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 Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih concluded a visit to Türkiye during which he agreed with Turkish officials to expand the export and import movement. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Agree to Expand Exports

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih concluded a visit to Türkiye during which he agreed with Turkish officials to expand the export and import movement…

Business First Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kyrgyz First Deputy PM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh, Bishkek Aim to Increase Cooperation in Green Economy

Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan aim to boost their comprehensive partnership amid plans to increase economic, trade, and investment cooperation in infrastructure,…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Arabia strengthens its environmental protection system and restores natural balance (SPA)

Environmental Violations Cost $23b in Saudi Arabia

Saudi environmental officials revealed that violations have resulted in an estimated annual loss of SAR 86 billion ($23 billion) and pointed to security…

Business People shop at the Sidi Bahri marketplace in downtown Tunis, Tunisia December 7, 2022. (Reuters)

Tunisia Seeks to Cut Fiscal Deficit to 5.5% in 2023, Led by Economic Reforms 

Tunisia expects to reduce its fiscal deficit to 5.5% next year from a forecast 7.7% this year, driven by austerity measures that could pave the way for a final…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Turkiye-Saudi Forum held in Istanbul, Türkiye (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye to Boost Investment, Trade Exchange

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye affirmed that a current opportunity is present for improving and accelerating joint activities, increasing investments, and raising…

Saeed Abdulrazek (Ankara)
Business Saudi Arabia moves towards diversifying sources of income and growing the national economy through non-oil output (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Experts to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Intellectual Property Strategy to Generate Initiatives, Attract Quality Investments

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the launch of the National Intellectual Property Strategy to support the Kingdom’s economy based…

Business Liberia-flagged Aframax tanker Suvorovsky Prospect discharges fuel oil from Russia at the Matanzas terminal, in Matanzas, Cuba, July 16, 2022. (Reuters)

Russia May Cut Oil Output in Response to Price Caps, Says Deputy PM

Russia may cut oil output by 5%-7% in early 2023 as it responds to price caps on its crude and oil products by halting sales to the countries that support them…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business People shop at Al Ataba, a popular market in downtown Cairo, Egypt, December 4, 2022. (Reuters)

World Bank Approves $500 Mln to Expand Social Security in Egypt

The World Bank's executive board has approved $500 million in development financing for Egypt to expand its social safety net and protection program in the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business An oil platform operated by Lukoil company is pictured from a helicopter carrying members of a local election committee and journalists during the early voting for the parliamentary election, at the Kravtsovskoye oilfield in the Baltic Sea, Russia September 16, 2021. (Reuters)

Oil Rises $1 on Russian Supply Worries; US Storm Impact in Focus

Oil prices rose more than $1 on Friday on expectations of a drop in Russian crude supply, which helped offset worries of a hit to US transport fuel demand…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business People walk in front of the Central Bank of Egypt's headquarters at downtown Cairo, Egypt, November 3, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo

Egypt’s Central Bank Raises Key Interest Rates by 300 bps

Egypt's central bank hiked overnight interest rates by 300 basis points on Thursday, warning that inflationary pressures were building, Reuters reported. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo

Saudi Oil Exports Reach $25.5 Bln in Oct.

The value of Saudi oil exports during October 2022 reached 95.8 billion riyals ($25.5 billion), compared to 82.1 billion riyals ($21.9 billion) during October…

Business The Kuwaiti National Assembly approves two laws that contribute to solving the housing crisis (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kuwait Solves Housing Crisis by Establishing Real Estate Development Companies

Kuwait’s National Assembly on Wednesday approved the proposal to amend the Public Authority for Housing Welfare Law in its first reading with 48 votes in favor…

Merza al-Khuwaldi (Kuwait)
Business Hassana CEO Saad al-Fadly and Chairman and CEO of the DP World Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem signing the agreement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Hassana to Invest $2.4 Bn in UAE’s DP World

Saudi Arabia’s Hassana Investment Company announced on Wednesday an investment of $2.4 billion in three of DP World’s flagship UAE assets. The investment…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Kingdom Center Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)

Saudi Arabia to Expedite Opening of Accounts for Foreign Companies

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has called on local banks to facilitate and speed up the procedures for opening accounts for foreign companies, in order to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan meets with Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt in London. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, Britain Sign MoU to Develop Financial Services 

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan met on Tuesday with Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt in London, reported the Saudi Press Agency.  The…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Egyptian Ministers of Industry, Supply and Finance during the inauguration of 13th Kuwait Week Exhibition in Egypt on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

Egypt Looks Forward to Arab Industrial Integration

Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir inaugurated on Tuesday the 13th Kuwait Week Exhibition in Cairo.  More than 60 major Egyptian and Kuwaiti…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Oman is forecasting a 1.3 billion rials ($3.39 billion) deficit in its 2023 budget, or 3% of the gross domestic product.

Oman Sees 2023 Budget Deficit at 3% of GDP

Oman is forecasting a 1.3 billion rials ($3.39 billion) deficit in its 2023 budget, or 3% of the gross domestic product, following an expected surplus this…

Asharq Al Awsat (Muscat)
Business Council of Saudi Chambers (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kenya Proposes 23-Point Plan to Strengthen Economic Ties with Saudi Arabia

Kenyan Minister of Trade and Industry Moses Kiarie and an accompanying delegation of Kenyan institutions and companies have met with representatives of the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Public Investment Fund (PIF) logo

PIF Buying 30% Stake in Saudi Tabreed

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has acquired a 30% stake in cooling company Saudi Tabreed through a private placement of shares, according to a…

Business Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia, France Discuss Health Sector Opportunities

Riyadh and Paris have discussed medical cooperation and available investment opportunities in the healthcare sector at a meeting of the Saudi-French Business…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman attends the 109th meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OAPEC) in Kuwait City, on December 12, 2022. (AFP)

Saudi Energy Minister: OPEC+’s More Accurate Predictions Are Due to Focusing on Market Fundamentals 

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stressed on Tuesday that OPEC+ members leave politics out of the decision making…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Finnish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anu-Eerika Viljanen (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Finland Looks for Strategic Partnership with Saudi Arabia in Hydrogen, Green Energy Fields

At a time when Finland is looking forward to maximizing its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, a Finnish diplomat revealed that Helsinki is looking to…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business The UAE Central Bank raises GDP growth above its previous estimates (Asharq Al-Awsat)

UAE Central Bank Sees GDP Growth at 7.6% This Year

The UAE’s central bank expects real gross domestic product growth of 7.6 percent this year from its previous forecast of 6.5 percent, citing stronger…

Asharq Al Awsat (Abu Dahbi )
Business  General view of Aramco tanks and oil pipe at the Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia. May 21, 2018. (Reuters Archive)

Saudi Oil Exports Hit 30-Month High in October

Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports rose for a fifth straight month in October to the highest in 30 months, the International Energy Forum (IEF) said on Monday,…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)