Business

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

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 A general view shows Ras Tanura's oil production plant near Dammam in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province (AFP)

From Aramco's Profits to State Budget Revenue: How Do Oil Proceeds Reach Government Coffers?

Saudi Aramco's financial results and Saudi Arabia's third-quarter budget performance report, released on the same day, revealed a divergence between the…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Representation of cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration taken September 10, 2025. (Reuters)

Crypto Dips on Democrat Midterm Wins, Binance Hack Dents Optimism

Cryptocurrencies briefly dipped on Wednesday as Democrats won majorities in both the Senate and House in the US midterm elections, a potential blow to an…

Business A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images file)

Saudi Non-Oil Sector Expands for Seventh Straight Month

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector continued to expand in October, with business activity and output growth accelerating despite a decline in the Riyad Bank…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business  A general view of Riyadh city during the early hour of evening at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28, 2025. (Reuters)

Growth in Non-Oil Revenue Bolsters Saudi Budget Resilience

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil revenue surpassed oil revenue in the third quarter of 2026 for the first time since 2020, highlighting progress in diversifying…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)

Business A worker oversees bread production at a bakery in Omdurman (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Rising Bread Prices Add to Sudanese Struggles as Production Costs Soar

A 35% increase in the price of a loaf of bread to 500 Sudanese pounds has placed further pressure on households in Sudan, where purchasing power continues to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Oil storage tanks in the Philippines (X)

Philippines Says in Talks with Saudi Arabia for Oil Storage

The Philippines is in talks with Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States to store oil in the country, its energy secretary said on Wednesday, in a bid to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius gestures as he participates in a talk during the Berlin Global Dialogue 2026 in Berlin, Germany, 21 October 2026. EPA/CLEMENS BILAN

Mercedes to Cut More Jobs as Chinese Competition Bites

Premium German carmaker Mercedes-Benz will restart a voluntary redundancy program and is in discussion with unions over further cost-cuts, its chief executive…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends the ISEAS 49th Singapore Lecture, in Singapore, October 27, 2026. (Reuters)

Merz Invites Japan to Back Trade Alliance as China Asks Germany to Be ‘Rational’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday urged Japan to back a proposed global alliance to defend rules-based trade that he has been touting during a week…

Business Ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold are placed in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. (Reuters)

Gold Slips on Oil-Fueled Inflation Fears Ahead of Fed Meeting

Gold prices ticked lower on Wednesday after the previous session's climb of about 1%, as higher oil prices stoked inflation fears while investors awaited the…

Business Investcorp's headquarters. (AFP)

Investcorp Strengthens Its Saudi Portfolio by Investing in REDA Gulf

Despite rising regional tensions, Saudi companies continue to attract investment. Investcorp, the leading global alternative investment firm, said on Tuesday…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business During the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Singapore's Energy Market Authority and JTC Corporation and Saudi Aramco (X)

Saudi Oil Storage in Singapore to Boost Resilience Against Disruptions

Saudi Arabia is moving to strengthen its grip on Asian energy markets by storing crude oil in Singapore from the second half of 2027, according to Energy…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business A view of operations at the Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center, which facilitates procedures for companies and businesses entering the local market Photo: Turky Alagili

New Saudi Law Broadens Business Participation, Supports Entrepreneurs

Saudi Arabia has cleared the way for citizens as young as 15 to do business under a sweeping new commercial transactions law, a move aimed at bringing more…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the International Energy Agency in Paris, France, December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

IEA: The Age of Electricity is Coming, We Will Still Use Oil and Natural Gas

The concentration of a small number of countries in clean energy supply chains is an emerging challenge for Southeast Asian countries, International Energy…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Cypriot Cronos field in the Mediterranean is being developed by a joint venture between operator Eni and TotalEnergies (X)

Cyprus Seals $1.8 Bn Deal to Develop First Commercial Gas Project

Cyprus signed contracts worth $1.8 billion with Italian energy provider Eni on Monday to develop the Mediterranean island nation's first commercial gas project…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business People alight from a tram outside the HSBC bank headquarters in Hong Kong on October 27, 2026, ahead of the bank's third quarter results announcement. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

HSBC Shares Tumble 6% after Third-quarter Revenue Disappoints, Wealth Growth Slows

HSBC's shares slid 6% on Tuesday after revenue undershot estimates and growth at its wealth business slowed, highlighting the challenge big banks face to…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business Several Saudi banks in a public space (Company handout).

