Business

US Economy Expanded at Solid 2.1% Pace in January-March, Government Says

Business President Donald Trump stands on stage after speaking at the opening of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

US Economy Expanded at Solid 2.1% Pace in January-March, Government Says

The US economy expanded at a solid and unexpected 2.1% annual pace from January through March, the Commerce Department reported Thursday in its final estimate…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business A handout picture released by Iraq's Prime Minister's Press Office on January 2, 2025, shows a partial view of the oil refinery of Baiji north of Baghdad, during the inauguration ceremony of the fourth and fifth units. (Iraq's Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP)

Baghdad Urges OPEC to Raise Iraq's Production Quota

Baghdad has urged OPEC to increase Iraq's oil production quota, taking into account the damage done to its industry by its history of conflicts and the recent…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business General view of part of Cairo (Reuters)

Egypt Overhauls Nitrogen Fertilizer Export Levy, Exempts High-grade Ammonium Nitrate

Egypt has revamped its export tax regime for nitrogen fertilizers, replacing a fixed export tax with a 10% ad valorem duty on all nitrogenous fertilizer…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A worker displays gold bullion bar at the ABC Refinery in Sydney - AFP

Gold Lingers Near 7-month Low as Fed Hike Bets Boost Dollar

Gold fell for a third straight session on Thursday, lingering near a more than seven-month low it had reached in the previous session, as expectations of US…

Business A drilling rig operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field in Texas, USA (Reuters)

Oil Falls to Pre-war Levels on Rising Middle East Supply

Oil prices fell on Thursday to levels last seen before the start of the Iran war as expectations of rising supply from the Middle East outweighed demand…

Asharq Al Awsat

Business Embraer E195-E2 aircraft parked at the company’s headquarters (EPA)

Embraer Presses Ahead with Saudi Aviation, Defense Partnerships

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is pressing ahead with strategic memoranda of understanding signed with Saudi Arabia in 2023, company officials said,…

Abeer Hommadi (Brazil)
Business Saudi and Turkish transport ministers meet to strengthen cooperation (X)

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Strengthen Supply Chains with Land Corridor Bypassing Maritime Chokepoints

At a time when the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the escalating U.S.-Iran war have put global supply chains under complex geopolitical strain…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Princess Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Asharq Al-Awsat file photo)

FII Institute Names Princess Maha bint Mishari Al Saud as CEO

The FII institute, run by a global nonprofit foundation of ⁠Saudi sovereign wealth ⁠fund PIF, has named ⁠Princess Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business People walk past a shop selling football jerseys in Khan el-Khalily Bazar in Cairo on June 9, 2026. (AFP)

Egypt Clears Arrears to Oil and Gas Companies

Egypt's Minister of Petroleum Karim Badawi said on Wednesday that the full settlement of arrears owed to oil and gas partners marked a turning point for the…

Business A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Economy Demonstrates Competitive Strength, Expands 3% in First Quarter

Saudi Arabia’s economy has once again demonstrated the strength of its fundamentals and its ability to withstand regional shocks, posting real GDP growth of 3…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Men practice kayaking at Titiwangsa Lake against the city skyline in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 June 2026.  EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL

Malaysia Says it is Seeking New Sources of Fuel Amid Energy Crunch

Malaysia is seeking new sources of fuel amid a global crunch caused by the war in Iran, though any supplies would need to be able to be processed by the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A worker displays a one-kilogram gold bar at a refinery in Sydney (AFP)

Gold Falls to 11-week Low as Oil Rises on Fresh US-Iran Hostilities

Gold fell to an 11-week low on Wednesday, as oil prices rose on renewed hostilities between the US and Iran, fueling concerns about inflation and interest rate…

Business Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and other officials are seen during the tour of the gold refinery in Astana on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi Industry Minister Reviews Gold Processing Technologies at Tau-Ken Altyn Refinery in Kazakhstan

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visited the gold refinery operated by Tau-Ken Altyn in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, on…

Business Riyadh Air’s new aircraft enters Saudi airspace (X)

Riyadh Air Eyes Gradual Expansion as New Aircraft Arrive

Riyadh Air has completed its structural setup phase and has moved formally into operations, advancing a gradual, carefully planned expansion strategy built…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Riyadh)
Business Al-Jasser and Uraloglu shake hands after signing the MoUs. (X)

