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 PIOB announced the selection of Sami bin Mohammad Al-Shorafa, the General Director of the General Department of Financial Statements and Auditors at the Capital Market Authority, to represent Saudi Arabia on the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) for a period of three years.

Saudi Arabia Wins First-Ever Seat in International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

The Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB) announced the selection of Sami bin Mohammad Al-Shorafa, the General Director of the General Department of Financial…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Heathrow is one of the world’s largest air traffic platforms, connecting the UK with global trading partners to help stimulate economic growth. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia’s PIF to Buy 10% Stake in London Heathrow Airport

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced that it has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire a 10% stake in London Heathrow Airport as part…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Tourists browse inside a souvenir shop at the Nanluoguxiang tourism area in Beijing, China, 25 November 2023. (EPA)

World Economy Will Slow Next Year Because of Inflation, High Rates and War, OECD Says 

The global economy, which has proved surprisingly resilient this year, is expected to falter next year under the strain of wars, still-elevated inflation and…

Business An ear of wheat is seen during a harvesting in a field near the village Kyshchentsi, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Cherkasy region, Ukraine July 18, 2023. (Reuters)

Morocco to Prolong Wheat Import Campaign in January-April 

Morocco will offer subsidies to import up to 2.5 million metric tons of soft wheat between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2024, state grains agency ONICL said, as the…

Business FILE PHOTO: Gold bars are pictured at the plant of gold and silver refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse//File Photo

Gold at Near 7-month Peak as Dollar, Yields Dip on Fed Rate-cut Bets

Gold prices touched nearly a seven-month high on Wednesday, propelled by a decline in the US dollar and bond yields as investors grew confident that the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business In March 2022, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and K-SURE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) expressing mutual intention to strengthen their partnership and cooperation (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia's PIF Raises $5Bn from Syndicated Loan

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) signed on Nov. 28 a financing agreement through which PIF has…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) following Riyadh’s victory in securing hosting rights to Expo 2030 (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia to Host World Expo in 2030, Crown Prince Hails Win as Culmination of Saudi Vision Goals

Saudi Arabia secured a decisive victory in the bid to host the Expo 2030 World Fair, as announced by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris on…

Michel Abou Najm (Paris) Ghazi al-Harthi (Paris)
Business A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of the OPEC logo (File Photo: Reuters)

OPEC: IEA's Vision is 'Extremely Narrow'

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) refuted the latest report of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which sparked controversy in…

Sabry Nageh (Cairo)
Business Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) announced that Single Stock Options (SSOs) contracts will be available to trade as of Monday. (SPA)

Single Stock Options Contracts Help in Developing Saudi Market, Attracting Investors

The Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) launched on Monday single stock options (SSOs) contracts, the newest offering in its derivatives market. The new offerings…

Mohammed al-Mutairi (Riyadh)
Business The vote for the host city of the 2030 World Expo is set to take place in Paris on Nov.28. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Decision Day: Which City Will Secure Hosting Rights for Expo 2030?

The general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will convene in Paris on Tuesday to vote on the selection of the winning city to host…

Business The profits of real estate sector companies in Saudi Arabia jumped by 153 percent during the first nine months of 2023. (SPA)

Saudi Real Estate Profits Jump 153% at End of 3rd Quarter

The profits of real estate sector companies in Saudi Arabia jumped by 153 percent during the first nine months of 2023, compared to the same period last year,…

Mohammed al-Mutairi (Riyadh)
Business Model of the Hassyan Power Complex in Dubai. (ACWA power)

Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power Begins Commercial Operations at Hassyan Power Complex

The Saudi company ACWA Power announced on Sunday the start of commercial operation of the Hassyan Power Complex, which has a capacity of 2,400 megawatts. In…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The new international version of the Media Oasis is being held by the Saudi Ministry of Information in Paris from Nov. 26-28. (SPA)

Major Projects Confirm Riyadh’s Ability to Organize Exceptional Expo 2030

The General Assembly of the International Bureau of Exhibitions (BIE) is preparing to choose the country which will host Expo 2030, as the representatives of…

Ghazi al-Harthi (Paris)
Business Northern Border Investment Forum “Promising Investment Prospects in the Northern Border Region” (SPA)

Northern Border Investment Forum Reviews Promising Opportunities

The Northern Borders Investment Forum 2023 reviewed the promising investment opportunities within the Northern Borders Region. The Forum highlighted…

Asharq Al Awsat (Arar)
Business Oil companies operating in Oman drilled many exploratory wells in various oil and gas concession areas, targeting different reservoirs at varying depths (Oman News Agency)

Oman: Investment in Oil, Gas Exploration, Production Stand at $5.84 Bn

The total volume of investment in oil and gas exploration, production, and development during the first half of 2023 reached $5.84 billion, announced Director…

Asharq Al Awsat (Muscat)
Business Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz chaired economic and political consultative meetings between the Turkish and Russian sides (Turkish Vice President)

Türkiye, Russia Draw up Roadmap for Economic Cooperation

Türkiye and Russia signed a new cooperation protocol that charts a road map for their economic relations in the coming years. The two countries aim…

Said Abdel Razzak (Ankara)
Business flynas' membership in the UNWTO further strengthens the airline's position as one of the top five LCCs in the world. (SPA)

flynas Becomes First Saudi Airline and First LCC in Middle East to Join World Tourism Organization

flynas, the Saudi national air carrier, has joined the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as an affiliate member, becoming the first Saudi…

Business Monsha'at released its latest quarterly SME Monitor, which showed a 3.5% growth in the number of SMEs in Saudi Arabia in Q3 2023, bringing their total number to 1.27 million.

Monsha'at Reports 3.5% Quarterly Increase in SMEs Driven by Growth across Saudi Non-Oil Economy

The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) has released its latest quarterly SME Monitor, which showed a 3.5% growth in the number of…

Business An Iraqi oil employee checks pipelines at the Bai Hassan oil field, west of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, Oct. 19, 2017. (AFP file photo)

Crescent Petroleum Wins the Rights to Two Oil Fields in Iraq

Crescent Petroleum, a United Arab Emirates-based company, has won the rights to two oil fields in Iraq's fifth oil and gas licensing round, according to a…

Business  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during the 10th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Busan on November 26, 2023. (AFP)

China Warns South Korea Not to Politicize Economic Issues

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned his South Korean counterpart on Sunday not to politicize economic and tech issues as the two prepared to meet Japan's…

Business Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inspects the gold ores and associated minerals examination laboratory. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Inaugurates Gold Ores Analysis Facility

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla inaugurated a factory specialized in preparing and analyzing samples extracted from mines at the Um Rus Mine area in…

Business Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. (The minister’s account on X)

Türkiye Anticipates Surge in Foreign Investments Post-Election

Türkiye expects a substantial increase in international investments, notably in mergers and acquisitions, after the upcoming March 31 elections. Turkish…

Saeed Abdulrazek (Ankara)
Business The capital of Bahrain, Manama. (Reuters)

S&P Revises Bahrain’s Outlook to ‘Stable’

S&P Global Ratings on Friday revised Bahrain’s outlook to “stable” from “positive”, citing spending pressures that could push the country’s fiscal deficit…

Asharq Al Awsat (Bahrain)
Business FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks of Wintershall DEA are pictured in Emlichheim near the northern German city of Meppen, Germany, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo

OPEC+ Moving Closer to Compromise with African Producers

OPEC+ has moved closer to a compromise with African oil producers on 2024 output levels, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters, after disagreements over those…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)