GCC Relations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prior to a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Feb. 20, 2019.

Analysis

India's Modi visits Saudi Arabia, seeks to boost trade route to counter China

India's largely transactional relationship with Saudi Arabia has moved beyond oil sales to a more strategic and closer partnership.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Excess flammable gasses burning from gas flares at the Havana oil field, west of the multi-ethnic northern Iraqi city of Kirku, Oct. 17, 2017.

Analysis

Why low oil prices under Trump are unlikely to curb Middle East output

Prices stood around $100 a barrel in 2022, under the Biden administration, but hovered between $63 and $66 this past week.

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

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was hosted in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron, where the sides signed a groundbreaking cooperation agreement in AI, on Feb. 6, 2025.

Analysis

UAE hedges against global economic volatility with EU trade agreement

The UAE is doubling down on bilateral free trade agreements as it hedges against economic headwinds fueled by the United States' universal tariff policy.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

oil field

After steep fall, oil prices slightly recover following Trump tariff pause

Over the last week, oil prices have plummeted amid the escalating trade war between the United States and China.

Latest News

UAE, Qatar investments fuel Jared Kushner's firm assets to $4.8 billion

Jared Kushner, founder and CEO of Affinity Partners, and Steve Witkoff, US Middle East envoy, during a panel discussion at the FII Priority summit, Miami Beach, Feb. 20, 2025.

United Arab Emirates

Bahrain to bid for UN Security Council seat: What to know

UNSC

UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon makes first US visit since Trump reelection: What to know

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

UAE's Anwar Gargash visits Iran to deliver Trump's letter: What to know

Diplomatic advisor to the United Arab Emirates President Anwar Gargash arrives to attend the opening ceremony of the Summit on peace in Ukraine, at the luxury Burgenstock resort, near Lucerne, on June 15, 2024.

Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving (16) the Ferrari F1-75, Kevin Magnussen of Denmark driving the (20) Haas F1 VF-22 Ferrari, Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the (14) Alpine F1 A522 Renault, Esteban Ocon of France driving the (31) Alpine F1 A522 Renault, Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL36 Mercedes, Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Aston Martin AMR22 Mercedes and Zhou Guanyu of China driving the (24) Alfa Romeo F1 C42 Ferrari line up to practice starts at the end of final prac

As Saudi Arabia pushes socioeconomic change, arrests show limits to reform

Riyadh has been heavily investing in its economic diversification agenda but a slate of recent arrests over citizens' social media posts and other alleged state violations highlight the limits of Saudi Arabia's socioeconomic reforms.

Sebastian Castelier

By Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

A picture taken on January 23, 2022, shows the skyline of the Emirate of Dubai with Burj Al Arab (C) and Burj Khalifa (background-L). (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Dubai crowned wealthiest city in Middle East, home to 72,500 millionaires

The number of individuals in Dubai with liquid investment wealth — assets that can be readily converted to cash — of $1 million or more increased by 78% between 2013 and 2023 to 72,500, according to a report.

United Arab Emirates

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah in Ankara on May 7. Photo courtesy: The Turkish Presidency

Turkey and Kuwait sign six deals as Erdogan hosts country's Emir

The Kuwaiti emir traveled to Turkey for his first foreign visit to a non-Arab country since he took the oath of office in December.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Feb. 22, 2019.

Chinese investors skeptical as Gulf pushes for deeper economic ties with Beijing

Gulf states are building economic ties with Beijing in non-energy fields, but Chinese investors remain skeptical of ambitious economic diversification plans in the Gulf.

Sebastian Castelier

By Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Telegraph

UAE-backed RedBird IMI pulls out of Telegraph deal, will sell UK newspaper

RedBird IMI effectively took control of Telegraph Media Group in December, when it repaid the owner family’s debts, including a $753 million loan against the media outlets.

United Arab Emirates

View of an oil field at a base near Bentiu, South Sudan.

UAE company agreed to loan $13B to South Sudan in exchange for oil

A $13 billion loan to South Sudan, funded by Hamad Bin Khalifa Department of Projects, marks the largest-ever cash deal for the country.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi-UK tech hub

Interview

Saudi Arabia's giga-projects to offer 'testing ground' for British technology

Saudi startups and fintech firms are looking to tap into the United Kingdom's $1 trillion tech market.

Matt Jones

Matt Jones

Saudi British Joint Business Council Project Officer

(L to R) EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud during a plenary session titled "Transforming for a New Era", during the Doha Forum in Qatar's capital on March 26, 2022. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

What does EU visa relaxation for Saudi, Bahraini, Omani citizens mean?

Under the new rules, Bahraini, Omani and Saudi Arabian nationals will be eligible for multiple-entry visas, allowing them to visit the Schengen area (the EU’s 27 member states as well as Bulgaria and Romania) and move freely between them.

ncreased tensions in the region benefit Gulf states' bottom lines in the short term, while undercutting their longer-term economic visions.

Soaring regional tensions boost Gulf budgets, threaten long-term goals

Most of the Gulf’s economic diversification plans still rely heavily on oil and gas revenues, especially in Saudi Arabia, where the most speculative parts of Vision 2030 face a lack of interest by foreign investors.

Sebastian Castelier

By Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attend the 8th Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 10, 2018.

Will China-Arab States Cooperation Forum summit help boost Beijing’s ties with Mideast?

The 10th session of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum is due to be held on May 30 in Beijing — will it result in even stronger China-Arab relations?

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

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

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

UK-Saudi deal allows kingdom to tap into Britain’s $1T tech market

The kingdom spent $5.1 billion on research and development in 2022, a 32.7% from the previous year’s $3.9 billion.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ( L) stands beside Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud upon his arrival at the Aden Abdulle international airport in Mogadishu on Jan. 25, 2015.

Beyond Ethiopia & Somaliland, Turkey-Somalia defense deal fuels UAE rivalry

The latest deal between Ankara and Mogadishu emerges as a potential friction point for Turkey and the UAE as they vie for influence in Somalia.