As most currencies in the region are pegged to the US dollar, monetary policy follows the decisions taken in Washington, with policymakers opting to lock the rate at the level it has been since December.

The DMCC Crypto Centre welcomed Bitcoin.com, which is setting up its first MENA office in Dubai. The Arab Coordination Group announced it had disbursed $19.6 billion in 2024 across 90+ countries.

Iran announced it will scale back cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressing deep dissatisfaction over what it views as the agency’s failure to condemn Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities.

Tensions spiked as Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli air raids that killed senior Iranian military leaders and hit nuclear sites. Both nations reported casualties and damage amid calls from the US and UK to pursue dialogue and de-escalation.

In the financial sector, Fitch Ratings has projected a notable uptick in mergers and acquisitions within Saudi Arabia’s insurance industry. In Jordan, tourism revenue rose 17.5% in May to $630 million, bringing total earnings for the first five months of 2025 to $3.06 billion.

China has extended visa-free entry for up to 30 days to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain—boosting bilateral tourism and commerce from June 9, 2025, through June 8, 2026.

Dubai, UAE -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has kicked off 2025 with a record-breaking first quarter in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), as deal value soared to $46 billion—a 66% increase year-on-year (YoY). According to Saudi M&A Consulting, this robust growth reflects rising investor confidence, favorable regulatory...

Qatar's foreign reserves rise 3.6 percent year-on-year despite a dip in bonds and treasury holdings, Iraq releases Australian and Egyptian engineers and other developments.

Saudi Arabia records the lowest Hajj attendance in three decades—outside the pandemic years—triggered by tighter visa restrictions; Special Envoy Zhai Jun meets Egypt’s Foreign Minister to discuss the Gaza crisis and broader Middle East peace efforts.

As the region pivots toward a post-oil future, recent developments across the Middle East and North Africa suggest an accelerating shift—driven by policy ambition, digital reform, and investment recalibration.

Palm oil is an indispensable part of the Middle East and North Africa’s food and hospitality industries. From luxury hotel kitchens to spa treatments and guest amenities, palm oil continues to be an essential ingredient powering world-class guest experiences across the region.

 Dubai, UAE -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has kicked off 2025 with a remarkable surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights 2024 report. The first quarter of the year saw a substantial 31 percent increase in deal volume,...

Net income rose to $36.4 million, a 17% YoY increase.

"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October," the IMF said in its regional report.

Blockchain enhances security and efficiency by decentralizing data storage, and reducing fraud, David Boast tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

Historically, the region was a key player in commerce through the Silk Road, and today, it has the potential to become a hub for the digital revolution, says Al-Tawil, Managing Director for MENA at Equinix.

After a challenging year where M&A activity in the Middle East and North Africa took a tumble, Morgan Stanley forecasts 2025 will witness a significant “structural upswing” in transaction volume and value size, bolstered by policy shifts and regulatory reforms in the region

We're likely to see more creators seeking alternatives to traditional gatekeepers, following in the footsteps of artists like Taylor Swift. At the same, a possible YouTube-Google split could significantly impact the digital advertising market, potentially creating new opportunities for other players in the entertainment industry, Hawari adds.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia maintained its first rank across MENA in terms of Venture Capital (VC) funding in 2024, witnessing a total VC deployment of $750 million (SAR2.8 billion).The "2024 Emerging Markets Venture Capital Report", published today by the venture data platform MAGNiTT, said the Kingdom secured the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Wego, the leading travel app and largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has reported a significant increase in travel interest to India in the first half of 2024. Data from January to June 2024 shows a 40.71% year-on-year rise in...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has maintained its first rank across MENA in terms of the amount of Venture Capital (VC) funding in the first half of 2024, which witnessed a total VC deployment of $412 million (SAR 1.5 billion), the Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) said Tuesday.The "2024-H1...

A tech-savvy population sees cryptocurrencies a safe investment option as governments adopt progressive regulatory frameworks, offering innovation and investor protection.

Agile work models and diverse skill demands propel MENA's freelance economy, empowering businesses to thrive amid modernization and digital transformation.

Saudi startups were the biggest beneficiaries of LEAP24 tech conference, securing the lion's share of the total investment of S254 million.

