UNCTAD report '"Trade and Development Foresights 2025 – Under pressure: Uncertainty reshapes global economic prospects” cited mounting threats including trade policy shocks, financial volatility and a surge in uncertainty that risk derailing the global outlook.

 The Saudi-led oil cartel said in a monthly report that it now expects demand to grow by 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025, down from a previous forecast of 1.4 million bpd. The "minor adjustment" was mainly due to first-quarter data and "the expected impact on oil demand...

China said Monday that exports soared 12.4 percent year-on-year last month, beating expectations as Beijing navigated mounting trade headwinds sparked by US President Donald Trump.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) has said that the Saudi space economy reached $8.7 billion last year, including all value-added activities and industries from space technologies and services. The size of the space market reached $1.9 billion, according to the KSA Space Market 2025...

London, United Kingdom -- Why do investors flock to gold when economic times turn tough? As the precious metal reaches record highs AFP explains why it remains such a trusted lifeline. The trading turmoil unleashed by US President Donald Trump's tariffs has triggered a record run for gold, widely viewed...

Jitters about US tariffs hammered Asian stocks again early Friday as President Donald Trump acknowledged a "cost" to his surging trade offensive against superpower rival China..

Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan "and I just decided to launch negotiations on an EU-UAE free trade agreement," the European Commission president wrote on X. "This agreement will strengthen our bilateral relations and contribute to the prosperity of the broader region."

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani oversaw "the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding as part of a strategic cooperation framework with US energy firm GE Vernova, his office said, calling it "the largest and most advanced electricity generation initiative in Iraq's history."

The World Bank announced Tuesday it will provide Jordan with $1.1 billion in new financing to support economic reforms and expand social protections as the kingdom struggles with mounting debt.

US President Donald Trump's punishing tariffs on dozens of economies came in force Wednesday, including over 100 percent in levies against Chinese goods, dramatically ramping up a devastating global trade war.

China vowed on Tuesday to "fight to the end" against fresh tariffs of 50 percent threatened by US President Donald Trump, further aggravating a trade war that has already wiped trillions off global markets.

Trump's sweeping tariffs are reshaping trade dynamics across MENA, impacting oil-exporting Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, according to Atlantic Council experts.

Trading floors across the globe were overcome by waves of further selling after last week's sharp losses, with Trump telling Americans to "be strong, courageous, and patient," minutes before the New York stock market opened to drops of over three percent.

Abu Dhabi, UAE --  Abu Dhabi Customs reported a 9 percent increase in the emirate’s non-oil foreign trade in 2024, reaching AED 306 billion ($83.29 billion), compared to AED 281.9 billion in 2023, reflecting the vitality of the emirate’s economy and its growing relations with trading partners around the globe....

US President Donald Trump's widest-ranging tariffs to date took effect Saturday, in a move which could trigger retaliation and escalating trade tensions that could upset the global economy.

Wall Street led a global markets bloodbath Thursday as countries around the world reeled from President Donald Trump's trade war, while the White House insisted the US economy will emerge victorious.

After Trump on Wednesday unveiled a blitz of harsher-than-expected levies aimed at countries around the globe, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned the measures would "have substantial implications for global trade and economic growth prospects".

The tariff announcements rattled stock markets while safe haven gold hit a new record high, oil prices fell and the dollar slumped against other major currencies.

China on Thursday said it "firmly opposes" sweeping new US tariffs on its exports and vowed "countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests".

Trump kept rivals and allies alike guessing about who would be targeted and by how much, but promised to be "very kind" when addressing what he has dubbed "Liberation Day" on Wednesday. Global stocks remained volatile ahead of the so-called "reciprocal tariffs," which Trump says are necessary to combat unfair...

Paris, France -- From champagne to steel and now cars: it is getting harder to keep up with US President Donald Trump's growing tariff target list and the retaliatory measures by trade partners. Here is a rundown of what has been implemented, threatened and coming next in an escalating trade...

Born in 1964, Souaid officially takes over after embattled former chief Riad Salameh's term expired in July 2023 with no designated successor. Divided politicians had since failed to agree on a permanent replacement for Salameh, who has been accused at home and abroad of financial crimes.

US President Donald Trump has announced steep tariffs on auto imports and parts, provoking threats of retaliation from trading partners ahead of further promised trade levies next week.

"We are navigating troubled waters," said the OECD's chief economist Alvaro Santos Pereira as he summed up the world's economic situation in the coming months, with inflation set to rise. US President Donald Trump's return to the White House is in part responsible for the coming turbulence, the OECD said...

Since January, Trump has imposed levies on major trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, and on steel and aluminum imports, roiling financial markets and fanning fears that his plans could tip the world's biggest economy into a recession.

The technology will likely automate millions of jobs, Mark J. Penn, a US businessman, political strategist, and author tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

Washington, United States - The International Monetary Fund has approved an additional $1.3 billion assistance program for Egypt under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) meant to mitigate the impact of climate change, the organization said Tuesday. The Fund's Executive Board also completed the fourth review of an ongoing aid...

