Valentina Pasquali
@valentinapasquali.bsky.social
Senior editor for AGBI - Arabian Gulf Business Insight in Washington DC. I cover all-things business, trade, investment and economy linking the Americas to the GCC and larger Middle East and North Africa.
Pinned
Seems like a good place to start: “We’re all living through a great enshittening, in which the services that matter to us, that we rely on, are turning into giant piles of shit. It’s frustrating. It’s demoralising. It’s even terrifying.” www.ft.com/content/6fb1...
So far the MBS-Trump summit in Washington has been long on enthusiasm and short on details . Let's see what day 2 brings with the Saudi-US Investment Forum. My wrap on the 1st day of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the US capital www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
Saudi Arabia to raise US investments to $1 trillion
Saudi Arabia will increase pledged investment into the American economy to $1 trillion, from the $600 billion committed in January
www.agbi.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
So far the MBS-Trump summit in Washington has been long on enthusiasm and short on details . Let's see what day 2 brings with the Saudi-US Investment Forum. My wrap on the 1st day of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the US capital www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s highly anticipated visit to Washington represents both a recognition of Saudi Arabia’s elevated geostrategic role and an opportunity to advance mutual interests in areas from defence to technology - From AGBI www.agbi.com/analysis/eco...
MBS-Trump summit is all about defence and business
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets President Donald Trump in Washington this week with defence and trade deals on the table
www.agbi.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s highly anticipated visit to Washington represents both a recognition of Saudi Arabia’s elevated geostrategic role and an opportunity to advance mutual interests in areas from defence to technology - From AGBI www.agbi.com/analysis/eco...
Iraq votes today with its economic outlook uncertain and its electorate disaffected with politicians – yet also with a fragile sense of stability, according to analysts. Via AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/eco...
Investors and GCC states watch and wait as Iraq goes to polls
Iraq heads to the polls with its economic outlook uncertain and its electorate disaffected – yet also with a fragile sense of stability
www.agbi.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Iraq votes today with its economic outlook uncertain and its electorate disaffected with politicians – yet also with a fragile sense of stability, according to analysts. Via AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/eco...
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will “exponentially” expand its activity in the US to access advanced technology and support the kingdom’s economic diversification, a senior official said. New in AGBI: www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
PIF to expand tech and business ties with US
Saudi Arabia's PIF wealth fund will “exponentially” expand its US activity to access advanced technology and support economic diversification
www.agbi.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will “exponentially” expand its activity in the US to access advanced technology and support the kingdom’s economic diversification, a senior official said. New in AGBI: www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
Saudi Arabia views mining critical minerals and rare earths as central to its Vision 2030 ambitions, but experts say it must move faster and think more creatively to become a global nexus. New in @AGBInsight www.agbi.com/analysis/min...
Riyadh must get creative to crack critical minerals conundrum
Experts say Saudi Arabia must move faster and think more creatively to become a global nexus for critical minerals
www.agbi.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Saudi Arabia views mining critical minerals and rare earths as central to its Vision 2030 ambitions, but experts say it must move faster and think more creatively to become a global nexus. New in @AGBInsight www.agbi.com/analysis/min...
The Gulf’s AI ambitions inched forward this week after Microsoft came forward as the 1st US company under this Trump administration to win approval to bring Nvidia chips to the UAE. But the breakthrough is short of the sweeping access the region wants www.agbi.com/analysis/ai/...
Nvidia licences push Gulf AI forward, but hurdles remain
Microsoft became the first US company under this Trump administration to secure approval to bring Nvidia chips to the UAE
www.agbi.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The Gulf’s AI ambitions inched forward this week after Microsoft came forward as the 1st US company under this Trump administration to win approval to bring Nvidia chips to the UAE. But the breakthrough is short of the sweeping access the region wants www.agbi.com/analysis/ai/...
The BIS rule change does not impact US exports of advanced semiconductors to the Gulf or wider Middle East as those already require Department of Commerce licences under separate technology-based regulations, analysts said. Via AGBI www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
Tighter US export controls to hit Gulf sales and compliance
New US export restrictions may slow down sales of American products to the Gulf and create more compliance hurdles for companies
www.agbi.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The BIS rule change does not impact US exports of advanced semiconductors to the Gulf or wider Middle East as those already require Department of Commerce licences under separate technology-based regulations, analysts said. Via AGBI www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
AI "is a tsunami hitting the labour market for which I’m not sure we are prepared,” said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. For AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/ai/...
