Business

World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

Business A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)

World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

World food prices edged lower in October as weaker import demand contributed to monthly declines in cereal, dairy and meat prices, but were still nearly 6%…

Business Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)

Copper Falls, Set for Worst Week Since March on AI Rout

Copper dropped on Friday and was set for its biggest weekly drop in London since March, as a rout in technology stocks battered markets. Benchmark three…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)

Emerging Economies Set to Match Advanced Nations’ Renewable Capacity Additions, IEA Says

Emerging ‌and developing economies outside China are expected to add as much new renewable energy capacity as advanced economies for the first time over…

Business Gold bracelets displayed in a shop window on Green Street, east London, UK, April 30, 2024. (AFP)

Gold Drops Over 1% on Higher Oil Prices; US Payrolls Data in Focus

Gold prices slipped on Friday as oil prices rebounded, fanning inflation worries and higher-for-longer interest rate expectations, while investors awaited key…

Business A pumpjack operates near Bakersfield, California, on Oct. 16. (AFP)

Oil Set for Sharp Weekly Drop but Middle East Supply Concerns Provide Floor

Oil prices are set for a sharp weekly drop on expectations of a de-escalation of the Iran war after US President Donald Trump's party suffered election losses,…


Business 'Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead' panel in Davos on Thursday

Saudi Arabia to Host World Economic Forum Meeting in April

Saudi Arabia will host a special World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in April, Economy Minister Faisal Alibrahim said on Thursday. The meeting, scheduled to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. (Environmental Protection Agency)

Moody's Warns of Potential Credit Impact in Middle East Amid Gaza Conflict

Moody's Investor Services expected significant negative credit repercussions on all sovereign bodies in the Middle East if the military conflict in Gaza…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business Saudi Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan participating at a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos titled “Resilience: What It Means and What to Do About It” (screengrab)

Saudi Arabia Stresses Global Need for Structural Reforms at Davos

Saudi ministers at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, highlighted the need for governments to take proactive steps such as implementing…

Asharq Al Awsat (Davos )
Business Aramco CEO Amin Nasser expected the oil market to tighten after consumers depleted stocks by 400 million barrels in the last two years (Reuters)

Aramco CEO: Red Sea Attacks May Cause Tanker Shortage

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said global oil markets will cope with Red Sea disruptions in the short run, although prolonged attacks by the Houthis on ships…

Asharq Al Awsat (Davos)
Business File photo: A Houthi military helicopter flies over a cargo ship in the Red Sea. (Reuters)

Red Sea Ship Diversions Boost Bunker Demand, Prices in Africa, Mediterranean

The re-routing of a growing number of ships around Africa to avoid potential attacks in the Red Sea is altering refueling patterns and boosting demand for…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A model of an oil rig in front of the OPEC logo. (Reuters)

OPEC Leaves Forecast for 2024 Oil-Demand Growth Unchanged

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Wednesday stuck to its forecast for relatively strong growth in global oil demand in 2024 and…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Aramco considers innovation key to addressing some of the fundamental challenges facing the world today, including the energy transition. (The company’s website)

Aramco Expands Global Venture Capital Program with $4 Bln Funds Injection

Aramco has allocated an additional $4 billion to its global venture capital arm, Aramco Ventures. It will more than double the capital allotted to Aramco…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), achieved a 12.07 percent annual increase in container handling for 2023. (SPA)

Saudi Mawani Achieves 12.07% Growth in Container Handling in 2023

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), achieved a 12.07 percent annual increase in container handling for 2023, totaling 8,443,746 compared to 7,534,307 in 2022…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Small industrial establishments account for the largest percentage of factories in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Govt Support Ensures Growth of Industrial SMEs in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi government provides a wide range of services and support to enable entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium industrial enterprises to transform…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati and President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan Al-Huwaizi meet on Tuesday. (SPA)

Iran Aims to Boost Economic Ties with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati emphasized his country’s commitment to bolstering economic relations with the Kingdom, to revitalize trade…

