Analysis Can Gulf states slash costly reliance on Western consultancies? A one-year ban on PwC acquiring work in Saudi Arabia has highlighted the Gulf states' dependency on Western firms and the need to develop local consultancies and talent. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Can Saudi Arabia afford giga-projects with oil prices under $75 per barrel? Riyadh could soon run a current account deficit as oil revenue declines amid huge spending commitments toward ambitious Vision 2030 projects. Saudi-led OPEC has also deferred an output increase plan to allow more time to reach desired oil prices. By Jennifer Gnana , Samuel Wendel
UAE's final unit of Barakah nuclear reactor hooked to grid: What we know The Emirates is the only Gulf country with a nuclear power program, though neighboring Saudi Arabia also has atomic power ambitions. United Arab Emirates
Saudi entity denies its ship hit as Houthis claim attack on Greek tanker Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri denied reports that its tanker Amjad came under attack by the Houthis, the Yemeni armed group that has stepped up attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea. Yemen
Analysis Telegram CEO's arrest spotlights UAE’s investment-based citizenship laws By Jennifer Gnana In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics
US bans Nvidia, AMD AI chips' export to some Mideast countries, amid China fears The technological war between the United States and China is heating up, with both countries imposing limits on their prized assets. Gulf
Saudi sovereign wealth fund invests in US mixed martial arts league The new area of sports investment follows major Saudi investments in golf and soccer. Gulf
Saudi Arabia’s ADES to launch IPO ADES rebooted its plans for an initial public offering, having delayed it earlier in the year after the kingdom’s stock exchange experienced difficulties. Gulf
Saudi Arabia’s soccer spending spree reshapes Middle East sports sector The kingdom is gunning to become a professional sports powerhouse.
The case for GCC natural gas integration The emergence of an East Mediterranean gas hub begs the question of why the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has not promoted an integrated gas grid. Kate Dourian In Dubai, reporting on energy
Fossil fuel subsidies in Middle East nearly doubled since 2020, says IMF The fund said that fossil fuel companies globally benefited from $13 million in subsidies per minute last year. Gulf
Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE to join BRICS The Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank, or so-called “BRICS bank”, had already admitted the UAE and Egypt as shareholders. Iran
Dubai airport surpasses pre-pandemic passenger traffic in first half of 2023 Dubai International Airport welcomed 41.6 million passengers in the first half of the year, which was “just over 100% compared to traffic recorded during the first six months of 2019,” stated the airport authority in a press release. Gulf
UAE targets global hydrogen dominance as Saudi Arabia, Oman jockey for position The UAE is positioning itself to capture a share of the emerging global hydrogen economy, which it expects to become “a major part of the energy mix” in the next 10 years. Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Saudi forces have killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants at Yemen border: report Saudi Arabia's border security forces are accused of "widespread and systematic" killing of Ethiopian migrants crossing from Yemen in what Human Rights Watch says could constitute crimes against humanity. Gulf
BRICS summit: which Middle East states could join powerful bloc? China and Russia are seeking to expand the group and their global influence, and several MENA countries are in line to apply. Saudi Arabia
With Gulf charm offensive, Turkey’s Erdogan sets up dealmaking deluge across defense, energy A Turkish drone factory is coming to Saudi Arabia following a $3.1 billion deal with defense firm Baykar — one of many key deals that should soon take flight across numerous sectors as Turkey deepens cooperation with former Gulf rivals. Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