Mena urged to overhaul education for AI-driven future
The gap between poorer and richer Mena countries when it comes to AI must be addressed, experts warn at IMF meetings
www.agbi.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
AI "is a tsunami hitting the labour market for which I’m not sure we are prepared,” said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. For AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/ai/...
Some domains, such as advanced technology, have emerged as especially fraught with complexity, as the US in particular works to muscle China out of the Gulf in exchange for its best-in-class offering. From AGBI www.agbi.com/analysis/tra...
GCC walks US-China economic tightrope
Gulf states are treading a delicate path between Washington and Beijing as geoeconomic tensions between the two superpowers increase
www.agbi.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Some domains, such as advanced technology, have emerged as especially fraught with complexity, as the US in particular works to muscle China out of the Gulf in exchange for its best-in-class offering. From AGBI www.agbi.com/analysis/tra...
Economy and trade minister Amer Bisat said his country’s macroeconomic situation remains “abnormal,” adding “this is not the Lebanon we want”. In AGBI: www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
IMF loan plan for Lebanon will not be finalised 'in a day'
Lebanon is edging closer to securing an IMF loan programme, but hurdles remain, economy minister Amer Bisat said yesterday
www.agbi.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Economy and trade minister Amer Bisat said his country’s macroeconomic situation remains “abnormal,” adding “this is not the Lebanon we want”. In AGBI: www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
Syria has launched a global charm offensive to persuade investors it is open for business, reconstruction and development after 13 years of civil war left the country in ruins. For AGBI: www.agbi.com/construction...
Syria opens for business as ministers go on charm offensive
Syria has launched a charm offensive to persuade investors it is open for business and development after 13 years of civil war
www.agbi.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Syria has launched a global charm offensive to persuade investors it is open for business, reconstruction and development after 13 years of civil war left the country in ruins. For AGBI: www.agbi.com/construction...
“Large, sustained increases in debt, if they do not include productive public investments, are simply a tax that we are imposing on the next generation without actually giving them the tool to repay it,” Al-Jadaan said on Tuesday. For AGBI www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
Saudi finance minister warns of global debt 'storm'
Rising debt levels are creating a perfect storm that requires a coordinated global response, Saudi Arabia’s finance minister said Tuesday
www.agbi.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
“Large, sustained increases in debt, if they do not include productive public investments, are simply a tax that we are imposing on the next generation without actually giving them the tool to repay it,” Al-Jadaan said on Tuesday. For AGBI www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
The IMF sounded an almost optimistic note on growth in MENA, despite the global tariff war. “This largely reflects developments in GCC countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, where the unwinding of oil production cuts was faster than expected, and Egypt." www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
IMF upgrades Middle East growth forecast
The IMF has upgraded its economic forecast for the Middle East and Central Asia amid rising oil production and recovering shipping
www.agbi.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The IMF sounded an almost optimistic note on growth in MENA, despite the global tariff war. “This largely reflects developments in GCC countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, where the unwinding of oil production cuts was faster than expected, and Egypt." www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
Investors and brands from both Europe and the US, basketball’s traditional home bases, are upping engagement with the region and using it as an experimental ground for how to grow their global footprints. From AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/bus...
Dubai Basketball club is ‘test case’ for global push
Dubai Basketball is the first Gulf team in the Euroleague, highlighting the region's sports investment and the league’s push beyond Europe
www.agbi.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Investors and brands from both Europe and the US, basketball’s traditional home bases, are upping engagement with the region and using it as an experimental ground for how to grow their global footprints. From AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/bus...
An IMF official said that Jordan is “on track” to receive nearly $250 million in financing under two loan programmes as the government presses ahead with needed reforms to its tax system, labor market, utilities sector, and more. From AGBI: www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
IMF gives preliminary nod to Jordan’s economic progress
An International Monetary Fund official said on Tuesday that Jordan is “on track” to receive nearly $250 million in financing
www.agbi.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
An IMF official said that Jordan is “on track” to receive nearly $250 million in financing under two loan programmes as the government presses ahead with needed reforms to its tax system, labor market, utilities sector, and more. From AGBI: www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours are emerging as key players in a US push to secure critical and rare earth minerals, according to industry experts. From AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/min...
US pins hopes on Gulf for supply of critical minerals
Gulf states are key to America’s race to secure a supply of critical minerals and rare earths that avoids the China bottleneck
www.agbi.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours are emerging as key players in a US push to secure critical and rare earth minerals, according to industry experts. From AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/min...
