Business

50-Year Contracts Open New Horizons for Real Estate Investment in Saudi Arabia

Business A neighborhood in the Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)

50-Year Contracts Open New Horizons for Real Estate Investment in Saudi Arabia

Long-term real estate investment models are opening new opportunities for Saudi Arabia's private sector, as the Kingdom seeks to expand partnerships with…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Gold chips displayed at a state-owned gold retail store in Surabaya, East Java (AFP)

Gold Rallies as Dollar, Treasury Yields Soften after US Midterm Results

Gold climbed to its highest level in over two weeks on Thursday as the fallout from the US midterm election results rippled through the global financial and…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Hong Kong stocks rallied more than three percent on a broadly healthy day for Asian markets. Leung Man Hei / AFP

Tech Hit by New AI Worries on Positive Day for Most Markets

Tech firms tumbled Thursday as investors contemplated the outlook for the AI boom after Democrats swept the US midterms, partly on the back of growing anger…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Türkiye is rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity. But as host of COP31, the country faces growing pressure to match its clean energy ambitions with a clear commitment to phase out fossil fuels. Yasin AKGUL / AFP

Türkiye Showcases Renewables Surge, but Leaves Coal Intact

On a windy hillside about an hour's drive northwest of Istanbul, the Catalca power plant was one of Türkiye's first large-scale wind farms and has been feeding…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Officials from the General Organization for Social Insurance at an earlier meeting with businessmen and businesswomen at the Riyadh Chamber (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Offers 100% Social Insurance Debt Waiver to Businesses That Have Exited Market

Saudi Arabia's General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has made businesses that have ceased operations and exited the Saudi market eligible for a 100%…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)

Business Globant’s Middle East Regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Globant) 

Globant Opens Its Middle East Regional Headquarters in Riyadh  

Globant, a digitally native company focused on reinventing businesses through innovative technology, inaugurated on Monday its Middle East Regional…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi and Chinese delegations meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Energy Meets China's Special Envoy for Climate Change 

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met in Riyadh on Monday with China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin. The…

Business A couple in traditional costumes walk on a pedestrian crossing for a wedding photo shoot at the Forbidden City in Beijing on May 24, 2025. (AFP)

China’s Industrial Profits Maintain Growth Momentum in April Despite Trade Tensions 

China's industrial profits picked up pace in April, official data showed on Tuesday, signaling economic resilience in the face of trade tensions with the…

Business US dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken May 4, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Euro Could Become the Dollar's Alternative, Lagarde Says

The euro could become a viable alternative to the dollar, earning the 20-nation bloc immense benefits, if governments could only strengthen the bloc's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A handout picture released by Iraq's Prime Minister's Press Office on January 2, 2025, shows a partial view of the oil refinery of Baiji north of Baghdad, during the inauguration ceremony of the fourth and fifth units. (Iraq's Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP)

Iraqi Oil Ministry Sues Kurdish Region's Govt. over US Contracts

The Iraqi federal government's oil ministry has sued the government of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq over oil and gas contracts it signed with…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A worker collects wheat at the Benha grain silos, in Al Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, May 19, 2022. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

Egypt Aims to Boost Local Wheat Procurement to Cut Imports, Says Minister

Egypt could significantly reduce its wheat imports this year as domestic procurement is expected to reach up to 5 million metric tons, compared to 3.5 million…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

Oil Edges up after Trump Extends EU Trade Talks Deadline

Oil prices rose on Monday after US President Donald Trump extended a deadline for trade talks with the European Union, easing concerns about US tariffs on the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business People tour by a projector screen promoting a newly opened outdoor Hutong style shopping mall, in Beijing, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP)

China Says Moody’s Reaffirming Ratings Reflects Its ‘Positive Prospects’ 

Moody's decision to keep China's ratings and outlook unchanged is a "positive reflection of the positive prospects of China's economy," China's finance…

Business The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Announce New Oil Discovery in Partitioned Zone