IoT applications are transforming critical sectors such as transportation, where connected vehicles improve traffic management, utilities where smart grids enhance energy efficiency, and healthcare, where remote monitoring optimizes patient care.

Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey's central bank on Thursday lowered its key interest rate for a third consecutive time as inflation has fallen below 40 percent for the first time since mid-2023. The monetary policy committee "decided to reduce the policy rate from 45 percent" in January to 42.5 percent, the...

Dubai, UAE -- The UAE’s real GDP increased by 3.8 percent during the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reaching AED 1.322 trillion. This growth was driven by a strong expansion in non-oil sectors, which grew by 4.5 percent to AED 987 billion, reflecting...

The Trump administration’s trade tariffs and withdrawal from the Paris Agreement pose major risks to global economic growth and energy markets. Meanwhile, record energy investment surpassing $1.5 trillion signals cautious optimism, yet low-carbon spending remains stagnant. OPEC+ faces challenges in maintaining oil prices amid resilient non-OPEC supply, adding further uncertainty...

Humanity is on a tech-fueled trajectory. Data and informed predictions are inspiring, showing how AI is reshaping economies, smart cities are rising, and boundaries are dissolving.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate in Jan 2025 reached 2 percent compared to January 2024, the kingdom's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for January 2025. According to GASTAT, Saudi Arabia's inflation rate is considered the lowest among the...

London, United Kingdom -- Major stock markets mostly rallied and oil prices retreated Thursday on hopes for an end to the war in Ukraine and despite fresh tariff threats.London was a rare faller owing to sharp losses to share prices of big companies, including Unilever, Barclays and British American Tobacco, on...

Dubai, UAE -- The International Monterey Fund (IMF) has projected global growth to remain at 3.3 percent this year and the next, before slowing to just above 3 percent over the next five years, well below the historical average.IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that growth in the Middle East...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- UAE's non-oil foreign trade increased by a record 14.6 percent in 2024, compared to 2023, reaching AED 3 trillion ($816 billion), according to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade.In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dr. Al Zeyoudi said,...

The Middle East must counter global economic divergence by enhancing regional financial integration to drive collective growth, Rudolph Lohmeyer tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

The Transitioning Industrial Clusters initiative aims to improve collaboration and develop a shared vision among co-located companies and public institutions, with the goals of driving economic growth and employment, and reducing CO2e emissions.

Davos, Switzerland -- The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced signing agreements for three new Centers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) launching in 2025.Additionally, the WEF announced that the C4IR United Arab Emirates has been renewed.The upcoming centers in Muscat, Pretoria, and Riyadh will tackle critical global challenges with...

The international community must prioritize cooperation and dialogue to overcome the challenges of a fragmented world, the Saudi delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 said today.Calling for global collaboration to shape a prosperous future, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah,...

Geneva, Switzerland – The global economy is set to face significant challenges in 2025, with 56 percent of chief economists surveyed expecting conditions to weaken, according to the latest Chief Economists Outlook from the World Economic Forum.Only 17 percent foresee an improvement, pointing to heightened uncertainty in key regions and the...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE’s technology industry is set to achieve record growth in 2025, driven by significant expansion in digital innovation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. This growth further solidifies the UAE’s stature as a global hub for innovation and an international beacon for tech companies.The UAE...

The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025 report shows that despite withstanding a series of mutually reinforcing shocks, global economic growth has stagnated and remains below the pre-pandemic annual average of 3.2 percent. The report produced by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), highlights the enduring...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased by 3.4 percent in November 2024, compared to Nov 2023, according to the kingdom's ]General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).This increase is driven by growth in mining and quarrying, manufacturing, water supply, sewerage, and waste management and remediation activities.Furthermore, the...

Doha, Qatar – Qatar’s non-energy private sector recorded robust growth in the final months of 2024, according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data from the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and compiled by S&P Global.The labour market was a key driver of this growth, with employment and wages increasing...

Saudi Arabia secured a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility from Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Credit Agricole SA, and Dubai Islamic Bank, with total 2024 bond funding reaching $50 billion, according to a Bloomberg report.

The country is among the most attractive markets for skilled global professionals and talent, thanks to its competitive advantages, including advanced infrastructure, diverse opportunities, and forward-looking strategies emphasizing digital transformation and sustainability.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia’s trade balance recorded a 30% monthly growth, achieving a surplus of SAR 20.769 billion ($5.6 billion) in October 2024, according to the Kingdom’s recently released global trade bulletin. This marks an increase of over SAR 4 billion ($1.08 billion) from SAR 15.999 billion ($4.32...

Damascus, Syria -- Syrian authorities have appointed Maysa Sabreen as interim central bank governor, a bank official told AFP on Tuesday, the first time a woman heads the financial establishment.Sabreen, until recently the bank's first deputy governor, took her new position on Tuesday, said a department manager at the Central Bank...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Unemployment rate among Saudi nationals reached 7.8 percent in the third quarter of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 1 percentage point from the similar period last year.Data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said that the Saudi and non-Saudi labor force stood at 66.6 percent,...