GCC Relations

Deputy chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Sultan Ali al-Aradah

Interview

Resumption in Yemen's oil exports 'possible' with security measures: VP

Deputy chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Sultan Ali al-Aradah expressed confidence in US President Donald Trump's approach to the Houthis and Iran, though a military campaign against the group may face limitations.

moke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack in Kuwait City on March 8, 2026.

Analysis

Can Kuwait secure a Saudi-style defense pact with Pakistan?

Kuwait and other GCC states are looking to Pakistan, among other countries, for alternate security arrangements and multilayered deterrence.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

US President Donald Trump (L) and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia pause for photographs along the West Wing Colonnade at the White House on Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington.

Analysis

Saudi nuclear deal adds new wrinkle if Iran talks resume

Should the United States and Iran return to the negotiating table, the newly reached US-Saudi nuclear deal could give Tehran fresh leverage.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Kuwait hands citizen life sentence for spying for Iran, Hezbollah: What to know

A Kuwaiti court has convicted a citizen of of spying for Iran and sentenced him to life in prison.

Latest News

Dozens killed in Yemen clashes as Houthis escalate threats against Saudi Arabia

Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

How US bid prevailed over China, France, Russia in Saudi nuclear deal

Win McNamee/Getty Images

US, Saudi Arabia set to sign nuclear agreement: What to know

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Iran strike damages Kuwait power, desalination plant: What to know

The sun sets behind overhead power lines in Kuwait City, June 19, 2024.

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's oil cuts weigh heavy on economy, GDP tanks by 4.5%

The kingdom's economy shrunk by the most since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 due to energy measures.

Italian FM

Italy's FM in Saudi Arabia to talk energy partnerships, investments as ties grow

The far-right government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has worked to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Visitors and Aramco staff climb a dune at Shaybah, the base for Saudi Aramco's Natural Gas Liquids plant and oil production in the surrounding Shaybah field in Saudi Arabia's remote Empty quarter desert close to the United Arab Emirates, on May 10, 2016. Despite collapsed global oil prices, production is expanding at Shaybah, as it is in other units of the company at the centre of the kingdom's Vision 2030 drive for diversification away from oil. The Saudi government plans to sell less than five percent of

Saudi Arabia projects $21 billion deficit as economy diversifies from oil

The kingdom was among the world’s fastest-growing economies last year with almost 9% GDP growth after a petrodollar boom amid a global rise in energy prices due to inflation and the Ukraine war.

Muslim devotees take part in a rally to celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, which marks the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad, in Karachi on September 29, 2023. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP) (Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Pakistan, Gulf Cooperation Council sign 'preliminary' free trade agreement

When the final trade deal comes into effect, it will likely be the GCC's first since 2009.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends breakfast with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on September 18, 2023 in New York.

Blinken defends Iran prisoner swap at meeting with Gulf counterparts

The US secretary of state also touted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, seen as competition to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, ahead of the discussion with Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

UAE NZ

UAE trade offensive continues, this time with New Zealand deal

The UAE is looking to secure its sixth trade agreement of the year as it increases its non-oil trade globally, with intentions to reach $1.09 billion by 2031.

United Arab Emirates

In this photo provided by Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, is greeted by Prince Badr Bin Sultan, deputy governor of Mecca, upon his arrival at Jeddah airport, Saudi Arabia, May 19, 2023, to attend the Arab summit. (Saudi Press Agency via AP)

Analysis

With Ukraine summit, Saudi Arabia boasts mediator role, courts West

One expert believes that the talks will also take Western pressure off the kingdom for its close alignment with Russia.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Gulf investment in UK property expected to reach $3.2 B in 2024

Middle Eastern investors are capitalising on lower property valuations and those investors are likely to refinance when interest rates start falling, the Islamic bank said.

UK investment minister Dominic Johnson in Kuwait

UK investment minister: GCC trade deal would develop AI, fintech sectors

In 2022, trade between the UK and GCC countries amounted to 33.1 billion pounds ($42.6 million).

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed receives Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Abu Dhabi.

Who is Sultan Al Mansouri, Qatar’s first UAE ambassador in 6 years?

A career diplomat who previously served as Qatar’s ambassador to Austria in 2019 and as the ambassador to China in 2014, Mansouri brings a negotiating and economic skillset to the position.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Public Investment Fund reports $11 billion loss for 2022

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund reports its assets have risen from $676 billion to about $778 billion in 2022 in a rare gesture of transparency for the Gulf.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2R), Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi (L) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi (2L) arrive for a joint press conference following a meeting of Sergei Lavrov with his counterparts of the GCC member states in Moscow on July 10, 2023. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In Moscow, Russia's Lavrov welcomes Gulf states' rapprochement with Iran

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia and GCC countries will expand their cooperation together in areas of economic trade, defense, security, energy and politics.