Middle East News

Emirates NBD Acquires HSBC Egypt Retail Banking as HSBC Books $300M Gain

Emirates NBD Egypt signed definitive agreements to acquire HSBC Bank Egypt's retail banking business

Aug 3, 2026

Trump Signals U.S. Will Cancel Iran Strike If Rapid Nuclear Deal Is Reached

President Trump signaled the US will cancel a planned Iran military strike if a rapid nuclear deal is reached

Aug 3, 2026

Oil Plunges 5%+ After Trump Cancels Iran Strikes and Opens Negotiations

Oil prices plunged sharply after Trump cancelled planned Iran strikes and announced negotiations

Aug 3, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Trump Cancels Iran Strikes, Claims Deal Framework Agreed as Oil Prices Fall

Trump cancelled planned Iran military strikes after Middle East allies urged restraint

Aug 2, 2026

🇩🇪 Germany

Trump Eyes Fresh Iran Strike Wave as Tehran Threatens Gulf Infrastructure Counterattack

US media reports warn of a massive Iran strike wave this weekend, with Iran threatening counter-strikes on Israeli and Gulf critical infrastructure if attacked.

Aug 2, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Iran Threatens Strikes on Gulf Energy Fields Amid Oman Maritime Incidents as Trump Weighs Military Response

Iran threatened strikes on Gulf energy fields as tanker incidents off Oman signal active maritime escalation, with crude oil pricing, shipping war risk premiums, and Asian refinery margins facing immediate repricing.

Aug 2, 2026

Kuwait Air Defenses Destroy Iranian Drones as Trump Considers Fresh Gulf Strikes

Kuwait air defenses intercepted and destroyed Iranian drones as Trump weighs fresh military strikes, placing Gulf energy infrastructure at acute risk and pressuring crude oil prices and regional markets.

Aug 2, 2026

Trump Flags Waning Confidence in Iran Talks as Middle East War Drags On

Trump says he is losing confidence in Iranian negotiators, raising risk that the Middle East war drags on further

Aug 1, 2026

EU Approves Saudi PIF's $55 Billion Acquisition of Electronic Arts Under Subsidy Rules

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and a consortium have secured European Union approval for a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts

Jul 31, 2026

🇮🇳 India

India Sets Up Seafarer Emergency Mechanism as War-Zone Ship Attacks Hit Indian Crews and Shipping Costs

India is establishing a formal support mechanism for seafarers and families after attacks on ships in Middle East conflict zones resulted in Indian seafarer casualties, raising war risk insurance costs and maritime employment risk.

Jul 31, 2026

Saudi Arabia Insurance GWP Surges 10.7% to $22.6bn in 2025, Vision 2030 Strategy Drives Growth

Saudi Arabia gross written insurance premiums grew 10.7% to $22.59 billion in 2025, far outpacing global sector averages as the National Insurance Sector Strategy and Vision 2030 mandates expand health and motor coverage.

Jul 31, 2026

Turkey Signals Iraq Pipeline Oil Flows Continue Despite Expired Deal as Formal Talks Proceed

Turkey expects crude oil flows from Iraq to continue despite failure to replace a decades-old pipeline deal that expired on Monday

Jul 31, 2026

Dubai Financial Market Posts $120.68M H1 2026 Profit as Trading Activity Surges 40%

Dubai Financial Market (DFM) reported net profit before tax of AED 443.2 million ($120.68 million) for H1 2026 as trading activity surged 40%

Jul 31, 2026

European Gas and Crude Oil Surge Over 4% as Middle East Tensions Escalate and Supply Fears Rise

European natural gas prices surge sharply as Middle East tensions raise energy supply disruption concerns.

Jul 30, 2026

🇦🇺 Australia

War and Drought Threaten to Close Another Critical Global Oil Waterway

A fourth critical oil shipping waterway is at risk of closure due to war and drought conditions

Jul 30, 2026

Fertiglobe Eyes Global Acquisitions and UAE Production Expansion in Growth Push

Fertiglobe, the UAE-listed fertiliser giant, is actively seeking overseas investment targets

Jul 30, 2026

🌐 Global

Oil Surges 7% as Trump Iran Threats Rattle Energy Markets Hours Before Fed Decision

Oil prices jumped more than 7% as renewed US-Iran tensions threatened critical shipping waterways

Jul 30, 2026

Wheat Futures Surge as Russia-Ukraine Conflict Disrupts Black Sea Grain Supply Routes

Wheat futures surged amid renewed Russia-Ukraine conflict escalation, triggering supply concerns for Black Sea grain exports that cover approximately one-fifth of global wheat trade.

Jul 30, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Oil Prices Drop 5% to Two-Week Low as US-Iran Strike Fears Recede, Brent at July 13 Low

Brent crude oil fell to its lowest price since July 13, dropping 5% as geopolitical risk premium evaporated following several days without US-Iran military strikes.

Jul 29, 2026

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Completes $9 Billion Macquarie AirFinance Takeover

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) completed its $9 billion acquisition of Macquarie AirFinance, acquiring 100% of the firm and its fleet portfolio

Jul 29, 2026

Masdar and Montenegro's EPCG Launch 150MW Solar Projects as First Phase of 2GW Clean Energy Partnership

Masdar and EPCG, Montenegro's national power utility, have launched Montenegro's first 150MW solar projects under their equally-owned JV

Jul 29, 2026

Oil Rebounds After Three-Day Drop as Iran Attacks US Military Base, Reigniting Middle East Risk Premium

Oil prices rebounded from a three-day decline after Iran launched fresh attacks on a US military base in the Middle East

Jul 28, 2026

Iran and Oman in Talks to Reopen Strait of Hormuz as Diplomatic Push Intensifies

Negotiators from Iran and Oman are working to reach an agreement to restart commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources familiar with the discussions

Jul 28, 2026

Global M&A Hits Record $3.28 Trillion in H1 2026, Surpassing 2021 Peak as Mega-Deals Surge 125%

Global M&A volume reached $3.28 trillion in H1 2026, up 48% year-on-year and surpassing the previous first-half record set in 2021

Jul 28, 2026

DIFC Registered Companies Surpass 10,000 for First Time as H1 2026 Additions Hit 2,318

Dubai International Financial Centre crossed 10,018 active registered companies in H1 2026, up 30% year-on-year

Jul 28, 2026

Crude Oil Prices Plunge 7% as US-Iran Diplomatic Progress Removes Middle East Risk Premium

Crude oil prices plunged sharply — down approximately 7% — despite ongoing Middle East tensions, as US-Iran diplomatic progress removes supply disruption risk premium

Jul 28, 2026

Gold Slips to $4,091 as US-Iran Pause Cools Oil and Supports Rate-Hold Sentiment Ahead of Fed

Spot gold dipped slightly to $4,091 per ounce on Monday morning while futures rose as the US-Iran ceasefire reduced oil-driven inflation fears.

Jul 27, 2026