Hala Saghbini

Hala Saghbini
Business Cars drive past city skyscrapers in Riyadh on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)

Diversified Oil Export Routes Pave the Way for Strong Saudi Economic Recovery in 2027

As war reshapes energy flows across the region, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is forecasting a strong recovery for Saudi Arabia's economy in 2027, with…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi capital Riyadh. Reuters

From Supply Security to Artificial Intelligence: Issues Bringing Global Energy Leaders Together in Riyadh

The global energy sector is turning its attention to Riyadh starting Sunday, as a week of ministerial meetings and international events gets underway, bringing…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Women use paddleboards, as a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz appears in the distance, near the beach of Bandar Abbas, Iran, October 6, 2026. Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA/via WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

World Energy Council to Asharq Al-Awsat: Diversifying Routes is Essential to Withstand Shocks

Recent disruptions to oil trade flows have highlighted the importance of having multiple routes to market and infrastructure capable of absorbing shocks, at a…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Ships are anchored off the coast of Khasab in Oman's Musandam Governorate, near the Strait of Hormuz, on October 2, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

World Bank to Asharq Al-Awsat: Easing of Hormuz Shock to Drive Saudi Growth to 7.9% in 2027

Saudi Arabia's economy is expected to stage a strong rebound in 2027 as the effects of disruptions to energy and trade flows fade. The World Bank forecasts the…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)

From Absorbing the Shock to Recovery: How Is Saudi Arabia Building a More Resilient Economy?

Economic strength is no longer measured solely by GDP growth rates, the size of foreign reserves, or the ability to attract investment during prosperous times…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region, speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat. (Turky Al-Agili) p-circle 05:41

World Bank: $12 Billion Needed Annually to Turn Food Security into an Economic Opportunity

Food security in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is no longer merely a question of how much food is available on people’s tables. It…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on September 02, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

‘Nomura’ to Asharq Al-Awsat: Bond Yields Reshape Region’s Cost of Capital

Global debt markets are entering a new era of higher borrowing costs, with US, Japanese and British bond yields climbing to levels not seen in years amid three…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Pipes at the landfall facilities of the “Nord Stream 1” gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. (Reuters)

Winter Tests European Energy Security... Algeria Advances to the Forefront

Europe is approaching winter facing a more complex gas equation than in previous years: lower-than-usual inventories, prices that have surged to levels the…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)