Business

Iraq Oil Output Exceeds 5 million bpd

Business Majnoon oil field near the Iraqi city of Basra (Reuters)

Iraq Oil Output Exceeds 5 million bpd

Iraq produces more than 5 million barrels of oil per day (bpd), Oil Minister Basim Mohammed told state news agency INA on Saturday. According to Reuters, Iraq…

Asharq Al Awsat
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 Global Food Security Remains Under Threat, Despite Drop in Commodity Prices

Global Food Security Remains Under Threat, Despite Drop in Commodity Prices

Global commodity prices are expected to decline this year at the fastest clip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, clouding the growth prospects of almost…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business UAE Banks Federation Approves 2023 Strategy to Develop Banking Sector

UAE Banks Federation Approves 2023 Strategy to Develop Banking Sector

The UAE Banks Federation (UBF) recently held its annual general meeting, chaired by Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, the Chairman of the Federation. The members of…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Foreign Tourism to Portugal Has Best First Quarter Ever

Foreign Tourism to Portugal Has Best First Quarter Ever

The number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal surpassed 2.8 million from January through March, making it the best first quarter on record despite high…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Japan Moves to Return S. Korea to Fast-Track Trade ‘White List’

Japan Moves to Return S. Korea to Fast-Track Trade ‘White List’

Japan will canvass public opinion on restoring South Korea to a "white list" of countries with fast-track trade status, the trade ministry said on Friday, a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business OPEC: We Do Not Target Oil Prices, IEA Should be 'Very Careful'

OPEC: We Do Not Target Oil Prices, IEA Should be 'Very Careful'

The International Energy Agency (IEA) should be "very careful" about discouraging investment in the oil industry, which was vital for global economic growth,…

Business World Bank: MENA Region Faces Unprecedented Water Scarcity

World Bank: MENA Region Faces Unprecedented Water Scarcity

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is going to face unprecedented water scarcity in the future, warned the World Bank. In a report, titled …

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business GCC Project Contracts Surge to $30bln In Q1

GCC Project Contracts Surge to $30bln In Q1

The GCC project awards expanded during the first three months of the year despite global economic challenges such as the financial sector turmoil, elevated…

Asharq Al Awsat (Kuwait)
Business Iraqi Budget Tests Relationship between Sudani, Political Parties

Iraqi Budget Tests Relationship between Sudani, Political Parties

Controversy over Iraq’s budget has resurfaced, but this time from a political aspect. As the government of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani insists that no major…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
Business Egypt Earmarks $320 Million for Tourism Sector

Egypt Earmarks $320 Million for Tourism Sector

The Egyptian government has included tourism within an initiative aimed at supporting the country’s productive sectors, along with industry and agriculture. …

Sabri Najeh (Cairo)
Business Prices in Lebanon Rise by Average of 33% Monthly, 264% Annually

Prices in Lebanon Rise by Average of 33% Monthly, 264% Annually

Lebanese consumers are anxiously anticipating the continued rise of the inflation index, as the customs dollar exchange rate has been re-raised from LBP 45,000…

Business Total Issuance of Green Bonds, Sukuk by Arab Countries Hits 5.5 Bln in 2022

Total Issuance of Green Bonds, Sukuk by Arab Countries Hits 5.5 Bln in 2022

The Arab Monetary Fund announced that green bond and sukuk issuance by Arab countries related to sustainable activities, whether publicly or privately offered,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Abu Dhabi)
Business ‘Local Content Certificate’: A Basic Requirement in Saudi Gov't Competitions

‘Local Content Certificate’: A Basic Requirement in Saudi Gov't Competitions

Saudi Arabia’s government has instructed companies in certain sectors to obtain a “local content certificate” in order to be able to compete for government…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Oil Rises as Falling US Inventories Refocus Market on Demand

Oil Rises as Falling US Inventories Refocus Market on Demand

Oil rose on Wednesday after plunging more than 2% in the previous session as reports of falling US crude oil and fuel inventories refocused investors on robust…

Business Egypt Releases $23 Bln Worth of Imported Goods Since January

Egypt Releases $23 Bln Worth of Imported Goods Since January

Egypt has released $23 billion worth of imported goods, merchandise and products from the country’s ports and customs since January, announced Minister of…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Coronation Gives Tourism Boost, but UK Economy Still Reeling

Coronation Gives Tourism Boost, but UK Economy Still Reeling

Kelly Curto is taking her first trip outside the US, and the die-hard fan of the British royal family is making it the one at the top of her bucket list —…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Oil Prices Stable as Investors Ponder China Demand, Rate Hikes

Oil Prices Stable as Investors Ponder China Demand, Rate Hikes

Oil prices held steady on Tuesday as investors weighed strong holiday travel in China that could boost fuel demand against the prospect of rising interest…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Sudan’s Treasury Risks Losing $2 Billion in Gold Revenues

Sudan’s Treasury Risks Losing $2 Billion in Gold Revenues

Sudanese economists have warned that the prolongation of the war will afflict the Sudanese economy with huge losses and increase the average inflation rate,…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business Egypt Seeks to Attract More Tourists, $30 Bn in Revenues

Egypt Seeks to Attract More Tourists, $30 Bn in Revenues

Egypt is hinging on an expected increase in tourists during summer, as authorities seek $30 billion annually. Egyptian authorities confirmed Sunday that the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Türkiye’s Key Tourism Sector Slow to Recover after Huge Earthquake

Türkiye’s Key Tourism Sector Slow to Recover after Huge Earthquake

After months of hosting displaced survivors of Türkiye’s massive earthquake in his Antalya hotels, Hakan Saatcioglu hopes his rooms will soon be filled with…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Oil Prices Slide on Uncertainty over Global Economic Outlook, Rate Hikes

Oil Prices Slide on Uncertainty over Global Economic Outlook, Rate Hikes

Oil prices fell on Monday as concerns about rising interest rates, the global economy and the outlook for fuel demand outweighed support from the prospect of…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Completes 15% of Gulf Electric Interconnection

Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Completes 15% of Gulf Electric Interconnection

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development said that 15 percent of the Gulf electrical interconnection expansion project with Kuwait has been completed…

Asharq Al Awsat (Kuwait)
Business Saudi Arabia Advances 17 Ranks in World Bank's Logistics Performance Index

Saudi Arabia Advances 17 Ranks in World Bank's Logistics Performance Index

Saudi Arabia advanced 17 places in the global Logistics Performance Index (LPI) issued by the World Bank. Among 160 countries, the Kingdom has advanced to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business SABIC Solutions Win 5 Edison Awards for Best New Products

SABIC Solutions Win 5 Edison Awards for Best New Products

SABIC, a global diversified chemicals company, has been awarded five of the prestigious Edison Awards 2023 for its innovative solutions, designed to meet the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Stores Increase Preparedness for Eid Supplies

Saudi Stores Increase Preparedness for Eid Supplies

Shops of jewelry, sweets, gifts and clothing in Saudi Arabia witnessed a flourishing movement during the last ten days of Ramadan, as they prepared for Eid al…