Business

IMF: Any Slowdown in AI-driven Growth Would be Factor for Central Banks

Business IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the Annual Meetings Plenary at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok on October 16, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

IMF: Any Slowdown in AI-driven Growth Would be Factor for Central Banks

Central bankers around the world would need to consider any slowdown in AI-driven growth as they assess steps in their fight against inflation, International…

Asharq Al Awsat
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 NEOM and DSV announced a $10 billion exclusive logistics joint venture to support the development of the ambitious projects taking shape in NEOM

NEOM, DSV Establish $10 Billion Logistics Joint Venture

NEOM and DSV announced on Tuesday a $10 billion exclusive logistics joint venture to support the development of the ambitious projects taking shape in NEOM,…

Business President of the World Bank Ajay Banga addressed the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. (SPA)

World Bank President: Saudi Arabia Adopting Great Approach to Empower Women in Labor Market

President of the World Bank Ajay Banga stressed on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has sought to empower women in the labor market, urging other countries to follow…

Business Saudi Aramco and ENOWA, NEOM’s energy and water company, sign a joint development agreement to construct and establish a first-of-its-kind synthetic electro fuel (e-fuel) demonstration plant. (SPA)

Aramco, ENOWA to Develop First-of-its-kind E-fuel Demonstration Plant

Saudi Aramco, a global integrated energy and chemicals company, and ENOWA, NEOM’s energy and water company, have signed a joint development agreement to…

Business The Saudi-EU Investment Forum concluded on Monday in Riyadh.

Efforts to Establish European Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi government and the European Union have agreed to speed up efforts for the establishment of a European chamber of commerce in the Kingdom, to be the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol are seen at FII7 in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Crown Prince Attends South Korean President's Keynote at FII in Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, attended on Tuesday a keynote delivered by South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol at the seventh…

Business A file photo of the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative conference in 2022. (SPA)

Future Investment Initiative: Saudi Arabia Brings Together the World to Shape Tomorrow’s Economy

The Future Investment Initiative conference kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday with global and local investors stressing the importance of exploiting the…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business Red Sea Global (RSG) announced the successful completion of an investment deal with Kingdom Holding Company (KHC).

Red Sea Global and Kingdom Holding Company Sign SAR2 Billion Joint Venture 

Red Sea Global (RSG) announced on Tuesday the successful completion of an investment deal with Kingdom Holding Company (KHC). The SAR2 billion joint venture…

Business The seventh Future Investment Initiative (FII7) forum kicked off in RIyadh on Tuesday under the theme "The New Compass". (SPA)

FII7 Gets Underway in Riyadh with 6,000 Participants from Over 90 Countries 

The seventh Future Investment Initiative (FII7) forum kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday under the theme "The New Compass". Held at the King Abdulaziz…

Business Palestinians inspect the damage of a destroyed house that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP)

Israel-Hamas War Risks ‘Serious’ Economic Damage, Says World Bank President 

The war between Israel and Hamas could deal a "serious" blow to global economic development, the president of the World Bank told an investor conference in…

Business A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Housing Sector Reduces Real Estate Transactions by 32%

The value of real estate transactions in Saudi Arabia has declined by 32% in a week due to the contraction in the housing sector, which has been significantly…

Abdulilah al-Shadid (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi-European Investment Forum concluded on Monday with the participation of more than 1,000 representatives of governmental and private sectors.

Saudi-European Investment Forum Witnesses the Signing of 8 MoUs

The Saudi-European Investment Forum concluded on Monday with the participation of more than 1,000 representatives of governmental and private sectors, SPA said…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker. (QNA)

Qatar Airways CEO Will Step Down After Nearly 3 Decades Leading Carrier 

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker is stepping down after 27 years leading the company. Al Baker's retirement will go into effect Nov. 5,…

Business EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman Christophe Farnaud. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

EU Ambassador Emphasizes Partnership Strategy with Saudi Arabia in Vital Fields 

With the launch of the Saudi-European Investment Forum in Riyadh on Monday, EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman Christophe Farnaud…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business Young people plant trees around the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to reduce carbon emissions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Carbon Trade… Global Interest, Saudi Action

Amid talk of global carbon dioxide emissions rising by about 1 percent this year, which will make climate-warming gases reach a new record level, calls are…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli and KAUST President Tony Chan. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Ministry of Environment, KAUST Discuss Future of Saudi Food Security

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli stressed that the future of sustainable food security in the Kingdom largely…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The new branch of the Bank of Egypt in the New Administrative Capital. (The bank’s website)

Banque Misr Prepares to Sell its Shares in 13 Companies

Egypt's Banque Misr is preparing a file to exit its investments in some companies as part of a government program to reduce state ownership in the local…

Business The China-GCC 1+6 Economic and Trade Ministers (BNA)

China to Enhance Investment in GCC Energy, Infrastructure Projects

China seeks to strengthen its position in energy and infrastructure projects in the Gulf countries. Kuwait has therefore, expressed readiness to discuss…

Asharq Al Awsat (Kuwait)
Business An Aramco engineer passes near a tank at the Ras Tanura oil refinery. (Reuters)

South Korea's KNOC Signs Oil Storage Agreement with Saudi Aramco

South Korea’s state-run Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) said on Monday that it has signed an oil storage agreement with Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Seoul)
Business Saudi Transport Minister Saleh al-Jasser speaks at the Supply Chain and Logistics Conference in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Seeks to Become Global Logistics Hub

Saudi Arabia aims to become one of the most important countries in the world in contributing to supply chains, announced Transport Minister Saleh al-Jasser. …

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo

Oil Eases as Aid Convoys Arrive in Embattled Gaza Strip

Oil prices slid more than $1 on Monday as diplomatic efforts grew over the weekend to contain the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business PIF and Hyundai announce the signing of a joint venture agreement to establish a highly automated vehicle manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

PIF, Hyundai Motor Sign Deal to Establish Automotive Manufacturing Plant in Saudi Arabia 

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) announced the signing of a joint venture agreement to establish a highly automated vehicle…

Business The Saudi capital Riyadh (AFP)

Saudi Arabia Adopts New Methodology to Calculate FDI Data

Saudi Arabia, in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), worked on a new methodology for calculating foreign direct investment statistics,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The emirate of Dubai. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Regional Forum in Dubai to Discuss AI, COVID-19 Impact on Workplace

A regional forum in Dubai is expected to discuss the challenges facing the workplace amid disruptions that have changed the concept of workplaces. …

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai)
Business Hotels, banks, and offices on the Nile River in Cairo. (Reuters)

S&P Expects Israel-Gaza War to Affect Egypt’s Economy, Downgrades its Rating

Global rating agency S&P on Friday downgraded Egypt's long-term sovereign credit rating by one notch to "B-”, citing the country's mounting funding pressures. …

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)