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 Sawani contributes to the development of the local production system to reach sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi PIF to Set Up Sawani Camel Dairy Company

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has set up the Sawani Company to enable the growth of the Saudi camel farming industry and actively contribute to its…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Central Bank of Iraq (INA)

US Sanctions 14 Iraqi Banks

Iraq has yet to officially receive the US 120-day national security waiver allowing it to pay its debts to Iran. A US official on Friday told Reuters about…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Business Diriyah Project of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s PIF Makes Efforts to Enhance Local Investors’ Participation in its Projects

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been making strong efforts to enhance the participation of local contractors in the projects of the fund’s…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: An oil pump is seen operating in the Permian Basin near Midland, Texas, US on May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo

Oil Ticks Up as Markets Assess Falling Inventories, Potential Chinese Stimulus

Brent oil prices rose in Asian trading on Friday, as markets assessed the prospect of economic stimulus in China after weak economic data, falling inventories…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) is scheduled to participate in the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2023) in Türkiye.

Saudi Arabia to Showcase Top Technologies at Defense Fair in Istanbul

The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) is scheduled to participate in the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2023) in Türkiye, reported…

Business A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon January 12, 2023. (Reuters)

Lebanon Central Bank Vice Governors Propose Move to Floating FX Rate by Sept

The vice governors of Lebanon's central bank have proposed lifting the longtime peg on the country's local currency and moving to a managed float by the end of…

Business Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla during his meeting with the delegation of the Eurasian Resources Group specialized in mining. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

Eurasian Group to Invest in Egyptian Mining Sector

The Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) - which is specialized in mining - said that it seeks to expand in Egypt in the coming period amid ongoing developments and…

Sabry Nageh (Cairo)
Business The Gulf economies are among the ten largest in the world. (AFP)

Gulf Economic Capabilities Are Growing, Impacting the Global Arena

The visits by Indian, Japanese, and Turkish leaders to the Gulf within a week reflected the region's outstanding role on the global economic scene. They…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi government aims for Riyadh to be among the top 10 largest city economies in the world. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Approves New Center to Promote Infrastructure in Riyadh

The Saudi cabinet’s approval on Tuesday of the establishment of the Infrastructure Projects Center in Riyadh region will boost the city's competitiveness,…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the al-Salam Palace in Jeddah (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Agree to Create Favorable Business Environment, Empower Private Sector

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two sides in the economic, trade, and investment fields by reviewing the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business A combine loads a truck with wheat during harvesting in a field in the Rostov Region, Russia July 18, 2023. (Reuters)

IMF Says Russia Exit from Ukraine Grain Deal Risks Adding to Global Food Inflation

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said Russia's exit from a deal allowing Ukrainian exports via the Black Sea threatens to increase global food…

Business Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resource Tarek el-Molla during a session of talks with Saudi Minister of Industry Bandar al-Khorayef (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt to Launch Bids to Explore Precious Metals Within Weeks

Egypt is about to launch a set of bids for precious and basic metals, in addition to phosphates, sulfur, and potash, during the current quarter, Minister of…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business CEO of Future Investment Initiative Institute Richard Attias during a previous global summit in New York (SPA)

Future Investment Summit Draws Roadmap for Global Challenges

The Saudi Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII) is organizing "Priority Asia in Hong Kong" in December to discuss priorities such as evolving social,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi Defense Minister during the signing of the agreement (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia Acquires Turkish Drones

The Saudi Ministry of Defense has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish company Baykar to acquire drones to bolster the Kingdom's defense and…

Asma al Ghabri (Jeddah)
Business ADNOC Gas pipelines. Asharq Al-Awsat

ADNOC Gas Announces 14-year LNG Supply Deal with Indian Oil Corporation

UAE’s ADNOC Gas has announced a 14-year supply agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) for the export of up to 1.2 million metric tons per annum …

Asharq Al Awsat (Abu Dhabi)
Business Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser. Photo: Aramco website

Aramco CEO Joins BlackRock Board

BlackRock Inc. has named Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser to its board, underscoring the asset manager’s commitment to the oil industry. …

Asharq Al Awsat (New York)
Business The Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning has met with the UN Secretary General on the sidelines of the 2023 High-Level Political Forum in New York. SPA

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Meets with UN Chief

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim has met with the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on the sidelines of the…

Asharq Al Awsat (New York)
Business Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, receives Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Jeddah. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, Japan, Launch Initiative to Cooperate in Clean Energy

Saudi Arabia and Japan announced the establishment of the Manar initiative for cooperation in the field of clean energy. The initiative seeks to align the…

Business Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Reuters)

Turkish President: Investment, Trade Are Priority During Gulf Tour

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said discussing joint investments and commercial activities was the priority of his Gulf tour. In comments before…

Business Investment Minister Khaled al-Falih delivers a speech at the start of the Saudi-Turkish Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi-Turkish Forum Calls for Promoting Mutual Investments

A meeting of the Saudi-Turkish Business Council was held in Jeddah on Monday to discuss prospects for joint investments and means to promote cooperation…

Asma al Ghabri (Jeddah)
Business The sun sets over the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Türkiye, July 14, 2023. (Reuters)

Turkish Lira Hits Record Low Ahead of Rate Decision 

The Turkish lira weakened more than 2% to a fresh record low against the dollar on Tuesday over market concerns that the central bank might raise interest…

Business A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon January 12, 2023. (Reuters)

Lebanon’s Central Bank to Phase Out Sayrafa Exchange Platform 

Lebanon’s central bank will decommission the controversial exchange platform known as Sayrafa after governor Riad Salameh’s 30-year tenure ends this month, one…

Business A Bahraini passenger boat sails in Marina bay, Manama, Bahrain, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Bahrain's Economy Grows 2% in 1st Quarter

Bahrain's economy expanded 2% in the first quarter of this year, driven by non-oil growth of 3.5%, the finance ministry said. "In contrast, the oil sector…

Asharq Al Awsat (Manama)
Business The signing ceremony, which was held in Jeddah, came on the sidelines of the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Saudi Arabia

KAPSARC, IEEJ Sign Agreement to Strengthen Partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan

The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan …

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)