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait announced on Monday that Wafra Joint Operations have made a new oil discovery in (North Wafra Wara-Burgan) field, located 5 kilometers…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Deputy Finance Minister Abdulmohsen Al-Khalaf speaks during the panel discussion (Photo: Turki Al-Agili)

IMF Forecasts Steady 1% Annual Growth for Gulf Economies Through 2026

Despite a climate of global and regional economic uncertainty, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business IMF Director of Middle East and Central Asia Department Dr. Jihad Azour, speaking during the session in Riyadh (Photo: Turki Al-Agili)

Azour: Saudi Arabia Adapts to Global Challenges Thanks to Reforms, Strong Reserves

Saudi Arabia continues to demonstrate resilience in the face of global economic challenges, bolstered by structural reforms and substantial financial reserves,…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth//File Photo

Gold Edges Lower as Trump Extends EU Tariff Deadline

Gold prices eased on Monday after US President Donald Trump set a July 9 deadline for a trade deal with the European Union, rescinding his earlier threat of a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business US-China trade misinformation could undermine a fragile truce on tariffs. SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Misinformation Casts Shadow on US-China Trade Truce

From false claims of Americans panic-buying Chinese goods to bot-driven attacks on US brands, a tide of misinformation is casting a shadow over a temporary…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business PIC representatives sign on Sunday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China’s Wanhua Chemical Group (KUNA)

Kuwait, China Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation in Petrochemical Sector

The Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), signed on Sunday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China…

Asharq Al Awsat (Kuwait City)
Business US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, April 2, 2025. Reuters 

Trump Agrees to Delay EU Tariffs Until July 9

US President Donald Trump backed away on Sunday from his threat to slap 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union next month, agreeing to extend the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A crude oil tanker (ONA)

Oman’s Asyad Purchases Two Crude Oil Tankers

Oman’s Asyad Shipping on Saturday announced the purchase of two crude oil tankers, among the largest in the world, with a capacity of up to two million barrels…

Asharq Al Awsat (Muscat)
Business Hadaf booth at a conference in Jeddah (Hadaf website)

Gov’t Push Spurs Firms to Hire More Saudis

Saudi Arabia’s drive to nationalize its labor force gathered pace in the first quarter of 2025, with more than 143,000 Saudis landing jobs thanks to government…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The event brought together over 120 partners from across the Kingdom’s tourism. SPA

Tourism Minister Launches ‘Saudi Summer’ Program 2025

Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Tourism Authority Ahmed Al-Khateeb launched the 2025 edition of the “Saudi Summer” program under the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The recognition stems from a joint effort between the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Named Among Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah has been named one of the Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025 by the British travel platform Wanderlust, which annually highlights…

Business A general view of the Nile River from the Egyptian capital, Cairo (Reuters).

Egypt Seeks Up to 60 LNG Shipments

Egypt is in advanced talks with global energy and trading firms to secure between 40 and 60 shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG), aiming to meet urgent…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Saudi Aramco engineers and journalists look at the Hawiyah Natural Gas Liquids Recovery Plant in Hawiyah, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia on June 28, 2021. (AP)

Saudi Energy Firms Post $26 Billion in Q1 Profits

Saudi Arabia’s listed energy companies recorded a combined net profit of SAR 97.76 billion ($26.06 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 4% decline…

Mohammed al-Mutairi (Riyadh)
Business President Donald Trump attends a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Event in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump Threatens New Tariffs on European Union and Apple, Reigniting Trade Fears

US President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to ratchet up his trade war again, pushing for a 50% tariff on European Union goods starting June 1 and warning…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim. (SPA)

Saudi Non-Oil Sector Hits Record 54.8% of GDP

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim delivered the opening remarks at the Saudi-Spanish Business Forum, affirming that Saudi Arabia is…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaves after a day of meetings at the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada, May 21, 2025. (Reuters)

Bessent Says Trump Tariff Threat May Light a Fire Under EU in Trade Talks

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday that President Donald Trump does not believe that the European Union's trade offers to the United States are of…