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 Jabal Al-Fil in AlUla (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Records Highest Half-Yearly Travel Surplus in Balance of Payments

Saudi Arabia achieved the highest semi-annual surplus ever for the travel item in the balance of payments during the first half of 2023, soaring 327 percent,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Owners of currency exchange companies demonstrated in front of the Central Bank of Iraq (Reuters)

Iraq's Central Bank Suddenly Halts Dollar Cash Withdrawals

The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) said it will ban cash withdrawals and transactions in US dollars in a move that surprised markets. The move aims to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business King Salman bin Abdulaziz listens to an explanation by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about one of Riyadh’s green projects (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Takes Lead in Global Climate Change Battle

Saudi Arabia is regarded as one of the world’s most active players on the climate change front, positioning itself as a new green giant with a significant and…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Riyadh)
Business The UN’s Green Climate Fund is seeking contributions to fund projects in climate-vulnerable counties over 2024-2027, aiming to exceed the $10 billion - Reuters

UN Green Climate Fund Pledges Reach $9.3 bln

The United Nations Green Climate Fund reached around $9.3 billion in pledges for its second replenishment round to help vulnerable countries cope with climate…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Lawal stands among Saudi officials, diplomats, and ambassadors in Riyadh on his country’s national day celebration two days ago. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Nigerian Ambassador Backs Saudi Efforts to Maintain Stability in Global Energy Markets

Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yahaya Lawal has expressed support to the Kingdom in its strategy that encourages the OPEC+ group to guarantee the global…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business The headquarters of international companies and institutions in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Getty Images)

Egypt to Establish HQ of Holding Co. for Roads, Bridges, and Land Transportation Projects in Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Transportation of Egypt has approved the establishment of a headquarters for the Holding Co. for Roads, Bridges, and Land Transportation…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

Al Ghais: World Oil Outlook to be Launched in Riyadh for its Pioneering Role in Market Stability

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will launch the 17th edition of its World Oil Outlook (WOO) on Monday in Riyadh at King Abdullah…

Asharq Al Awsat (Vienna)
Business Voluntary cuts to enhance the OPEC+ precautionary efforts to stabilize oil markets. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia, Russia to Continue Voluntary Cuts to Support Oil Market Stability

Saudi Arabia and Russia have said they were continuing voluntary oil cuts of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) to year-end. Saudi Arabia on Wednesday…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh) Asharq Al Awsat (Moscow)
Business The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning has held talks with Austria’s Minister of Labor and Economy. SPA

Saudi Arabia, Austria Discuss Boosting Economic Cooperation

The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, has held talks with Austria’s Minister of Labor and Economy Dr. Martin Kocher on ways…

Asharq Al Awsat (Vienna)
Business The agreement aims to enhance cooperation and integration between the two parties in the field of aviation and airport management

Saudi MATARAT Holding Signs MoU with Brazil’s Union of Airports

The Saudi MATARAT Holding Company, represented by CEO Eng. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brazil’s…

Asharq Al Awsat (Rio de Janeiro)
Business The sixth session of the Saudi-Portuguese Committee was held on Tuesday in Lisbon, Portugal. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Volume of Saudi-Portuguese Trade Exchange Reaches $1 Billion

Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim revealed that Saudi exports to Portugal recorded an uptick of 50 percent, while imports from Lisbon…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and officials during the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the North Field gas expansion project. (X platform)

Qatar Lays Foundation Stone for North Field Gas Expansion Project

Qatar on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a production expansion project in one of the largest natural gas fields in the world, northeastern coast of the…

Business Football icon Lionel Messi during a recent vacation in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Experts: Saudi Arabia Will Become Investment Hub as it Ranks 2nd Globally in Tourist Arrivals

Saudi Arabia has witnessed a remarkable 58% growth in tourist numbers during the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2019, ranking…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business lames emerge from flare stacks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq March 9, 2020. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia to Continue Voluntary Cut of One Million Bpd 

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said it would continue with its voluntary oil output cut of one million barrels per day (bpd) for the month of November and until the…

Business Saudi Arabia achieves significant progress in several international indicators due to economic improvements by the government (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Private Sector Revitalizes with Increased Production, New Orders

Saudi Arabia’s purchasing managers’ index witnessed an uptick in September as business confidence in the non-oil private sector improved, showed an economy…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business  Islamic Port of Jeddah (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Records 77.66 Pts in UN Maritime Index

The Saudi maritime sector has recorded a significant uptick in the Q3 update of the UNCTAD’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI), scoring 77.66 points in…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The ‘23rd Biban Forum’ recently held in Riyadh spotlighted e-commerce in the Middle East (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi E-Commerce: Continuous Growth Fuels Sustainable Development

As more and more Saudis are turning to online buying, the Kingdom is seeing unprecedented growth in e-commerce businesses, with the total number of registered…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business A total of nineteen A320neo aircraft are scheduled for delivery by the end of the year, SPA

Airline ‘flynas’ Receives 5 New Airbus A320neo, Increasing Fleet Size to 56

Saudi “flynas” airline announced the delivery of five A320neo aircraft to increase its all-Airbus fleet to 56 airplanes. The latest deliveries come as part…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A landmark is lit up in the colors of the Saudi national flag in Diriyah. (SPA file photo)

Tourism in Saudi Arabia Booms with 58% Growth in Arrivals in 2023, Ranks 2nd Globally

Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant milestone in the tourism sector, ranking second globally in terms of tourist arrivals during the first seven months of…

Business The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the establishment of Al Balad Development Company (BDC). (SPA)

PIF Announces 'Al Balad Development Company' to Develop Jeddah's Historic District

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Tuesday the establishment of Al Balad Development Company (BDC). The company will become the main…

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

Saudi Cruise Signs New Tech Agreements to Lay Technical Foundation for Aroya Cruises

Saudi Cruise, a wholly owned PIF subsidiary, specializing in developing the cruise sector in Saudi Arabia, announced new agreements with a number of world…

Business Iraq said it would award 30 new oil and gas projects in its fifth + and sixth licensing rounds. (AFP)

Iraq to Award 30 New Oil and Gas Projects in New Licensing Rounds 

Iraq, OPEC's second producer after Saudi Arabia, said on Tuesday it would award 30 new oil and gas projects in its fifth + and sixth licensing rounds. The…

Business Self-service job search devices in the Saudi job market (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Labor Market Records Highest Citizen Participation in Private Sector

The number of Saudi nationals in the private sector rose to 2.2 million in the second quarter of 2023. With the close of last September, the General…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Rental Index recorded over 340,000 leasing transactions in August alone (SPA)

Residential Tower Apartment Rentals Lead Saudi Real Estate Activity

Due to their market value, apartment rentals in high-rise towers are leading Saudi Arabia’s residential real estate sector as the most profitable of real…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)