Business The largest construction event in Saudi Arabia, Big 5 Construct Saudi, returns for its 12th edition to the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre on February 26-29. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia to Host Largest Construction Expo in February

The largest construction event in Saudi Arabia, Big 5 Construct Saudi, returns for its 12th edition to the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre on…

Business One of the factories under Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) for brine water mining (Asharq Al-Awsat)

‘Saudi Desalination’: Chinese Plants for Brine Mining Operational by 2026

The General Manager of Commercial Services at the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Eng. Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, announced the start of operations for…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Digital Cooperation Organization seeks to adopt the six significant trends in the digital economy. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Six Trend Themes to Shape Digital Landscape in 2024

An international report identified six trend themes that will influence the digital economy this year and act as pivotal factors shaping the evolution and…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Heads of Saudi-foreign business councils at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Chambers Seek Boosting Trade Relations with 124 Countries

President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hasan al-Huwaizi announced a comprehensive project to develop the Saudi-foreign business councils with several…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi government is working to provide strategic reserves for essential goods (SPA)

Saudi Inflation Hits Two-Year Low in December

Saudi Arabia’s inflation slowed to 1.5 percent in December 2023, compared to 1.7 percent in the previous month, official data showed. This places…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Participants arrive at the Davos Conference Center. (AP)

Industry Minister: Saudi Arabia's Participation at Davos Confirms Its Role in Facing Global Challenges

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar AlKhorayef said the Kingdom's participation in the World Economic Forum 2024 annual meeting in Davos…

Business The inauguration of EVIQ’s first fast-charge station operations for electric vehicles in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat

EVIQ Launches Fast-Charge Service for Electric Vehicles in Riyadh

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ) has announced the start of its first fast-charge station operations for electric vehicles in Riyadh city. …

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Officials during a tour of several heritage locations in AlUla (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Qatar Airways Adds Flights to AlUla in Saudi Arabia

Qatar Airways has announced the success of its inaugural journey to AlUla, west of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi EXIM signed an MOU with its American counterpart during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi EXIM Provides $2.5 Billion in Credit Solutions to Stimulate Mining Exports

the Saudi Export-Import Bank (EXIM) has succeeded, during the past years, in providing credit solutions worth approximately SAR 9.3 billion ($2.5 billion) to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business These agreements underscore GCA's elevated professional standing, at both regional and international levels - SPA

Saudi Arabia, China Sign MoU in Accounting, Auditing, and Professional Practices

General Court of Audit (GCA) President Dr. Hussam Al-Angari and Auditor General of the National Audit Office (CNAO) of the People’s Republic of China Hou Kai…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Technical, Operational, and Maintenance Agency, headed by the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, tests the reliability of the electrical supply to the Grand Mosque. (SPA)

Saudization in Operation and Maintenance Sector Reaches 34%

Saudi nationals’ participation in the workforce continues to increase, with Saudization in the operation and maintenance sector reaching 34 percent. Since…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi Finance Ministry expected inflation to reach 2.6% by the end of 2023 (SPA)

Capital Economics Expects Saudi Inflation to Decline to 1% Mid 2024

The Capital Economics research institution expected inflation to decline in Saudi Arabia to reach 1% on an annual basis by mid-2024. The institution said in a…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The total investments of traditional commercial banks in securities increased by 13.2 percent to reach about $12.5 billion by the end of November. (Oman News Agency).

Oman Central Bank's Foreign Assets Decline to 6.5 Bln Rials in November

The foreign assets held by the Central Bank of Oman contracted to 6.52 billion Omani riyal ($16.98 billion), marking a 4.27 percent decrease compared to year…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Arabia was able to preserve more than 90,000 hectares and plant 50 million trees (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Environment Ministry Announces Recycling Plan, Boosting GDP by SR120 Bn

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) revealed a plan to develop the waste sector in the Kingdom which includes a 95% recycling…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)