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 conference logo of the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026 is displayed on a wall backdrop inside a meeting room at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok on October 9, 2026. (Photo by Chanakarn LAOSARAKHAM / AFP)

Thailand Prepares to Host IMF-World Bank Meetings

Thailand is preparing to host the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok from October 12–18, bringing together more than 15,000 participants from 191…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business The Saudi capital Riyadh. Reuters

From Supply Security to Artificial Intelligence: Issues Bringing Global Energy Leaders Together in Riyadh

The global energy sector is turning its attention to Riyadh starting Sunday, as a week of ministerial meetings and international events gets underway, bringing…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the Portuguese flagged oil and chemical tanker ship CB Pacific docked at the Moran Shipping Agencies’ Citgo Petroleum Quincy/Braintree Terminal, March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

Oil Falls as Trump Comments on Iran Talks Ease Supply Concerns

Oil prices fell on Friday as Middle East supply concerns eased after US President Donald Trump said the country would not attack Iran before US elections next…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Stacks of copper cathodes sit inside Glencore's Canadian Copper Refinery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 3, 2026. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP)

London Copper Rises on Supply Risks, China Buying

London copper rose on Friday, recovering from the previous session's loss, as mine disruptions and buying in top consumer China supported prices. Benchmark…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business EU and Chinese flags are seen in this illustration taken, March 20, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

China and EU Trade Envoys Seek Ways to Ease Tensions over Growing Imbalances

The top trade envoys for China and the European Union were wrapping up two days of talks Friday aimed at calming escalating tensions over growing imbalances…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILE PHOTO: A man works on a gold and diamond ornament inside a Senco Gold & Diamonds jewellery workshop in Kolkata, India, January 29, 2026. REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary/File Photo

Gold Rises More Than 1%, Fed Outlook in Focus

Gold rose more than 1% on Friday, helped by a softer US dollar and lower oil prices, while market players weighed lingering inflation concerns and the outlook…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILE PHOTO: Oil storage tanks and facilities of a Sinopec plant in Shanghai, China, March 26, 2026.  REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo

China to Resume October Fuel Exports after Holiday Pause

China is set to resume October refined fuel exports after a brief halt during its Golden Week holiday, a move that will help ease tight global diesel, gasoline…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Ayman Alsayari during his participation in the Istanbul Economic Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)

SAMA Governor: Saudi Arabia Maintains Considerable Economic Resilience Despite Regional Tensions

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Governor Ayman Alsayari said the global economy has shown considerable resilience despite successive geopolitical shocks, but warned…

Asharq Al Awsat (Istanbul)
Business A view shows shipping containers at a commercial port in Vladivostok, Russia August 25, 2023. REUTERS/Tatiana Meel/File Photo 

WTO Raises 2026 Global Merchandise Trade Growth Forecast to 3.9% On AI Boom

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has upgraded its global merchandise trade growth forecast for 2026 to 3.9%, a significant jump from its previous 1.9%…

Asharq Al Awsat (Geneva)
Business General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

World Bank Praises Saudi Arabia’s Experience in Data Governance and AI Development

In its regional economic report for the Middle East and North Africa, the World Bank highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s experience in data governance…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A previous CEDA meeting chaired by the Saudi Crown Prince. SPA

Council of Economic and Development Affairs Stresses Saudi Economy’s Resilience

The Saudi Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) has discussed during a virtual meeting developments in the global economy amid rapidly changing…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business A trader works on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York City, US, November 11, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

US Stocks Pull Back on Oil, Iran War Worries

Wall Street stocks slipped early Thursday, after oil prices soared on reports that the United States could launch fresh attacks on Iran before key midterm…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Development work on plots during the first year of the Real Estate Balance Program in Riyadh (SPA)

A Year After Riyadh Halted Rent Hikes, the Market Tests a New Balance

A year after regulations freezing rent increases began to take effect, the rental market in Riyadh has begun to show a clear shift in the trajectory of prices…

Mohammed al-Mutairi (Riyadh )
Business FILE PHOTO: A truck transports a Maersk container at APM Terminals at the Port of Los Angeles, California, US, March 4, 2026.   REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

Maersk Raises Emergency Fuel Surcharge Due to Middle East Conflict

Danish shipping group Maersk said on Thursday it was increasing its emergency fuel surcharge (EFS) on all export collections and import deliveries due to ⁠the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business FILE - The logo of the International Monetary Fund is visible on its building, April 5, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

IMF Reaches Staff Deal with Pakistan, Potentially Unlocking $1.2 Bn

The International Monetary Fund has reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on reviews of some of its lending programs, potentially unlocking about $1.21…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A 1000-gram gold bar at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)

Gold Pauses Decline after Two-month Low as Traders Weigh US Fed Move

Gold prices steadied on Thursday after sliding to a two-month low in the previous session, as investors assessed the likelihood of another US Federal Reserve…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Oil rigs operating in the Kern River field in California, USA (Reuters)

Oil Rises as Middle East Supply Concerns Persist amid Shipping Attacks

Oil prices rose on Thursday on persistent worries about supply from the key Middle East producing region amid an increase in attacks on shipping in the Gulf…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Chart of German share price DAX (Deutscher Aktienindex) at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, October 6, 2026.  REUTERS/Staff

Stocks Fall Further as Oil Spike Fans Fresh Inflation Worries

Equities extended losses Thursday as inflation fears were stoked by a fresh jump in oil prices following a report that said Donald Trump was considering more…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business  A currency exchanger counts bundles of Iraqi dinar banknotes while serving a customer at a roadside exchange shop in Baghdad. (AP)

Iraq Devalues Dinar as Citizens Bear the Cost of Fiscal Strain

Iraqis woke on Wednesday to a sharp loss in their currency’s value after authorities devalued the dinar to 1,520 per dollar from 1,320, triggering widespread…

Fadhel al-Nashmi (Baghdad)
Business FILE PHOTO: A maze of crude oil pipes and valves is pictured during a tour by the Department of Energy at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas, US June 9, 2016.  REUTERS/Richard Carson/File Photo

Stocks Slide as Oil Climbs on Mideast Flareup

Oil prices rose Wednesday on fresh concerns about Middle East supplies following a warning that Iran appeared to be stepping up attacks in the Strait of Hormuz…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa with businesspeople during the Saudi-Syrian Investment Forum in Damascus (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Prepares New Pathways for Its Companies to Enter the Syrian Market

Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that the Saudi-Syrian Business Council is currently working on around three new pathways that are still being developed as part of…

Bandar al-Mosalam (Riyadh)
Business An employee arranges stacks of Iraqi dinars at a currency exchange shop in Baghdad on Feb. 14, 2023. (AFP)

Iraq Central Bank Devalues Dinar after Mideast War Hurts Oil Exports

Iraq's central bank devalued the dinar currency against the dollar on Wednesday, with the country facing a deepening crisis brought on by the Middle East war. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Business A worker polishes gold bars at a refinery in Sydney (AFP)

Gold Down 1% as Dollar Gains; Fed Minutes in Focus

Gold prices fell on a stronger US dollar on Wednesday, while investors awaited the minutes of the Federal Reserve's September meeting to gauge the degree of…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Women use paddleboards, as a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz appears in the distance, near the beach of Bandar Abbas, Iran, October 6, 2026. Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA/via WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

World Energy Council to Asharq Al-Awsat: Diversifying Routes is Essential to Withstand Shocks

Recent disruptions to oil trade flows have highlighted the importance of having multiple routes to market and infrastructure capable of absorbing shocks, at a…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)