Letter from the Middle East: Green shoots of recovery
There are many reasons to be cheerful across the Mena oil and gas patch
The hard times of 2020 are behind many oil and gas companies in the Mena region, with exploration increasing and projects stalled by the impact of Covid-19 regaining momentum. In a further sign of recovery, nearly $60bn in upstream opportunities is set to come to market this year. Saudi Arabia has consolidated its position as the world’s largest oil exporter, and the normalisation of ties with Qatar and its Gulf Cooperation Council neighbours has led to further economic growth in the Kingdom. As easing Opec+ cuts take effect, Saudi Aramco looks set to embark on a revamped strategy to increase gas production and commit to further gas-to-power projects in order to free up more oil for export.

Also in this section
25 July 2025
Mozambique’s insurgency continues, but the security situation near the LNG site has significantly improved, with TotalEnergies aiming to lift its force majeure within months
25 July 2025
There is a bifurcation in the global oil market as China’s stockpiling contrasts with reduced inventories elsewhere
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
24 July 2025
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand