Vision 2030

Kuwaiti traders follow the stock market activity at Boursa Kuwait, in Kuwait City on April 7, 2025.

Middle East debt issuance near $200B record amid September borrowing surge

A borrowing boom driven by Saudi Arabia and Turkey arrives amid a broader wave of issuances in 2025, underlining the Middle East’s status as one of the busiest and most resilient players in international debt markets.

The Public Investment Fund is present during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 13, 2024, in Indian Wells, California.

Saudi Arabia's PIF buys $2B majority stake in entertainment giant MBC

The deal highlights the PIF’s continued expansion into the regional media and entertainment sector in accordance with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 agenda.

Google Pay, China’s Alipay+ launch in Saudi Arabia amid cashless push

Both payment platforms will use mada, the kingdom’s national payment system.

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

Saudi Arabia's Bayan Sadagah (C-L) celebrates her goal during a friendly football match between Saudi Arabia and Bhutan at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz stadium in Abha on September 24, 2022. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia launches 24-hour women’s sports channel: What to know

The launch coincides with the start of the Saudi Women’s Premier League season, which will see the soccer competition broadcast nationally and globally for the first time.

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Saudi crown prince vows to ground soaring property prices: What to know

Foreign laborers work on the construction of new luxury houses in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on April 13, 2019.

Saudi Arabia, UAE firms sign $18.5B tourism megaproject for Egypt

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Qataris hail Chinese robotaxis as Gulf embraces driverless cars

WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images

From Milan to Dubai: Giorgio Armani's sprawling Middle East legacy

Italian designer Giorgio Armani acknowledges the audience during One Night Only series in Dubai on October 26, 2021.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Commerce Minister Majid al-Kassabi and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds at the Great Futures summit, London, Sept. 3.

Saudi Arabia, UK announce over $445M in investments: What to know

The agreements aim to boost bilateral trade and will also support Saudi Vision 2030 reforms to diversify the economy away from reliance on oil by the end of the decade.

British Chef Gordon Ramsey shouts instructions from his kitchen at his Chelsea restaurant Jan. 12, 2001.

Gordon Ramsay chef school heads to Saudi Arabia: What to know

Saudi Arabia lacks the plethora of renowned restaurants the neighboring UAE boasts, but the kingdom’s fine dining scene may be on the rise.

Visitors at the first night of the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2025 in Malham city on Aug. 5, 2025.

Saudi Arabia’s falcon auction aims to spin tradition into tourism gold

Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its economy and cultural tourism.

People wait for the arrival of relatives at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on the first commercial flight from Qatar on Jan. 11, 2021.

Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid airport sets record with 3.9M passengers in July

Air travel is a part of the Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy, though challenges remain in attracting tourists and catching up to other Gulf airports.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi mining licenses soar as kingdom hunts critical metals: What to know

The Saudi government has cleared hurdles for the mining industry in its pursuit of critical materials.

A picture taken on December 7, 2022 in Riyadh, shows the Chinese and the Saudi flags adorning a street ahead of the Chinese president's visit to the Saudi capital. - Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia this week, meeting the king and de facto ruler of the world's biggest oil exporter. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia's Diriyah awards Chinese firm $1.53B contract: What to know

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has awarded a major contract to China Harbour Engineering Company for the development of a Vision 2030 project.

People attend the international esports gamers Next World Forum, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Sept. 7, 2022.

Analysis

Elite gamers chase $70M at Saudi Esports World Cup as Riyadh eyes bigger prize

Although aligned with Riyadh’s overall sports strategy, the Esports World Cup also plays a unique role in showcasing the Gulf nation’s tech and pop culture reach.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

CORRECTION / A picture taken in Riyadh shows the sign in Arabic of an Aramco gas station on the outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh on November 5, 2024. Energy giant Saudi Aramco reported a 15 percent year-on-year drop in third quarter profit on November 5, 2024, citing low oil prices. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Fayez Nureldine has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: changing the second phrase to refer to Saudi

Saudi PIF reports 60% profit drop as inflation, low oil prices bite

The PIF said that the impairments were mainly related to changes in operational plans and increases in budgeted costs.

Neom

France's EDF reportedly dropped from Saudi Neom project: What to know

EDF was appointed by the Saudi government in January 2024 to carry out preliminary studies on the conception and construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Neom.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in the Oval Office of the White House on March 20, 2018.

Analysis

Will Trump's push for Gulf investment align with regional economic realities?

During his May 13-16 trip, Trump aims to unveil trillions of dollars in Gulf investment and trade commitments in the United States.

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

Yasser Hassan

Exclusive

'Cloud First' policies give Saudi Arabia, UAE edge in AI race: Amazon exec

In March 2024, AWS announced plans to invest $5.3 billion in Saudi Arabia to launch a cloud infrastructure region in the kingdom by 2026.

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

EU-GCC summit

Saudi PIF, Italy sign $3B export deal as ties grow under Meloni: What to know

The agreement will help the kingdom's many giga projects as well as Italian exporters.