Unsurprisingly the UAE passed the latest IMF check with flying colors. But there are warnings around a possible bubble in real estate and a runaway virtual assets industry - In AGBI: www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
IMF praises UAE resilience but warns of property and crypto risks
International Monetary Fund officials this week commended the UAE’s economic performance during a period of widespread global volatility
www.agbi.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Unsurprisingly the UAE passed the latest IMF check with flying colors. But there are warnings around a possible bubble in real estate and a runaway virtual assets industry - In AGBI: www.agbi.com/economy/2025...
A love affair is growing between American companies and Abu Dhabi www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
Abu Dhabi reports spike in US company registrations
US companies are increasingly setting up in Abu Dhabi, with the emirate reporting a 50 percent year-on-year rise in registrations in 2024
www.agbi.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:35 PM
A love affair is growing between American companies and Abu Dhabi www.agbi.com/trade/2025/1...
The US government shutdown may not have any outsized implications for Gulf investors immediately, but it is not a good look for a country that is seeking to attract hundreds of billions of dollars in FDI from the GCC over the coming years: www.agbi.com/analysis/fin...
US government shutdown threatens investment climate for Gulf money
The partial shutdown of government operations is raising questions about the reliability of the US as a destination for GCC investments
www.agbi.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The US government shutdown may not have any outsized implications for Gulf investors immediately, but it is not a good look for a country that is seeking to attract hundreds of billions of dollars in FDI from the GCC over the coming years: www.agbi.com/analysis/fin...
Family conglomerates, state-linked companies & Gulf-based multinationals with significant presence in the EU are among the entities within the scope of the bloc's new ESG reporting requirements expected to come into force in 2028. My latest for AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/sus...
GCC stands to gain from new EU green standards
Gulf businesses that adhere to new EU rules for green reporting could benefit from greater investment, experts say
www.agbi.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Family conglomerates, state-linked companies & Gulf-based multinationals with significant presence in the EU are among the entities within the scope of the bloc's new ESG reporting requirements expected to come into force in 2028. My latest for AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/sus...
Which options may best suit Gulf investors and their families will depend on how Trump’s guidelines are ultimately implemented: www.agbi.com/analysis/lif...
Gulf investors seek clarity about Trump’s Gold Card
Wealthy Gulf families are pressing advisers with questions about new pathways to living in the US recently outlined by Donald Trump
www.agbi.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Which options may best suit Gulf investors and their families will depend on how Trump’s guidelines are ultimately implemented: www.agbi.com/analysis/lif...
The “best of the best” always had and will continue to have their pick of where they want to live, and a $100,000 fee will not make a difference to them or their large employers. Via AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/emp...
Saudi has most to gain from Trump’s H-1B visa
Saudi Arabia stands to benefit more than the UAE from Washington’s decision to sharply raise fees on a popular skilled-worker visa
www.agbi.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The “best of the best” always had and will continue to have their pick of where they want to live, and a $100,000 fee will not make a difference to them or their large employers. Via AGBI: www.agbi.com/analysis/emp...
Tom Barrack, the American ambassador to Turkey, told reporters in Washington “the deal is done”, but did not immediately provide additional information.
www.agbi.com/aviation/202...
www.agbi.com/aviation/202...
Turkish Airlines has agreed Boeing deal, US envoy says
A sale of Boeing planes to Turkish Airlines has been agreed between Turkey and the US, according to a senior American official
www.agbi.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Tom Barrack, the American ambassador to Turkey, told reporters in Washington “the deal is done”, but did not immediately provide additional information.
www.agbi.com/aviation/202...
www.agbi.com/aviation/202...
“What we have now, what we have built in the last 30 years, 50 percent of it will come to markets in the next five years,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations.
From AGBI: www.agbi.com/energy/2025/...
From AGBI: www.agbi.com/energy/2025/...
LNG bonanza benefits Europe but clouds investment prospects
Rising LNG output from Qatar and North America is boosting Europe’s energy security but hurting investment prospects as prices fall, IEA says
www.agbi.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
“What we have now, what we have built in the last 30 years, 50 percent of it will come to markets in the next five years,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations.
From AGBI: www.agbi.com/energy/2025/...
From AGBI: www.agbi.com/energy/2025/...
“Dubai’s bubble risk has surged since 2022 amid an economic boom, leaving the market looking increasingly overheated,” the study found. www.agbi.com/real-estate/...
Report shows rising risk of real estate bubble in Dubai
Dubai has posted the steepest increase in real estate bubble risk among nearly two dozen global cities, according to a UBS property report
www.agbi.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
“Dubai’s bubble risk has surged since 2022 amid an economic boom, leaving the market looking increasingly overheated,” the study found. www.agbi.com/real-estate/...