Abu Dhabi merges ADQ into new wealth fund L'IMAD: What to know Under the new structure, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, will oversee a broader swath of the emirate’s investment holdings. United Arab Emirates
Saudi defense chief visits White House as Riyadh wary of Iran strike The visit is occurring as the Pentagon amasses an armada off Iran and the United States continues to threaten to strike the Islamic Republic militarily. Saudi Arabia
UAE launches sovereign open-source AI model K2 Think: What to know The Gulf state is one of the few countries in the world developing its own sovereign open-source AI model to counter the dominance of the United States and China in the sector. United Arab Emirates
Thousands rally for South Yemen independence amid Saudi diplomatic push Large protests called for southern independence in Yemen on Friday, reflecting persistent support for the separatists despite the Saudi-backed government’s efforts to quash the separatist movement. Yemen
Can Lebanon handle truth about Hariri, Saudi Arabia? Saad Hariri faces his own court of conscience; US-Iran relations revert to axis of evil days. Saudi Arabia
US support for Saudi war in Yemen soars under Trump The Defense Department more than doubled US refueling support for Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen over the past year amid rising congressional opposition. Saudi Arabia
Iran: Hariri sought to mediate between Tehran, Riyadh Iran’s president strongly criticized Saudi Arabia over its reported role in the Lebanese prime minister’s resignation. Saudi Arabia
Iran, Turkey divide Saudi-led bloc Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi is opposed to plans by the other members of the Anti-Terror Quartet to confront Iran and Hezbollah in the Levant, to maintain Lebanon's relatively stable position. Saudi Arabia
Is US counseling restraint to Saudi crown prince? Saudi Arabia claims two "acts of war" in one week; Israel and Syria both back the Druze. Saudi Arabia
Turkey’s misguided Middle East policy: From Syria, Iraq to the Gulf Turkey’s misguided foreign policy has increasingly become apparent in three main spheres: Syria, Iraq and the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia
Russia, Oman size each other up as potential Mideast allies Despite a challenging history, Russia finds common ground with Oman, which sometimes seems the "odd man out" in the Gulf. Oman
Controversy in Iran over headline targeting Dubai A headline perceived as belligerent sparks a broad backlash against the hard-line Iranian daily Kayhan. Saudi Arabia
Middle East developments rattle sidelined Ankara Some argue that Ankara has to return to its former position of active neutrality if it is to regain lost influence in the region and contribute to stability. Saudi Arabia
Saudi crown prince rattles Turkish Islamists Supporters of Turkey’s Islamist government claim Mohammed bin Salman’s aim to push for moderate Islam in Saudi Arabia is motivated by US imperial designs against Muslims. Saudi Arabia
How new joint US-GCC sanctions will impact Qatar crisis After Qatar joined Saudi Arabia and the United States in imposing new sanctions on individuals suspected of financing terror groups in Yemen, it will be harder for the GCC states involved in the blockade of Qatar to make their case to Washington. Saudi Arabia
Iran's media unconcerned with Iraq-Saudi Arabia rapprochement Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s recent trips to Saudi Arabia appear to have been coordinated to reduce Iran’s influence in Iraq, but Iranian media outlets do not seem concerned by the apparent Iraqi-Saudi Arabia rapprochement. Saudi Arabia
