Middle East

Fortune Gulf Brief is Fortune's weekly Tuesday newsletter covering business, investment, and economic trends across the Middle East, written by Fortune writer Melissa Hancock. It delivers expert analysis on the deals, leaders, and policies shaping the GCC region for global executives. Sign up here.

Welcome to the mega-war: Mideast and European conflicts merge, sucking in more countries along the way—even ones claiming neutrality

Welcome to the mega-war: Mideast and European conflicts merge, sucking in more countries along the way—even ones claiming neutrality

“The Iran and Ukraine wars may be connecting.”

By Jason MaAugust 1, 2026

Jeff Zucker is banking on the UAE to help build his new $8 billion entertainment empire

Jeff Zucker is banking on the UAE to help build his new $8 billion entertainment empire

By Melissa HancockJuly 28, 2026

‘The UAE has been a fantastic investor’: Jeff Zucker hails UAE partnership after Banijay merger

‘The UAE has been a fantastic investor’: Jeff Zucker hails UAE partnership after Banijay merger

By Melissa HancockJuly 28, 2026

Record heat gives way to global winter gas shortage fears as Iran war rages on

Record heat gives way to global winter gas shortage fears as Iran war rages on

By Jordan BlumJuly 28, 2026

Mideast oil may soon have no way out amid ‘everything everywhere all at once’ wars, but the crisis in refined products is even worse

Mideast oil may soon have no way out amid ‘everything everywhere all at once’ wars, but the crisis in refined products is even worse

By Jason MaJuly 26, 2026

Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea could signal a new battlefront as U.S. seeks to form ‘a ring of economic and military pressure’

Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea could signal a new battlefront as U.S. seeks to form ‘a ring of economic and military pressure’

By Jason MaJuly 26, 2026

Latest stories from Fortune

Spain puts up a 1,600-foot sea barrier between Ceuta and Morocco after EU states warn against ‘uncontrolled mass crossings’

Spain puts up a 1,600-foot sea barrier between Ceuta and Morocco after EU states warn against ‘uncontrolled mass crossings’

By Suman Naishadham and The Associated PressAugust 1, 2026

Trump vows to restore his ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ a day after declaring it dead, while Tillis slams it as a ‘payout pot for punks’

Trump vows to restore his ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ a day after declaring it dead, while Tillis slams it as a ‘payout pot for punks’

By Eric Tucker and The Associated PressAugust 1, 2026

Elon Musk’s fortune slumps to pre-SpaceX IPO levels after rout

Elon Musk’s fortune slumps to pre-SpaceX IPO levels after rout

By Tom Maloney and BloombergAugust 1, 2026

Exxon, Chevron warn fuel prices to endure as war knocks refining

Exxon, Chevron warn fuel prices to endure as war knocks refining

By Kevin Crowley and BloombergAugust 1, 2026

Bessent joins Japan to help reverse months of yen losses

Bessent joins Japan to help reverse months of yen losses

By Shintaro Inkyo, Masahiro Hidaka and BloombergAugust 1, 2026

A dead SpaceX rocket that’s been adrift for over a year is about to slam into the moon, carving out a new crater with the equivalent of 3 tons of TNT

A dead SpaceX rocket that’s been adrift for over a year is about to slam into the moon, carving out a new crater with the equivalent of 3 tons of TNT

By Marcia Dunn and The Associated PressAugust 1, 2026

After Trump threatens more strikes on Iran, Kuwait and Hormuz shipping face new attacks, while Israel hits Gaza despite Hamas pledge to disarm

After Trump threatens more strikes on Iran, Kuwait and Hormuz shipping face new attacks, while Israel hits Gaza despite Hamas pledge to disarm

By Samy Magdy, Aamer Madhani and The Associated PressAugust 1, 2026

A loneliness epidemic is creating a new type of third space: the one built around curiosity

A loneliness epidemic is creating a new type of third space: the one built around curiosity

By Tatiana SatauaAugust 1, 2026

More Middle EastPage 3 of 20

Oil and gas supplies could take months to return to normal after Iran deal, energy experts say

Oil and gas supplies could take months to return to normal after Iran deal, energy experts say

By Cathy Bussewitz and The Associated PressJune 14, 2026

Trump says a deal has been reached with Iran and orders end to U.S. naval blockade as Hormuz to reopen — ‘Ships of the World, start your engines’

Trump says a deal has been reached with Iran and orders end to U.S. naval blockade as Hormuz to reopen — ‘Ships of the World, start your engines’

By Julia Frankel, Abby Sewell, Munir Ahmed, Will Weissert and The Associated PressJune 14, 2026

Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world’s top superpower can at least punch open a hole

Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world’s top superpower can at least punch open a hole

By Jason MaJune 14, 2026

Trump warns Israel and Iran not to ‘blow it’ after new strikes threaten ceasefire deal that he says will bring peace to Lebanon

Trump warns Israel and Iran not to ‘blow it’ after new strikes threaten ceasefire deal that he says will bring peace to Lebanon

By Julia Frankel, Abby Sewell, Munir Ahmed, Samy Magdy and The Associated PressJune 14, 2026

Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in Beirut, potentially complicating efforts to finalize a deal to end the U.S.-Iran war

Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in Beirut, potentially complicating efforts to finalize a deal to end the U.S.-Iran war

By Julia Frankel, Abby Sewell, Munir Ahmed, Samy Magdy and The Associated PressJune 14, 2026

Trump expects to sign a deal with Iran on Sunday, but Tehran may want to avoid giving him a gift on his birthday

Trump expects to sign a deal with Iran on Sunday, but Tehran may want to avoid giving him a gift on his birthday

