The unprecedented Israeli and US attack on Iran a few days ago has raised the possibility of a sharp rise in petrol prices. With the summer driving season underway, gasoline prices have been low and stable so far. Ahmed Abdel Rahman writes. Relatively low petrol prices in the US have helped lower inflation and allay consumer fears o...
New Zealand PM bows out
Here's an article from The Economist which, while talking about John Key's resignation, states that NZ is "one of the most successful countries in the world. While this is debatable, there is no doubt that Key has had successes- namely international recognition- along with failures, housing, immigration and the environment. We have yet to see whether the new Prime Minister, John English, will have the same success.
Egypt is witnessing a surge in business tourism as high-net-worth foreign investors visit to explore lucrative opportunities across sectors, fuelled by the country's recent economic reforms and political stability. Executives from global firms are driving demand for premium stays, spending up to USD 15,000 a night in North Coast villas and $10,000 ...
US President Trump's visit to the Arab Gulf marks a critical moment in reshaping US relations with the region amid rising tensions with Iran. As Gulf States gain political and economic influence, Iran seeks to adapt, proposing a regional uranium enrichment consortium to balance diplomacy with nuclear ambitions. While skepticism lingers, Tehran sees...
By the end of 2024, the 10 largest Arab sovereign wealth funds had assets under management totalling USD4.76 trillion, according to data from the Global SWF Sovereign Wealth Fund Tracker. Ahmad Abdel Rahman reports. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) topped the list of assets under management by Arab sovereign wealth funds (SWF) surpassing t...
The world supports a two-state solution, yet practical pressure has only ever been applied to secure Israel's existence, not Palestine's. As the Gaza war rages, core disagreements block ceasefire talks: Hamas refuses to disarm or leave Gaza, while Netanyahu insists on its total defeat to maintain power. International mediators remain silent on defi...
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have invested heavily in AI infrastructure to become global AI hubs and reduce dependence on US and Chinese models. With AI projected to add USD320 billion to the Middle East's economy by 2030, the Gulf powers are leading the charge—Saudi Arabia alone expects a $135.2 billion boost. Massive projects like the world's largest...
Before his death on April 21, 2025, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, made historic visits to several Arab countries, championing peace, interfaith dialogue, and unity. From praying at the wall in Bethlehem to signing the Document on Human Fraternity in the UAE and meeting with top Islamic leaders, his unprecedented outreach symbolised a g...
As US administration officials accompanied President Donald Trump during his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his Gulf tour, observers focused on this important visit. Many expect that Trump's visit will lead to significant achievements that will affect the next four years, writes Ahmad Abdel Rahman . Undoubtedly, new regiona...
US President Donald Trump is attempting to deal with the Ansar Allah Group (known as the Houthis) with a policy different from that pursued by his predecessor, Joe Biden, in terms of the strength, intensity, and severity of the attacks on the Houthis in Yemen. Ahmad Abdel Rahman reports. Yemen, with its strategic location and proximity to an intern...
Decentralised platforms (DeFi) are becoming increasingly popular across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with the UAE positioning itself as a major crypto hub. Lucia Dore explains. People in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are showing considerable interest in decentralised platforms (DEXs). These platforms don't use an intermediary bank and u...
Will Turkey succeed in stopping Israeli airstrikes in Syria? Turkey does not want to be drawn into a war, but what is the way forward? Ahmad Abdel Rahman reports Renewed controversy has arisen over Israeli airstrikes on military sites and airports inside Syria, targeting areas in Hama and Homs. Neither Turkey nor Israel want further confrontation, ...
On April 2, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 10 percent tariff on all Egyptian exports. This move is aimed at boosting American manufacturing and cutting the trade deficit. The policy hits Egypt's key export sectors—especially garments, iron, and steel—threatening a significant blow to its USD1.95 billion export market to the US...
Gulf financial markets witnessed sharp declines at the start of trading recently, affected by a global downturn resulting from the escalating tariff crisis led by the US. This sharp decline occurred amid growing uncertainty about the future of the global economy . Ahmad Abdel Rahman writes. The economies of the Gulf states continued to deteriorate,...
The IMF Executive Board completed the fourth review of Egypt's Extended Fund Arrangement, allowing the authorities access to approximately USD1.3 billion, or the equivalent of Standard Drawing Rights (SDR)1 billion. According to an IMF statement, the Egyptian authorities have maintained macroeconomic stability amid a challenging regional environmen...
Analyses of the Trump administration's plans for Iran in Washington have concluded that the new US president, Donald Trump, has only two options: either he signs a new nuclear agreement in which Tehran makes new concessions, or the US launches attacks, permanently ending the regime . Ahmad Abdel-Rahman explains. Significant developments have occurr...
The symbol bears the name of the national currency, " Riyal," with a design inspired by Arabic calligraphy. Ahmad Abdul Rahman writes that this will enhance its representation locally, regionally, and internationally, making it suitable for referencing the local currency in all financial and commercial transactions . In a historic step aimed at enh...
Libya has enormous economic potential, abundant natural resources, and a great location, which means it's a promising Arab economy. However, Ahmad Abdel-Rahman writes that there are challenges . Libya possesses enormous natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals. It is well-located geographically due to its proximity to Europe and its locati...
Ahmad Abdel-Rahman writes that Saudi Arabia has built interests with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, transforming itself into a major player not only in the Middle East but also in the world . Saudi Arabia has repositioned itself strategically from a leader of the Arab coalition collaborating with Washington to a regional pow...
While Iran excels in threatening statements, it is moving in parallel with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on its diplomatic efforts with the US. The recent visit of the Emir of Qatar to Tehran, Iran's capital, may be Iran's attempt to improve relations with the Gulf States so it can mediate with the Trump administration, writes Abdel ...
Anger has grown inside Iran because signals from Iranian officials affiliated with the reformist movement and advocates of openness to the West have only led to the US President Donald Trump issuing a memorandum containing new sanctions to "exert maximum pressure" on the Iranian economy. This is a continuation of the policy that Trump started in hi...