As Eid Al-Fitr approaches, online shopping is expected to reach new heights, with anticipated growth in categories like flowers, cakes, sweets sets, and themed gift hampers.

Abu Dhabi, UAE--ADNEC Group has announced the launch of the region's first Bitcoin MENA Conference 2024 set to take place on 9-10th December 2024 in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi).Co-organised by Capital Events, the event management arm of ADNEC Group, and BTC Inc., the parent...

The company's fourth quarter revenue soared to $80.9 million.

Dubai, UAE - The UAE's online shopping market is gearing up for unprecedented growth, with revenue projections hitting $9 billion by the end of 2024 and an impressive $17 billion forecasted for 2025. The trajectory is emblematic of the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's e-commerce landscape, poised...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--The biggest tech show in the Middle East, LEAP 2024, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, is preparing for what organizers are terming as "record-breaking" final day with more announcement of investments expected to be made on the occasion. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi minister of communications and information technology,...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) on Friday announced that its operating and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company, has successfully started-up the reactor of Unit 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant (Barakah Plant).The reactor has begun initial production of heat through nuclear fission, used for...

The one-year syndicated term facility was closed for Agrobank.

The report stresses the urgent need for MENA news organizations to overhaul business models, adopt digital strategies, and diversify content delivery to seize growth opportunities.

Dubai, UAE -- American hardwood lumber (sawn timber) shipments to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region reached $61.14 million and a volume of 74,791 cubic meters in 2023, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). Significant increases were seen in exports of American hardwood lumber to the...

"The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India," it added, thanking Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al...

Five listings, mainly in the energy and logistics sectors, contributed 58 percent towards the total IPO proceeds raised, said the EY MENA IPO Eye Q4 2023 report. During Q4 2023, 19 IPOs raised $4.9 billion in proceeds. ADES Holding Company raised the most funds.

The 2024 outlook for the MENA region's project market is exceptional, with an anticipated surpassing of $270 billion in value, according to a latest report.

"As 2024 unfolds, we anticipate that both private and public enterprises will increase their investments in the infrastructure and services of the crypto ecosystem. This trend bodes well for the growth of the UAE’s crypto sector. There's every reason to believe that institutional investment will continue to gain momentum," she...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia achieves first rank across MENA for the first time in terms of the amount of Venture Capital (VC) funding in 2023, according to MAGNiTT, the MENA-based venture data platform. The Kingdom captured the highest share of total VC funding in the year, accounting for...

The firm plans to incorporate one-to-one tutoring services.

MENA countries, adopting ambitious clean energy and transportation strategies, aim for significant hydrogen production by 2050, led by UAE's National Hydrogen Strategy.

Dubai, UAE -- Consumer spending in the UAE is expected to increase by 5 percent in 2024, while consumers and businesses will face crucial decisions about spending and investing, where price differentials and interest rates have burrowed into budgets, informing the resources available with less wiggle room, according to the...

It will benefit from revenue synergies, economies of scale.

Dubai, UAE - Google on Monday released the top trending searches of 2023 for the Middle East and North Africa. The annual lists reveal the most trending search queries which experienced a higher volume of search over a sustained period in 2023 compared to 2022. The lists included the top...

Islamic finance, with 70% of sector assets, is revolutionizing the global economy through ethical practices and digital innovation, gaining widespread traction.

Dubai, UAE--The IMF announced Friday that it will revise its economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa region due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.The conflict will have wide-ranging consequences for "both people and economies" in the region, although the extent of the impact remains "highly uncertain," the International...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) became the first MENA bank to publish a Task Force for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) aligned climate report.The TCFD standard, promoted by the Financial Stability Board since 2015, urges entities to specify the resilience of their strategies to climate-related risks (physical...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has signed an agreement with Emirates Steel Arkan to develop a pioneering project utilising green hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions in the UAE's energy-intensive steel industry.Marking the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region, this innovative project...

A first of its kind in the region, the combination will offer consumers digital services of the best and latest in premium movies, TV shows, music, podcasts.

Pausing of rate hikes by global central banks amid fluctuating inflation rates influences global markets, with specific impacts in the MENA region, says a new report.

The expected injection of billions of dollars into the retail business through sale of varied items can turn out to be a much-needed boost for a sector experiencing "sales fatigue."