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Sign MoUs on Railway and Logistics Cooperation, Connecting Gulf with Europe

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have taken a major step toward forming a new regional logistics corridor that could reshape trade flows between the Gulf and Europe. …

Saeed Abdulrazek (Ankara) Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the qualification of 24 local and international bidders to participate in Round 10 of the Kingdom’s exploration license competitions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Industry Ministry Qualifies 24 Local, International Bidders for Round 10 Exploration Licenses

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Tuesday the qualification of 24 local and international bidders, including companies and…

Business Containers and ships are seen at the port in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jingsu province early on June 9, 2026. (AFP)

China Rides AI Wave as Exports Surge Past Forecast

China's export growth accelerated in May, buoyed by robust demand for chips, autos and other high-tech goods fueling the global AI boom, providing policymakers…

Business Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat addresses the audience during a signing ceremony in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 29, 2024. (Reuters)

Türkiye, Canada Agree to Launch Exploratory Talks on Free Trade

The trade ministers of Türkiye and Canada have agreed to launch exploratory discussions aimed at concluding a free trade agreement, according to a joint…

Business General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, Russia Ink $1.28 Billion Deals to Boost Key Industries

Saudi Arabia and Russia signed 13 strategic agreements and memoranda of understanding on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum …

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Spanning Saudi Arabia’s western coast, the Arabian Shield is among the world’s oldest geological formations. (SPA)

Unlocking the Shield: Saudi Arabia Expands Global Partnerships in Critical Minerals

Long before Saudi Arabia emerged as an energy powerhouse, geological forces beneath the Earth’s surface were quietly enriching deposits of significant value. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A worker operates valves at the Rumaila oil field in Basra (Reuters)

Oil Rises Slightly as Investors Await Clarity after Iran-Israel Halt Attacks

Oil prices inched up in early trade on Tuesday after Iran and Israel left the door open to a possible resumption of attacks on each other, though they had…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The airport’s architectural design draws inspiration from the historic urban character of Al Wajh - SPA

Red Sea Global Announces Reopening of Al Wajh International Airport

Red Sea Global (RSG) has announced the reopening of Al Wajh International Airport (EJH) in northwestern Saudi Arabia following a comprehensive two-year…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Two employees of Bupa Arabia pose beside one of the company’s office buildings. (Bupa Arabia website)

Saudi Insurers’ Profits Jump to $251 Million on Investment Boom

Saudi Arabia’s insurance sector is enjoying a period of strong recovery and growing operational stability, driven by the economic momentum generated by Vision…

Mohammed al-Mutairi (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: The logo of Malaysian energy group National Petroleum Limited, commonly known as PETRONAS, is displayed at their booth during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo

Eni and Petronas Launch Gas Joint Venture in Southeast Asia

Italy's Eni and Malaysia's Petronas have established Searah, a 50-50 joint venture combining key energy businesses across Indonesia and Malaysia, the two…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Officials are seen at the signing of the agreement between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Talaat Moustafa Group Saudi for Real Estate Development (TMG) on Sunday .(PIF)

Saudi PIF, Talaat Moustafa Group Sign Strategic Partnership to Collaborate in Urban Development

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Talaat Moustafa Group Saudi for Real Estate Development (TMG) announced on Sunday the signing of a non-binding…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Gold bars are stored in a safe deposit room in Munich, Germany, January 28, 2026. (Reuters)

Gold Extends Losses on US Interest Rate-Hike Fears

Gold prices extended losses on Monday on rising fears of a US rate hike after a strong jobs report, while renewed hostilities in the Middle East pushed oil…

Business Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Riyadh Air Launches Five New Destinations, Moves Up Inaugural London Flight

Riyadh Air, a Public Investment Fund company, has announced the launch of five new destinations - Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Madrid, and Manchester - as the first…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business A man fills up his vehicle at a gas station in Brooklyn on June 01, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

Brent Crude Jumps More Than 5% on New Mideast Concerns

Brent crude prices surged more than five percent Monday after Israel and Iran exchanged strikes, testing a fragile truce and threatening hopes for a deal to…

Business Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 3, 2026. (Reuters)

OPEC+ Decides on Fourth Oil Quota Hike Since Hormuz Closure

OPEC+ agreed on Sunday a fourth increase in its oil output targets in as many months, even though the US war with Iran is still preventing several of the group…