In a long-awaited move, Libya has announced an agreement to unify the public budget, a step that, while significant on paper, has done little to quiet doubts over whether it can be implemented amid the country’s entrenched political divisions.

Bahrain enters 2026 with soaring debt, enacting taxes, spending cuts, and energy price hikes to stabilize finances and boost non-oil revenue, but analysts warn that without multi-year reforms, fiscal crises could recur.

As UN sanctions on Tehran take effect following the expiration of the so-called snapback mechanism, Iraqi political figures are warning of serious repercussions for their country, especially after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hinted at Tehran’s plans to navigate the crisis.

Less than six months after stepping down as Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati is facing an international investigation over allegations of financial corruption and illicit enrichment.

Because currency is a core marker of national identity, overhauling the Syrian financial and banking sector that has been in decline for 14 years requires a new currency, analysts said.