Saudi Banks’ Nine-Month Profits Near $20 Billion

Saudi Arabia’s banking sector continued to post record profits in the first nine months of 2026, driven by lending growth, strong credit demand and expanding…

Mohammed al-Mutairi (Riyadh)
Business Airbus logo at the Paris Air Show (Le Bourget), near Paris on June 17, 2025. Bertrand Guay, AFP

US Official Warns EU Airbus Loan Puts Trade Deal at Risk

A tariff truce between the European Union and United States is potentially at risk due to a multibillion-dollar loan approved by the bloc's investment bank for…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Gold bars bearing the phrase 'Lucky Gold' written in Chinese characters displayed at a gold shop in Hangzhou (AFP)

Gold Eases on Firmer Dollar Ahead of Fed Decision

Gold prices slipped on Tuesday, weighed down by a firmer dollar, while investors looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's policy meeting for fresh guidance on the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A general view of the Benban plant of photovoltaic solar panels in Aswan, Egypt, November 17, 2019. (Reuters)

Egypt Signs Preliminary Financing Agreement on $650 Million Solar Project in Upper Egypt

Egypt has signed a preliminary financing agreement with Norway's Scatec and three multilateral development banks for a $650 million solar power project in the…

Business HAZEM, the first Saudi naval combat management system of its kind, is among the project’s most significant outcomes. It was developed through a strategic partnership between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Spain’s Navantia - SPA

RSNF Launches HMS NEOM Under Second Phase of Sarawat Project

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) launched His Majesty's Ship NEOM (HMS NEOM), the second ship in the second phase of the Sarawat Project, at Navantia’s…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Pumpjacks operating in Kern County, which has a long history of oil production, in California's 22nd Congressional District on October 16, 2026 near Bakersfield, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Oil Drops from Near Six-Month Highs on Hopes Iran War Hostilities to Ease

Oil prices fell on Monday after surging last week to near six-month highs, amid hopes of easing hostilities between the United States and Iran. US West Texas…

Business A new airport in western Sydney handled its first international flight on October 26, 2026. SAEED KHAN / AFP

First International Flight Takes Off From New Sydney Airport

The first international flight took off Monday from a new, multi-billion-dollar airport in the fast-growing western suburbs of Sydney. After more than four…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Traders are looking ahead to the release of key earnings reports and central bank meetings. Daniel ROLAND / AFP

Stock Markets Mixed ahead of Tech Earnings, Central Bank Decisions

Equity markets were mixed on Monday as investors geared up for a crucial run of central bank decisions and tech earnings, while oil prices retreated from a six…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A Saudi Energy employee at work. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Revises Electricity, Water Tariffs, Announces Monthly Support

Saudi Arabia will revise electricity, water and wastewater tariffs from January 1, 2027, to improve consumption efficiency and sustain essential services,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. (Reuters file)

Abdulaziz bin Salman: Saudi Arabia Continues to Supply Energy Markets Despite the Challenges

Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stressed on Monday that the Kingdom has continued to supply global energy…

Business The headquarters of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) is seen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters) 

SABIC Returns to Profitability in Q3 as Revenues and Earnings Improved

The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) returned to profitability in the third quarter of 2026, reporting a net profit of $133 million (SAR 499 million)…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business An artist’s rendering of the Wadi Safar project in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat). 

Dar Global CEO: Now Is the Best Time to Invest in Gulf Real Estate

Dar Global aims to leverage its investor network spanning nearly 120 nationalities to attract more foreign capital to Saudi Arabia’s property market, CEO Ziad…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Riyadh)
Business Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party drive in a car adorned with campaign posters in Tel Aviv on October 25, 2026, ahead of Israel's legislative election. (AFP)

Netanyahu Rebuked for Plan to Use Crypto to Bypass Economic Sanctions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces re-election this week, is drawing criticism from economists and political rivals after suggesting Israel could use…