Hala Saghbini

Hala Saghbini
Business Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Chris Wright at KAPSARC (Saudi Energy Ministry)

Saudi-US Nuclear Cooperation Anchors Kingdom’s Economic, Industrial Transformation

Saudi-US relations have entered a new phase of strategic cooperation with the signing of a peaceful nuclear energy agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, and a…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Saudi flags fly along a street in the Saudi capital. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

How Saudi Arabia's Buffers Shielded Its Economy from the Fires of War

At a time when the conflict between the United States and Iran plunged the region into one of its most severe periods of tension in years, closed the Strait of…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group, speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat. Photo: Turky Alagili

World Bank to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia is Evolving from Driving Growth to Exporting Development Knowledge

The transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia's labor market is no longer measured solely by the decline in unemployment to a historic low of 2.8 percent, or…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business  A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 8, 2026. (Reuters)

Middle East Bears Brunt of Tanker War as Saudi Arabia Weathers Crisis with Alternative Logistics Network

At a time when the global economy is struggling to avoid a sharp recession, the International Monetary Fund’s updated World Economic Outlook showed a deeply…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business A view of the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (Public Investment Fund)

Saudi Banks Maintain Resilience, Credit Growth Offsets Interest Rate Pressures

The Saudi banking sector has once again demonstrated its robust financial fundamentals and high capacity to adapt to geopolitical challenges and global…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business  In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on June 8, 2026, residents take a dip as cargo and commercial vessels lie at anchor in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas. (Photo by Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP) /

Hormuz Shock Hits Gulf Economies, Saudi Arabia Takes Center Stage in 2026

The global economy is entering an extremely sensitive phase in 2026 amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have cast a heavy shadow…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Dr. Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, speaks at the IMF, World Bank spring meetings. (IMF)

Azour to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia Has Strong Financial Buffers to Confront War Impact

“This is a multidimensional shock.” That is how Dr. Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund,…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business A cargo ship in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

World Bank to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia Plays a Central Role in Stabilizing Energy Markets

At a time when geopolitical tensions are disrupting the stability of vital maritime corridors, fundamental questions are emerging about the ability of major…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)