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 Lebanese Central Bank Chief Defends Record before Leaving Office

Lebanese Central Bank Chief Defends Record before Leaving Office

Lebanon's longtime central bank governor Riad Salameh defended his record on Wednesday in a televised interview just days before he is set to leave office,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Emirati capital Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

UAE: Gov’t Expenditures Total $25.1 Bln in Q1

The preliminary results of the UAE Government Finance Statistics Report for the first quarter of 2023, published by the Ministry of Finance, revealed that the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Abu Dhabi)
Business IMF (Reuters)

IMF: Global Economy on Track

The global economy is headed in the right direction with stronger growth and lower inflation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a new report…

Heba El Koudsy (Washington)
Business An aerial view shows Kuwait City after the country entered virtual lockdown, following the outbreak of coronavirus, in Kuwait City, Kuwait March 16, 2020. (Reuters)

Kuwait Records $20.8 Bln Surplus, First in Almost a Decade 

Kuwait recorded its first budget surplus in nine years in the last fiscal year, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, as a rebound in oil prices drove up…

Business The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rigel Capital Management and Clevon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia to Develop Investment in Autonomous Vehicle Industry

The Saudi government is moving towards developing investment in the automotive industry and autonomous vehicle technology. The Saudi Ministry of Investment…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail al-Mazrouei with officials during the 5th Meeting of the Asia Pacific Region of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). (WAM)

Int’l Alliance in Abu Dhabi Calls for Accelerating, Tripling Global Solar Energy Capabilities

An international alliance in Abu Dhabi stressed the urgent need to develop and deploy cutting-edge solar power solutions at scale, upgrade infrastructure and…

Asharq Al Awsat (Abu Dhabi)
Business The Saudi trade balance continues to set record figures. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Trade Balance Records a Monthly Surplus of $7.7 Bn

The Saudi trade balance achieved a surplus of $7.7 billion in May, for the 36th consecutive month, as merchandise exports declined to $25.8 billion, compared…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas processing plant fed by local shale wells is pictured along a highway outside Carrizo Springs, about 30 miles (48 km) from the Mexican border, May 2, 2014.  REUTERS/David Alire/File Photo

Oil Eases on Higher US Stockpiles, Caution Ahead of Likely Fed Hike

Oil prices eased on Wednesday off three-month highs as industry data showed a stock build in US crude inventories and investors remained cautious ahead of a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Motorists drive on the highway during a heatwave in Kuwait City on July 23, 2023. (AFP)

Kuwait's KNPC Posts $3.3 Bln 2022-23 Profit, Highest Ever 

Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) posted profit of 1.016 billion dinars ($3.31 billion) in the year ended March 31, its highest ever, state news agency…

Business The Governor of the Central Bank speaks before the Parliamentary Finance Committee about the exchange rate. (Iraq News Agency)

Despite Government Measures, Iraqi Dinar Continues to Fall against USD

The Iraqi dinar continued to fall against the US dollar, despite the government’s vigorous measures. This decline negatively affected commercial transactions…

Fadhel al-Nashmi (Baghdad)
Business  Several mega projects are being implemented in the capital, Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Implements Mechanisms to Ensure Financial Sustainability of Riyadh’s Infrastructure Center

Following a decision to approve the establishment of the Center for Infrastructure Projects in Riyadh, the Saudi government has set appropriate mechanisms that…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Thuraiya Hamid Alhashmi - WAM

UAE Female Joins BRICS New Development Bank Board

BRICS’ New Development Bank (NDB) has elected Thuraiya Hamid Alhashmi, Director of International Financial Relations and Organizations Department at the UAE…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A photo of the new BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) at its headquarters in Shanghai, China. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia’s Move to Join BRICS Grants it Greater Economic Expansion

Economic analysts have emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s expected move to join the BRICS group as an observer will grant the Kingdom the ability to participate in…

Business Air traffic in Saudi Arabia has been witnessing significant growth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

New Indicators Reveal Growth of Saudi Air Traffic

The performance indicators of Saudia Airlines and Flynas revealed an increase in air traffic by more than 22.7 million local and international passengers,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the establishment of Al Madinah Heritage Company (MHC).

PIF Establishes Al Madinah Heritage Company to Develop Production of Saudi Ajwa Dates

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Sunday the establishment of Al Madinah Heritage Company (MHC), reported the Saudi Press Agency. The new…

Business Muscat Stock Exchange in the Omani capital. (Reuters)

Omani Banks' Net Profits Grow 17.5% in H1

Local banks listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) during the first half of this year recorded record results, with net profits rising to OMR235.3 million (…

Asharq Al Awsat (Muscat)
Business Al Jaber delivers his speech during a panel discussion on sustainable cooling systems. (WAM)

UAE Calls on All Countries to Join Global Cooling Pledge

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and COP28 President-Designate, urged countries to join…

Business Used blister packets that contained medicines, tablets and pills are seen, in this picture illustration taken June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Russell Boyce/Illustration/File Photo

Türkiye Raises Euro Rate for Medicine Prices by 30.5%

Türkiye has raised the euro-lira conversion rate for medicine prices by 30.5% to 14.0387 lira per euro, the country's Official Gazette showed on Sunday. The…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Snapshot from the G20 energy ministers meeting in India (G20's Twitter page)

OPEC Forecasts 23% Surge in Energy Demand by 2045

Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Haitham Al Ghais predicted a 23% surge in energy demand by the year 2045…

Asharq Al Awsat (Goa)
Business Sudanese farmers harvest eggplant in a field near the capital, Khartoum (Reuters)

AOAD Unveils Initiative to Contain 'Food Security Issue'

The competent organizations of the Arab League approved an initiative prepared by the Arab Organization for Agriculture Developments (AOAD) to address…

Asharq Al Awsat (Tunis)
Business Ibrahim Al-Dukhairi, Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (United Nations)

Arab Organization for Agriculture Unveils Initiative to Address Food Security

Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Dukhairi, Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), said that the competent organizations of the League…

Asharq Al Awsat (Tunis)
Business Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan waves to his supporters in the northern part of Cyprus after his arrival from a Gulf tour that included Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. (AFP)

Erdogan: Strengthening Cooperation with the Gulf Benefits Türkiye’s Economy

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country would strengthen its cooperation with Gulf countries, noting that relations between Saudi Arabia…

Saeed Abdulrazek (Ankara)
Business Pump jacks operate in Texas, US. Reuters

UAE Says Current OPEC+ Actions Sufficient for Now

Current actions by OPEC+ to support the oil market are sufficient for now, UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said on Friday, and the group is "only a…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business The acquisition follows the signing of definitive strategic agreements by both parties announced on March 27, Aramco said

Aramco Completes $3.4 bln Purchase of Rongsheng Petrochemical Stake

Saudi Aramco announced Friday that it has successfully closed a landmark transaction to acquire a 10% interest in China’s Rongsheng Petrochemical Co. Ltd. for…

Asharq Al Awsat