By Jason MaJune 13, 2026

Trump says he’ll sign deal with Iran to reopen Hormuz Sunday

Trump says he’ll sign deal with Iran to reopen Hormuz Sunday

By Arsalan Shahla, Maria Paula Mijares Torres and BloombergJune 13, 2026

Trump to talk with allies at G7 summit in the coming week about removing mines from the Strait of Hormuz as deal to end Iran war nears

Trump to talk with allies at G7 summit in the coming week about removing mines from the Strait of Hormuz as deal to end Iran war nears

By Munir Ahmed, Samy Magdy, Aamer Madhani and The Associated PressJune 13, 2026

A deal to the end the U.S.-Iran war could be finalized within 24 hours. Tehran wants to charge ships crossing Hormuz ‘for services rendered’

A deal to the end the U.S.-Iran war could be finalized within 24 hours. Tehran wants to charge ships crossing Hormuz ‘for services rendered’

By The Associated PressJune 13, 2026

U.S. energy secretary says 7 million barrels of oil exiting Persian Gulf daily, but Chevron CEO rebuts the claim

U.S. energy secretary says 7 million barrels of oil exiting Persian Gulf daily, but Chevron CEO rebuts the claim

By Jordan BlumJune 12, 2026

Elon Musk

When SpaceX starts trading, some ‘shareholders’ will discover they own nothing at all

By Jim EdwardsJune 12, 2026

T-minus 24 hours: On the eve of SpaceX IPO liftoff some Wall Street analysts say the stock is worth only half of Elon Musk’s price

T-minus 24 hours: On the eve of SpaceX IPO liftoff some Wall Street analysts say the stock is worth only half of Elon Musk’s price

By Jim EdwardsJune 11, 2026

A man guides a ship in the water.

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer

By Sasha RogelbergJune 10, 2026

Saudi economy redraws ambitions—‘going local’ is the new buzz phrase

Saudi economy redraws ambitions—‘going local’ is the new buzz phrase

By Melissa HancockJune 10, 2026

The Gulf states are betting big on AI: who’s investing where?

The Gulf states are betting big on AI: who’s investing where?

By Melissa HancockJune 9, 2026

SpaceX IPO means more to the Gulf than you might expect

SpaceX IPO means more to the Gulf than you might expect

By Melissa HancockJune 9, 2026

‘We expect it to leak’: OpenAI is frontrunning the narrative around its $1 trillion IPO

‘We expect it to leak’: OpenAI is frontrunning the narrative around its $1 trillion IPO

By Jim EdwardsJune 9, 2026

The global airline industry’s profits could be cut in half as it braces for its worst year since the pandemic

The global airline industry’s profits could be cut in half as it braces for its worst year since the pandemic

By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 8, 2026

Pope Leo receives seven-minute standing ovation after calling for the public’s ‘moral renewal’ to respect migrants

Pope Leo receives seven-minute standing ovation after calling for the public’s ‘moral renewal’ to respect migrants

By The Associated Press, Suman Naishadham and Nicole WinfieldJune 8, 2026

‘We didn’t see this coming’: Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO

‘We didn’t see this coming’: Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO

By Jim EdwardsJune 8, 2026

Iran fires missiles at Israel in first such bombardment since ceasefire as Trump says ‘I’m not happy about’ Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Iran fires missiles at Israel in first such bombardment since ceasefire as Trump says ‘I’m not happy about’ Israeli strikes on Lebanon

By Kareem Chehayeb, Samy Magdy, Melanie Lidman and The Associated PressJune 7, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz is more open than previously thought as the U.S. shoots down Iranian drones threatening ships and provides ‘naval overwatch’

The Strait of Hormuz is more open than previously thought as the U.S. shoots down Iranian drones threatening ships and provides ‘naval overwatch’

By Jason MaJune 6, 2026

Why oil’s not at $200 after the biggest supply shock in history

Why oil’s not at $200 after the biggest supply shock in history

By Devika Krishna Kumar, Alex Longley, Yongchang Chin, Mia Gindis and BloombergJune 6, 2026

denton

ICC Secretary General: The Hormuz clock that matters isn’t diplomatic — it’s agricultural

By John W.H. Denton AOJune 6, 2026

Elon Musk stares

Personal Finance

The S&P 500 will initially exclude SpaceX but Elon Musk is coming for your retirement savings anyway

By Jim EdwardsJune 5, 2026

Asia turns to U.S. oil and gas amid Iran war: ‘We get too much into that tree-hugging mode’

Asia turns to U.S. oil and gas amid Iran war: ‘We get too much into that tree-hugging mode’

By Jordan BlumJune 4, 2026

Trump tells Netanyahu, ‘You’re f—ing crazy’ and Wall Street sees it as a sign he’s losing patience with the war and wants it done

Trump tells Netanyahu, ‘You’re f—ing crazy’ and Wall Street sees it as a sign he’s losing patience with the war and wants it done

By Jim EdwardsJune 2, 2026

Welcome to the new voice of intelligence in the Middle East

Welcome to the new voice of intelligence in the Middle East

By Alyson ShontellJune 2, 2026

The U.S. and Europe feared the Iran conflict would curtail the Gulf’s appetite for global investments. The opposite is true

The U.S. and Europe feared the Iran conflict would curtail the Gulf’s appetite for global investments. The opposite is true

By Melissa HancockJune 2, 2026

Property prices are down in Dubai. Is it a war-induced blip, or something more serious?

Property prices are down in Dubai. Is it a war-induced blip, or something more serious?

By Melissa HancockJune 1, 2026

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Jensen Huang says ‘a lot’ of six-figure jobs in plumbing and construction will soon be unlocked because someone needs to build new AI centers

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By Preston ForeAugust 1, 2026

Personal Finance

Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar

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By Nick LichtenbergJuly 31, 2026

The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line

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By Tatiana SatauaJuly 31, 2026