Business

Saudi Arabia Offers 100% Social Insurance Debt Waiver to Businesses That Have Exited Market

Business Officials from the General Organization for Social Insurance at an earlier meeting with businessmen and businesswomen at the Riyadh Chamber (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Offers 100% Social Insurance Debt Waiver to Businesses That Have Exited Market

Saudi Arabia's General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has made businesses that have ceased operations and exited the Saudi market eligible for a 100%…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business A general view shows Ras Tanura's oil production plant near Dammam in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province (AFP)

From Aramco's Profits to State Budget Revenue: How Do Oil Proceeds Reach Government Coffers?

Saudi Aramco's financial results and Saudi Arabia's third-quarter budget performance report, released on the same day, revealed a divergence between the…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Representation of cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration taken September 10, 2025. (Reuters)

Crypto Dips on Democrat Midterm Wins, Binance Hack Dents Optimism

Cryptocurrencies briefly dipped on Wednesday as Democrats won majorities in both the Senate and House in the US midterm elections, a potential blow to an…

Business A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images file)

Saudi Non-Oil Sector Expands for Seventh Straight Month

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector continued to expand in October, with business activity and output growth accelerating despite a decline in the Riyad Bank…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business  A general view of Riyadh city during the early hour of evening at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28, 2025. (Reuters)

Growth in Non-Oil Revenue Bolsters Saudi Budget Resilience

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil revenue surpassed oil revenue in the third quarter of 2026 for the first time since 2020, highlighting progress in diversifying…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)

Business The war and ⁠resulting disruption of global ⁠energy markets have hit global supply chains and prevented vital fertilizer shipments from reaching developing countries (Reuters)

World Bank: 27 Countries Seeking to Ensure Access to Crisis Funds

Twenty-seven countries have moved since the Iran war started to put in place crisis instruments that could quickly access funding from existing World Bank…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business Poppy flowers stand on a field not far from the European Central Bank, centre, in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

IMF: EU Must Reform, Consolidate, Use Joint Debt to Cope with Spending Needs

European Union countries will face large bills for defense, energy and pensions in the next 15 years, the International Monetary Fund told EU finance ministers…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Business 22 May 2026, Mexico, Mexico City: EU Council President Antonio Costa, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum and EU Comission President Ursula von der Leyen are pictured holding the trade agreement at the presidential palace. Photo: Felix Marquez/dpa

Mexico, EU Sign Stalled Trade Deal as they Aim to Diversify from US

Mexico and the European Union signed a long-stalled free trade agreement on Friday as they seek to decrease dependence on the US and partially insulate…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Moody's Affirms its Credit Rating of Saudi Arabia at 'Aa3' with Stable Outlook

The credit rating agency Moody’s has affirmed Saudi Arabia’s credit rating at “Aa3” with a “stable” outlook. The agency said Friday that the affirmation at…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business A farmer works in his wheat field in the Sebt Meghchouch region of Morocco, on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)

Morocco Farmers Saw Hope in Rain, but Mideast War Inflates Production Costs

Like many Moroccan farmers, Mehdi el-Maazi was hopeful that rare heavy rains would yield an abundant harvest this year -- but those hopes were quickly…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business US dollar banknotes (Reuters)

Dollar Nears Six-week High; Mixed Signals on US-Iran Deal Feed Uncertainty

The dollar traded near six-week highs on Friday, after conflicting signals over a US-Iran peace deal whipped up volatility across financial markets, though…

Business A gold bar inside a jewelry shop in the Gold Market on Al-Moez Street in Old Cairo (Reuters)

Gold Set for Weekly Loss as Oil-driven Inflation Fears Boost Rate-hike Bets

Gold edged lower on Friday and was headed for a second consecutive weekly drop, as elevated oil prices fueled fears of inflation and boosted expectations of a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A man shows grain in his wheat product on this family's land in Tulia, Texas, US, May 13, 2026. REUTERS/Annie Rice

Supply Minister: Egypt Plans Global Grain Hub

Egypt, the biggest buyer of Russian wheat, aims to create a global grain trading and storage hub, Supply Minister Sherif Farouk said on Friday, speaking at a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A farmer works in his wheat field in the Sebt Meghchouch region of Morocco, on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)

Morocco's Inflation Rate Rises to 1.7% in April

Morocco's annual inflation rate, measured by the consumer price index, rose to 1.7% in April from 0.9% a month earlier, the statistics agency said on Friday. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILE PHOTO: An out of use sign hangs from a nozzle of an unleaded petrol pump on the forecourt of an Asda petrol station in Bethnal Green, London, Britain, March 27, 2026 REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo

