy’s Saipem

The Tianjin-based engineering, procurement and construction company will build the compression facility for an oil and gas field off the coast of northern Qatar for industrial machine manufacturer Servizi Energia Italia.

Ansari Hagedorn

Inside Qatar’s key role in US-Iran prisoner swap

Majed Al-Ansari, an adviser to the Qatari prime minister, details the behind-the-scenes diplomacy that led to the prisoner deal, and why Doha believes there now exists a “platform for dialogue” between Iran and the United States.

The Telegraph newspaper

Qatari investors in talks with Daily Mail owner to buy rival newspaper group

The influential Telegraph Media Group, which will come up for auction in a few weeks, has strong links to the ruling Conservative government.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Hungary inks deal for Qatari gas

Hungary and Qatar have signed a gas exportation deal as Europe diversifies its energy sources.

Harry Maguire

Manchester United expected to close $9.15B sale to Qatari royal

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Jim Ratcliffe, CEO of UK-based petrochemicals company INEOS, have been competing to buy the soccer team.

A worker performs a routine inspection of filters at the Hadera Desalination Facility, in the central Israeli coastal town of Hadera on April 3, 2002. - Israel, a leader in making seawater drinkable, plans to pump excess output from its desalination plants into the Sea of Galilee, depleted by overuse and threatened by climate change. Israel now plans to tackle the challenge by reversing the water flow through its vast network of pumps, pipes and tunnels dating to the 1960s, the National Water Carrier. (Phot

Middle East Water Security: Competition heats up as resources become scarcer

The Middle East and North Africa region is “the most water-scarce region in the world” and is home to 11 of the 17 most water-stressed countries globally.

A man stands in front of Argentina's Central Bank in Buenos Aires, on May 15, 2023.

Qatar loans Argentina $775 million to repay IMF

Qatar continues its practice of assisting financially strapped countries by providing a loan to Argentina, which is also planning to use the yuan to purchase Chinese imports.