Shortlist drawn up for Middle East LNG export facility's multibillion-dollar expansion

State-owned Oman LNG has drawn up a shortlist of pre-qualified contractors for key work on the further expansion of liquefaction facilities at the country's Qalhat industrial complex. The new expansion project is being carried out by Oman LNG, a...

“Turkish fig yields down after challenging weather”

Dear Michielsen, Special Fruit: The Turkish fig season is currently in full swing at Special Fruit. "A challenging season," says Lieve Michielsen of the Flemish importer. "Due to weather conditions, the harvest is generally lower than in other...

Al-Jadaan: Saudi Arabia’s Financial Market Is Fastest-Growing Worldwide 

Saudi Arabia’s financial market has surged past $2.4 trillion, making it the fastest-growing globally, as the Kingdom doubles down on fintech, digital payments and artificial intelligence to diversify its economy and cement its role as a financial...

HALA Raises $157 Million in One of the Middle East’s Largest Fintech Series B Rounds, led by TPG and Sanabil Investments

HALA has rapidly scaled to serve over 142,000 businesses and now processes more than $8 billion of annual transactions, cementing its position as the region’s MSME focused fintech leader. HALA, Saudi Arabia’s leading fintech and provider of...

After Israel targets Hamas in Qatar, could Turkey be next?

Israel’s attempted assassination of the Hamas political leadership in Doha, Qatar, has shaken the Gulf region, which hitherto believed that Qatar’s status as a US ally and official mediator in the Gaza war shielded it from such an attack....

How Saddam Hussein Came to Symbolize Anti-Americanism in the Middle East 

Today, more than ever, youth from across the Muslim world idolize former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. While in the West, Saddam represents tyranny and evil, his legacy in the Middle East is far more complicated due to the interplay of reflexive...

Dyna.Ai Expands in Saudi Arabia with New AI Solutions

Free Newsletter Get the hottest Fintech Middle East News once a month in your Inbox Dyna.Ai, a global AI services company, has announced plans to expand its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The announcement follows the opening of its...

Saudi Arabia to Introduce Cross-Border QR Payments with Alipay+

Free Newsletter Get the hottest Fintech Middle East News once a month in your Inbox The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and Ant International, a global digital payments and financial technology provider, plan to introduce cross-border QR code payments...

Hawks Strengthens Global Network with Türkiye Operations

Hawks Group has announced the opening of a new trading office in Istanbul, a strategic move aimed at strengthening the company’s footprint in the European and Mediterranean bunker markets. The new entity will operate under the name Hawks Dış...

Google Pay and Google Wallet Launched in Saudi Arabia

Free Newsletter Get the hottest Fintech Middle East News once a month in your Inbox Google announced the official launch of Google Pay and Google Wallet in Saudi Arabia, providing Android users with a secure and convenient way to make digital...

HPE Launches Local AI-native Networking Cloud in Saudi Arabia

Free Newsletter Get the hottest Fintech Middle East News once a month in your Inbox Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has announced the availability of a local cloud instance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its HPE Juniper Networking Mist...

‘Gaza is burning’ amid Israel’s largest ground offensive

Israel launched the main phase of a ground incursion into Gaza City on Tuesday, widening weeks of air, sea, and artillery strikes that killed at least 78 Palestinians in the latest barrage. Residents described relentless explosions, low-flying...

Thunes launches real-time cross-border payments in Saudi Arabia

Thunes, a global payments network, has announced the rollout of real-time cross-border payments into Saudi Arabia. The company noted that using its Direct Global Network, Thunes’ members can now facilitate instant payouts directly to bank accounts...

Al-Jaghbeer: Election of Al-Rawad as President of Arab Fertilizers Union Reflects the Development of Jordan’s Fertilizer Industry

Fathi Al-Jaghbeer, Chairman of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, considered the election of Engineer Abdul Wahab Al-Rawad as President of the Arab Fertilizers Union (AFU) for the 2026–2027 term a clear indicator of the notable development...

EBRD appoints Catarina Bjorlin Hansen as first Head of Iraq

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is welcoming Iraq as a country of operation. In parallel, Catarina Bjorlin Hansen has been appointed as the Bank's first Head of Iraq. Ms Bjorlin Hansen will be responsible for EBRD...

A Spartan economy? Netanyahu’s sobering warning reflects Israel’s growing isolation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, September 15, 2025. (Photo: Olivier Fitoussi/POOL) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement on Monday that Israel will have to...

How MIDF harnesses Islamic finance

How is MIDF (Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd) leveraging Islamic finance to support Malaysia’s industrial transformation, especially in high-growth sectors? MIDF is strategically using Islamic finance as a catalyst to accelerate...

Five years on, could Israeli aggression sink Abraham Accords?

Five years on from the singing of the Abraham Accords and the region has never been more unstable due to Israel's unprecedented aggression [Getty] Five years after they were signed on the White House lawn, the Abraham Accords face their most...

Global cheese market to hit $178.5bn by 2035

Global cheese market growth – key trends and forecast summary Global cheese market valued at $105.5bn, reaching $178.5bn by 2035 Growth accelerating to 4–5% CAGR, up from historical 3–3.5% Fast food expansion in Asia and Middle East boosts...

Spain will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel remains in the competition

Spain’s state broadcaster has spoken: If Israel participates in Eurovision 2026, then Spain will withdraw. We are reprinting their statement in full below. – The Corporation’s Board of Directors made this decision this Tuesday by an absolute...