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 An offshore rig operated by Arabian Drilling (Company) 

Restart of Offshore Rigs Revives Saudi Energy Supply Chains

Saudi Arabia is gradually restoring operational capacity in its offshore drilling sector after ADES Holding and Arabian Drilling announced on consecutive days…

Dana Aldrees (Riyadh)
Business Gold bracelets on display for sale at a gold shop in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (AFP)

Gold Nears $4,400 on Weaker Dollar, Reduced Fed Rate-hike Bets

Gold drifted higher on Monday, supported by a weaker dollar and recent soft economic data that reduced expectations for a US interest rate hike next month…

Business WINK, TEXAS - AUGUST 13: In an aerial view, oil storage tanks are seen at the rail-fed diesel base, Exxon/Mobil Wink Transloading facility on August 13, 2026 in Wink, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP

Oil Rises as US-Iran Peace Talks Stall, Hormuz Shipping Slows

Oil prices rose on Monday as fading expectations of a US-Iran peace breakthrough and slower tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reinforced geopolitical…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business S&P Affirms IsDB’s 'AAA' Rating

S&P Affirms IsDB’s 'AAA' Rating

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has affirmed the Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB) long-term issuer credit rating at “AAA,” with a stable outlook, and its short-term…

Business This handout photo taken and released on August 15, 2026 by the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group shows the Dubai Tower container ship, operated by Chinese shipowner Sea Legend, setting sail from the port of Ningbo headed to the port of Felixstow, England. (Handout / Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group / AFP)

Chinese Ship Sets off for Europe Through Arctic, Halving Travel Time

A Chinese container vessel has set sail for Europe through the Arctic, part of new weekly service on a route that cuts shipment times in half but which…

Business Sonatrach stated that delivering the jet fuel shipment to Niger reflects its efforts to enhance direct cooperation with African oil and gas companies (X)

Algeria Begins Exporting First Jet Fuel Shipments to Niger

Algeria’s Sonatrach has started delivering its first shipments of Jet A1 aviation fuel to Niger from Adrar refinery (RA1D), Sonatrach group announced on…

Asharq Al Awsat (Algiers)
Business File photo of the Saudi capital Riyadh - File/AAWSAT

Saudi Arabia Reshapes the Future of the Digital Economy Through Advanced Digital Infrastructure, Global Partnerships

Saudi Arabia has leveraged its advanced digital infrastructure and partnerships with leading global technology companies to establish its position as a global…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Arabia continues its initiatives to promote security and peace in the region... The Saudi flag is seen at a site in the city of Jazan (SPA).

Saudi Arabia Moves to Strengthen Stability and Development in the Region

At a time of growing uncertainty surrounding the global economy, amid the repercussions of the US-Iranian war, tensions related to the Strait of Hormuz, and…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business The letters of the word "Alphabet" on a computer screen featuring a Google search page in an illustration (Reuters)

Alphabet's Investment in SpaceX Multiplies 100-Fold to $94 Billion

Alphabet's early bet on SpaceX has multiplied more than 100-fold, with the Google parent disclosing a stake worth about $94 billion at the end of June compared…

Asharq Al Awsat (New York)
Business A view across Shatt al-Arab of the 'Bin Omar' oil field north of Basra, Iraq (Reuters)

Iraqi Daily Oil Exports in August Highest since Start of War

Iraq's average daily oil exports since the beginning of August are the highest since the outbreak of the Middle East war between Iran and the United States,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The American flag flies in the National Mall near the Capitol building in Washington (Reuters)

Fitch Keeps US at 'AA+', Cites Economic Resilience amid Fiscal Risks

Fitch on Thursday affirmed the sovereign credit rating for the United States at "AA+" with a stable outlook, citing its large economy, high per-capita income…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business An employee displays gold bars at the Korea Gold Exchange in Seoul (Reuters)

Gold Heads for Weekly Loss as Investors Unwind Inflation-fueled Rally

Gold prices slipped on Friday and were headed for a weekly loss as investors locked in profits a day after bullion was propelled to its highest level in more…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A SABIC manufacturing site in Jubail (SABIC Media Center) 

Saudi Petrochemical Companies Cut Losses by More than 50% in First-Half

Net losses at nine petrochemical companies listed on the Saudi Exchange fell by more than 50% in the first half of 2026 to SAR 1.7 billion ($452.8 million),…

Mohammed al-Mutairi (Riyadh)
Business A grocery store in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Saudi Inflation Holds Steady at 1.8% Despite Global Commodity Market Turmoil

Saudi Arabia’s inflation remained subdued in July at 1.8% year on year, reflecting continued overall price stability despite housing and rents remaining the…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Gas prices are seen listed as motorists make their way durig the evening commute in Monterey Park, California, on August 13, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)

Oil Rises after US Threatens Indefinite Blockade of Iran

Oil prices gained on Friday after the United States threatened an indefinite naval blockade of Iran, reviving concerns about supply of crude after the previous…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Petrol prices are displayed at a filling station, as the price of oil and gas has surged amid the conflict in the Middle East, in London, Britain, March 5, 2026 REUTERS/Jack Taylor

Diesel Prices Overtake Jet Fuel in Europe as Global Shortage Widens

Diesel cargoes are costing more than jet fuel in Europe for the first time in more than a year, LSEG data showed, as the continent replaces lower Middle East…

Business  Stray cats wait next to a fisherman at Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP)

Türkiye Central Bank Raises End-2026 Inflation Forecast to 28%, Leaves Target Unchanged

Türkiye's central bank raised its inflation forecast for the end of 2026 to 28% from 26% but left its interim inflation target for the same period at 24%,…

Business A person cycles through parched parkland in Birmingham, Britain, 13 August 2026. (EPA)

UK Economy Slows Amid Political Unrest, Middle East War

Britain's economy slowed in the second quarter, the national statistics office reported Thursday, saying that output remained "robust" despite domestic…

Business Gold bars and 'sovereign pounds' coins at Bird & Co. in Hatton Garden, London (Reuters)

Gold Off Two-month Peak as Traders Seek Inflation Cues

Gold edged lower on Thursday, after touching a more than two-month high earlier in the session, as traders paused after a rally fueled by cooling US inflation,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Oil pumpjacks are pictured in an Ecopetrol oil field in Barrancabermeja, Colombia October 11, 2024. (Reuters)

Oil Eases as Weaker Demand Outlook Counters Mideast Supply Concerns

Oil prices eased on Thursday after gains in previous sessions, as attention turned to expectations of weaker global oil demand this year, while there was no…

Business A picture illustration shows US 100 dollar bank notes taken in Tokyo August 2, 2011. (Reuters)

Dollar Treads Water as Fed Hike Bets Pared on Benign US Inflation

The dollar's advance stalled on Thursday after an overall benign US inflation reading overnight spurred traders to pare back bets for a near-term Federal…

Business People are seen at an edition of the Digital Government Forum. (SPA)

Saudi Digital Government Authority Announces Rise in Digital Experience Maturity Index to 87.06% in 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority (DGA) announced on Wednesday the results of the Digital Experience Maturity Index for 2026, which reached 87.06%,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi announces the round of bidding on Wednesday. (Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources)

Egypt Opens Bid for 14 Oil and Gas Concessions

Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi announced on Wednesday the launch of the 2026 international bid round for crude oil and gas…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

World Bank: Saudi Arabia Ranks Among Top 10 Global AI Investors

The World Bank has highlighted the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), in…

Asharq Al Awsat