UK Retail Sales Drop by Most in Nearly a Year as Drivers Buy Less Fuel

British retail sales fell by the most in nearly a year in April as fuel sales plummeted, according to official figures published on Friday that added to signs…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business Naval vessels at Yanbu port on the Red Sea (SPA) 

Saudi Oil Pipeline Boosts Exports 37.4%, Trade Surplus Hits Highest Since 2022

Saudi Arabia’s merchandise trade surplus surged to its highest level since 2022 in March, driven by strong momentum in oil exports, which rose 37.4%, while the…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) (Middle East) 

Ashmore: Institutional Liquidity is Reshaping Saudi Market

Saudi Arabia’s financial market is undergoing a structural shift as short-term speculative trading gives way to institutional investment through funds, managed…

Zeinab Ali (Riyadh)
Business Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits a children’s activity center in Essex, Britain, Thursday, May 21, 2026. Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS

UK Offers Cheaper Chocolate, Tickets to the Zoo to Ease Cost of Living Squeeze

The British government is offering cheaper chocolate and discounted entry to theme parks as it seeks to ease a cost-of-living squeeze and win back voters. …

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business A fuel storage facility at Russia's main oil export hub in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk (Reuters)

Oil Gains, Stocks Slip on Uncertain Mideast Peace Prospects

Oil prices jumped while stock markets mostly retreated and the dollar firmed Thursday as hopes of a Middle East peace accord faded on conflicting headlines on…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)

flynas Says Direct Flights Between Riyadh, Milan Start Thursday

flynas has announced the launch of direct flights connecting Riyadh with Milan, SPA reported. Starting Thursday, the airline will operate three weekly direct…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILE PHOTO: Elon Musk walks to attend the trial in his lawsuit over OpenAI for-profit conversion at a federal courthouse, in Oakland, California, US, April 29, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo/File Photo

SpaceX Reveals Plans for What Could be Biggest-ever Initial Public Offering

Elon Musk announced plans Wednesday for one of the biggest stock sales ever by taking public a space company that is currently losing billions of dollars a…

Asharq Al Awsat (New York)
Business Gold bracelets displayed at a jewelry store in Varanasi, India (AFP)

Gold Eases on Higher Yields, Firm Dollar; US-Iran Talks in Focus

Gold edged lower on Thursday as higher Treasury yields and a firm dollar weighed on the metal, while hopes of a resolution to the US-Iran conflict limited…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business An employee of the General Authority for Transport inspects postal parcel warehouses (SPA). 

Saudi Arabia Requires Shipping Companies to Let Consumers Inspect Packages Before Accepting Delivery

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce issued an official directive requiring all private-sector shipping and delivery companies to allow consumers to open…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business From the signing ceremony of the joint statement concluding the free trade agreement negotiations (GCC)

GCC, Britain Announce Historic Trade Deal

The Gulf Cooperation Council and Britain have announced a trade deal worth $5 billion a year in the long run, deepening economic ties between the two sides and…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business The rollout marks the latest step in Airbnb's push to capture more of the travel spending that currently flows to competitors like Booking.com and Expedia. SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Airbnb Expands into Hotels, Cars, Groceries

Airbnb, facing tighter local regulations on short-term home rentals, announced Wednesday it is adding boutique hotels, car rentals and grocery delivery to its…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Leads Efforts to Stabilize Global Energy Supplies amid Warnings of Prolonged Conflict

Saudi Arabia is spearheading international efforts to stabilize global oil markets and contain the fallout from a supply crisis triggered by the Iran war and…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business The King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (SPA)

Foreign Investors Consolidate their Bets on Saudi Arabia as Economic Reforms Gather Pace

Saudi Arabia is no longer just an oil-price bet for global investors. It is becoming a core emerging-market play. That is the view of Emmanuel Laurina, head of…

Zeinab Ali (Riyadh)
Business FILED - 11 January 2012, China, Hong Kong: FILE PHOTO - A general view of the facade of Standard Chartered Bank branch in Hong Kong. Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

Standard Chartered CEO Seeks to Reassure Staff over AI-linked Job Cuts

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters sought to assuage staff concerns on Wednesday, a day after saying that the bank will cut thousands of jobs over the next…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Business A seized suspected Russian oil taker by the French navy is photographed in the Mediterranean Sea in Fos-sur-Mer, southern France, on Jan. 26, 2026. (AP)

Ukraine Ally Britain Eases Sanctions on Russian Oil as Fuel Prices Surge Over Iran Conflict

The UK government has quietly watered down sanctions on Russian oil in an effort to shelter Britons from the cost-of-living squeeze triggered by the closure of…