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 Traditional dancers receive officials at the venue of one of the G20 meetings in India. (AP)

G20 Agrees on Reforming WTO

The Group of 20 (G20) nations has agreed to work on reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of its critical ministerial meeting in February next…

Business  Continued progress with economic diversification will require the deepening of ongoing reforms - SPA

US Report: Saudi Economic Diversification Appear to be Starting to Bear Fruit

In its most recent report, the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington reveals that Saudi Arabia's diversification efforts are bearing fruit, while also…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business China is a major partner of Saudi Arabia in merchandise trade.

Saudi Arabia’s Trade Balance Achieves $10b Surplus in June

Saudi Arabia’s trade balance achieved a surplus of about SAR 38 billion (about $10 billion) during June of 2023, according to a report of the General…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Turkish coins on a dollar bill (dpa)

Türkiye's Central Bank Shocks with 25% Interest Hike

Türkiye’s central bank raised its key interest rate by an aggressive 7.5 percentage points on Thursday, a larger-than-expected boost that offers a new sign…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Majid Al-Qasabi, the Saudi Minister of Commerce, during his participation in the ministerial meeting in the Indian city of Jaipur (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Foreign Trade Surges $173 Billion in Growth During One Year

Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi on Thursday unveiled several positive outcomes that the Kingdom has achieved as a result of economic reforms,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jaipur)
Business Self-service vending machine (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Introduces Self-Service Gas Sales, Involving Private Sector

The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that it has issued the first license in the Kingdom for selling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG-cooking gas) cylinders…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business President of the New Development Bank delivers a speech before the BRICS summit. (APA)

BRICS Bank Says Can Help African Countries Tackle Urgent Challenges

The New Development Bank created by BRICS countries in 2015 can help finance African countries' projects to tackle their most urgent challenges, the bank's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business SPA

Saudi Industry Ministry Eyes Boosting Cooperation with Companies in Germany

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources discussed enhancing cooperation to develop human capacities in industry and mining with a number of German…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) logo

Mawani, Rotterdam Port Partner to Develop Smart Ports and Boost Commercial Opportunities

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has reached a partnership deal with Port of Rotterdam to collaborate in the areas of smart ports, human capital development,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanon's caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayad and Romain de La Martiniere of TotalEnergies pose for a picture along with others at TransOcean Barents drilling rig offshore Lebanon, in this handout released by Dalati Nohra, Lebanon August 22, 2023. Dalati Nohra/Handout via REUTERS

Lebanon Grants License to Conduct Seismic Studies on Block 8

Lebanon on Thursday granted a license to conduct seismic studies on its offshore Block 8 to the companies Bright Skies and GeoX, caretaker energy minister…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business NEOM Welcomes JLS Yachts as Key Partner for Sindalah's Yachting Experience

NEOM Welcomes JLS Yachts as Key Partner for Sindalah's Yachting Experience

NEOM has appointed JLS Yachts, a leading Middle East-based yacht agency and concierge service provider, as a 'key partner superyacht agency' for Sindalah, NEOM…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi national carrier relies on digital transformation as a strategic pillar. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi flynas Joins UN Global Compact to Promote Sustainability

Saudi low-cost airline flynas announced joining the United Nations Global Compact, becoming the first airline in the Kingdom and the first low-cost airline in…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Najez Center of the Saudi Ministry of Justice (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Digital Experience Maturity Index Improves by 80.6%

The general Digital Experience Maturity Index has achieved a rate of 80.68%, compared to 77.26% in the previous cycle. This increase is the result of the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The signing of the deals came as President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej met with civil aviation officials and specialists in both Pakistan and Bangladesh. SPA

Saudi Arabia Signs Civil Aviation Deals with Pakistan, Bangladesh

Saudi Arabia has signed separate civil aviation deals with Pakistan and Bangladesh as part of the Saudi aviation sector strategy aimed at building…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Real estate investment funds aim to facilitate investment in the developed and ready-to-use real estate sector (SPA)

High Interest Rates, Valuations Reduce Profits of Saudi Real Estate Funds

Economic analysts attributed the decline in net profits of real estate funds (REITs) in Saudi Arabia during the first half of 2023 by about 58 percent, to the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his opening remarks at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa August 22, 2023 REUTERS/James Oatway

South Africa, China Sign Power Deals during BRICS Summit

South Africa and China on Wednesday signed deals covering emissions technology, electricity transmission and distribution, and nuclear power on the sidelines…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi ports are witnessing a significant growth in the movement of goods. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Joins UN CISG Agreement

Saudi Arabia has officially acceded to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), becoming the 96th state party to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The new authority will regulate the insurance sector in the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia to Invest Insurance Authority Funds to Ensure Sustainability

The Saudi government has granted both the Minister of Finance and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Insurance Authority the power to set the…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business A man holds Lebanese pounds in front of the Central Bank building during a rally against the Lebanese Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and the deepening financial crisis in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (AP)

Four Years into Crisis, Lebanon’s Leaders Hope Tourism Boom Will Help Bypass Reforms in IMF Bailout 

Four years into its historic economic meltdown, Lebanon’s political elites, masters at survival, are pushing for a recovery that would sidestep tough reforms…

Business FILE PHOTO: China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)'s Dalian Petrochemical Corp refinery is seen near the downtown of Dalian in Liaoning province, China July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Chen Aizhu/File Photo

Oil Ticks Up as Markets Weigh Rate Hikes, China Gloom

Oil prices ticked up in Asian trade on Wednesday, as markets weighed weak demand indicators from top importer China and the prospect of further US rate hikes…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi delegation discussed with German officials way to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. SPA

Saudi Ministry of Industry Delegation Discusses Cooperation with Germany

A delegation from the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has recently held talks with senior officials from the German Ministry of Economy in…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A handout picture released by Iraq's Prime Minister's Media Office shows the rehabilitated isomerization unit during an inauguration ceremony at the oil refinery of Baiji on August 16, 2023. (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Press Office / AFP)

Iraqi, Turkish Ministers Discuss Joint Relations in Oil and Energy Sector 

Iraq's oil minister and his Turkish counterpart discussed joint relations in the oil and energy sector at a meeting in Ankara, a statement from the Iraqi oil…

Business Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha meets with officials from Japan on the sidelines of the ministerial digital economy working group of the G20. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Encourages Business Owners to Visit India, Expand Investments

Saudi Arabia is mobilizing a group of business owners for an upcoming visit to India, accompanied by a high-level government delegation, to participate in the…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Riyadh’s Al-Falah neighborhood is the first district in which the real estate register is applied. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Seeks to Implement Digital Maps for All Real Estate Units

Following the successful application of the real estate registry in the Al-Falah neighborhood in the Riyadh region (central Saudi Arabia), and its contribution…