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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Dominic Dudley

Dominic Dudley

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Dominic is a London-based writer, editor, analyst and photographer, principally focused on the politics and economics of the Middle East, Africa and other emerging markets. His articles have appeared in leading publications around the world, including Bloomberg Businessweek, The Diplomat, The Economist, Euromoney, Forbes, Foreign Policy, The Gulf, Gulf States Newsletter, Lloyds List, Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), Private Eye, Quartz, and Reuters. Dominic’s photos have featured in The New Yorker, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, among others.

Falcon frenzy descends on Riyadh

Falconry is an important part of Saudi sporting heritage — along with camel racing and horse racing — but its economic importance is increasing too.
Hunting birds
Courtesy of Saudi Press Agency

Yemen conflict risks reigniting following Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia

The Houthis fired on the southern Saudi region of Najran last week and on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery on Sunday.
Smoke rises during Houthi missile and drone strikes on the Red Sea port city of Mokha, Yemen, on Aug 9, 2026.
Stringer/Reuters

Gulf renewable projects forecasted to grow despite wartime pressure

The Iran war has made financing Gulf solar and wind projects more difficult, but the economics still stack up firmly in their favor.
A worker walks inside a solar farm in Syria
Firas Makdesi/Reuters

Conjoined twins arrive in Riyadh for potentially life-changing surgery

The kingdom has built a global reputation in the specialty through the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has operated since 1990.
Fijian twins Jesibel and Desisia arrive in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with their parents, on July 31
Courtesy of Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh forges a new regional alliance emerging from Israel concerns

Increasing security cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Türkiye could become the nucleus of a wider group for ad hoc coordination.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman embraces Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 15, 2026.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Office/Handout via Reuters

China and Russia exert covert influence in the Iran war

The pair are putting their long-standing economic and military ties with Tehran to use, in part to make life difficult for their global rival, the US.
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meet in Tehran, Iran July 3, 2026.
Sputnik/Oleg Molchanov/Pool via Reuters

Dubai business hub tops 10,000 companies

The number of active businesses at the Dubai International Financial Centre has increased 30% over the past year to 10,018.

Asian buyers cool on Gulf LNG

Around 83% of the Gulf’s LNG exports head to Asia, but the Iran war is changing dynamics, prompting importers to cut demand, switch to other suppliers, or turn to other fuels.

UAE’s non-oil economy reaches lowest point in five years

The UAE’s non-oil economy is experiencing its worst period since the COVID-19 pandemic.

UAE oil exports hit a high amid Iran war

The country took advantage of its exit from OPEC and skirted Iranian threats in the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar reviews workers’ rights

Qatar overhauled its labor laws, adding provisions that allow for part-time and freelance work to be regulated, and others that make it harder to launch strikes.

Abu Dhabi buys into Argentina LNG

XRG, ADNOC’s international investment arm, will take a stake in three upstream blocks in Argentina that will supply gas to the country’s first LNG export terminal.

Gulf markets lifted by US-Iran negotiations

Last week, Dubai’s DFM and Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index hit their highest levels since the war broke out.

Qatar eyes return of gas exports

A Qatari LNG tanker sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday — one of the few transits made since the Iran war began and a hopeful sign for Doha.

Abu Dhabi targets private infrastructure funds

The city launched a drive to bring 55 billion dirhams ($15 billion) of private capital into its infrastructure build-out.

Oman pulls in $9B in fresh foreign investment

The country is proving more able than others in the region to handle the disruption caused by the Iran war.

Saudi investors eye Pakistan port deal

The deal, which would create a 140-acre industrial park in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, is a further sign of warming ties between the two countries.

UAE dives into Latin American ports

Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group acquired Brazilian terminal operator CLI, while Dubai-based DP World said it will invest a further $100 million in the Dominican Republic.