Business

Egypt Seeks Faster Progress on Libya Gas, Refining and Power Projects

Business Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks during a press conference with Minister of Information Diaa Rashwan (not pictured) in Cairo, Egypt, March 25, 2026. (Reuters)

Egypt Seeks Faster Progress on Libya Gas, Refining and Power Projects

Egypt aims to accelerate energy projects with Libya, including gas pipeline links, refining of Libyan crude in Egypt and an electricity interconnection,…

Business GCC transport ministers pose for a group photo following the 27th committee meeting in Kuwait. (GCC Railway Authority)

GCC: Railway Agreement Sets Joint Framework for Project Implementation and Operation

Jasem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said on Sunday that the signing of the General Agreement on the GCC Railway Project…

Asharq Al Awsat (Manama)
Business A factory in Madinah’s industrial city. (SPA)

Mega Projects Drive Growth for Saudi Small and Medium Factories

Mega projects in Saudi Arabia are offering increasing opportunities for small and medium-sized factories to expand their businesses and integrate into local…

Sara bin Shamran (Riyadh)
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 Tunisia Raises Fuel Prices to Reduce Budget Deficit

Tunisia Raises Fuel Prices to Reduce Budget Deficit

Tunisia raised fuel prices on Wednesday for the second time in a month in an effort to reduce its budget deficit. The step is one of a series of reforms…

Mongi Saidani (Tunis)
Business Sudan’s Annual Inflation Jumps to Record Level

Sudan’s Annual Inflation Jumps to Record Level

Sudan’s annual inflation jumped to 330.78 percent in February from 304.33 percent in January, hitting the highest level in decades, said the Central Bureau of…

Mohammed Amin Yassin (Khartoum)
Business Saudi Arabia Stresses Global Hydrogen Production Capacity

Saudi Arabia Stresses Global Hydrogen Production Capacity

Saudi Arabia and Germany signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the production of clean hydrogen and the establishment of a joint…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Arabia Leads the Region’s Logistics Services Market

Saudi Arabia Leads the Region’s Logistics Services Market

Saudi Arabia is leading the region in the logistics market, customs clearance technology, and port operations, experts told Asharq Al-Awsat, noting that the…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Digital Authority to Augment Investment in Govt Technology

Saudi Digital Authority to Augment Investment in Govt Technology

Saudi Cabinet approval on Tuesday for the establishment of the Digital Government Authority (DGA) is expected to raise the kingdom’s place in the UN e…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Stock Market Index Rises Above 9,500 Points

Saudi Stock Market Index Rises Above 9,500 Points

The main Saudi stock index rose by 122.25 points at the close of trading to reach the level of 9595.45 points, with trades worth 14.6 billion riyals. The…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Egypt Settles Claims Over Restarted Damietta LNG Plant

Egypt Settles Claims Over Restarted Damietta LNG Plant

Egypt’s petroleum ministry announced on Wednesday a series of agreements settling all claims between Egypt, Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Union…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business France Proposes Common US-EU Rules for Green Finance

France Proposes Common US-EU Rules for Green Finance

Europe and the United States should agree on common rules to determine how 'green' a financial investment is, France's finance minister said on Wednesday after…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Kuwait Finance Minister Calls for Reforms Despite Rebound in Oil Prices

Kuwait Finance Minister Calls for Reforms Despite Rebound in Oil Prices

Kuwait's finance minister said on Wednesday that an increase in oil revenues due to higher crude prices would not cover the Gulf state's budget obligations and…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Egypt's Economy Grew an Annualized 2% in Q2 of Fiscal Year 2020-2021 - Minister

Egypt's Economy Grew an Annualized 2% in Q2 of Fiscal Year 2020-2021 - Minister

Egypt’s economy recorded an annualized growth rate of 2% in the second quarter of its 2020-2021 fiscal year, and 1.35% in the first half of the same, Planning…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Arabia's PIF Signs $15 Billion Loan

Saudi Arabia's PIF Signs $15 Billion Loan

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, said on Wednesday it has signed a $15 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility with a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Saudi Arabia to Revive Hajj, Umrah Sectors

Saudi Arabia to Revive Hajj, Umrah Sectors

Saudi Arabia launched on Tuesday a package of initiatives to support investors and economic establishments operating in the Hajj and Umrah sector, which is…

Saeed al-Abyad (Jeddah)
Business Oman to Cut Income Tax on SMEs, Offer Investors Long-Term Residency

Oman to Cut Income Tax on SMEs, Offer Investors Long-Term Residency

Oman will reduce income tax for small and medium businesses for 2020 and 2021 and will offer long-term residency permits for foreign investors, state TV said…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Investments of Saudi PIF Support Corporate Credit Growth

Investments of Saudi PIF Support Corporate Credit Growth

Investments of Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Kingdom’s wealth fund, will support credit growth among companies in the country, ratings agency S&P…

Asharq Al Awsat (Dubai)
Business Egypt Prepares to Launch New Export Subsidies Program

Egypt Prepares to Launch New Export Subsidies Program

Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea announced the main features of a new program of export subsidies which includes boosting national industry,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Cairo)
Business Saudi Arabia Launches New Labor Market Initiatives on Int’l Women’s Day

Saudi Arabia Launches New Labor Market Initiatives on Int’l Women’s Day

Saudi government agencies announced a set of programs that will contribute to expanding the local labor market for women, within recent initiatives launched on…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business Saudi Arabia’s Main Equities Index Close at Its Highest Since 2015

Saudi Arabia’s Main Equities Index Close at Its Highest Since 2015

Saudi Arabia’s main equities index closed on Monday at its highest since June 2015. Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) gained 23.29 points to close at 9,374.37…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business New Turkey Wealth Fund CEO Latest in Raft of Top-Level Changes

New Turkey Wealth Fund CEO Latest in Raft of Top-Level Changes

Turkey named Salim Arda Ermut the new chief executive of its wealth fund on Tuesday in the latest in a flurry of top-level changes that began in early November…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business ECB Warns European Banks From 'Storm'

ECB Warns European Banks From 'Storm'

The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned the European banks from a "severe storm" driven by bankruptcy waves, impaired loans, and bad loans of small and…

I'tidal Saleme (Berlin)
Business Terrorist Attacks on Saudi Oil Facilities Threaten Efforts to Stabilize Energy Markets

Terrorist Attacks on Saudi Oil Facilities Threaten Efforts to Stabilize Energy Markets

The continued terrorist attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia will negatively affect the global economies that are currently suffering from the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business IMF Says Sudan Made Tangible Progress Toward Establishing Strong Reforms

IMF Says Sudan Made Tangible Progress Toward Establishing Strong Reforms

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director approved on Monday the first review of Sudan's Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) but called for reform of a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Dina al-Nahdi: A Saudi Leader in Global Environmental Sustainability

Dina al-Nahdi: A Saudi Leader in Global Environmental Sustainability

Dina al-Nahdi, who is a member of the board of directors at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed that Saudi women participation in the…

Aisha Jaafari (Jeddah)
Business Tadawul Says Seeks to Encourage Women's Role in Financial Sector

Tadawul Says Seeks to Encourage Women's Role in Financial Sector

Sarah al-Suhaimi, chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), has highlighted efforts to create a working environment that…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business PIF Executive: Saudi Women Are Partners in the Kingdom’s Development

PIF Executive: Saudi Women Are Partners in the Kingdom’s Development

Shihana Alazzaz is one of the most prominent Saudi female figures. Today, she occupies a remarkable position in one of the most vital sectors in the country,…

Aisha Jaafari (Riyadh)