Saudi Arabia - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Saudi Arabia cover image

Saudi Arabia

November 5, 2026

Riyadh 2:11 pm

33°C

AFP via Getty Images

Aramco begins expansion of oil export route bypassing Hormuz

The kingdom plans to expand the East-West Pipeline’s capacity to carry crude to as much as 10 million barrels per day.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the opening bell, New York City, Sept. 28, 2026.

Oil tops $114 as traders brace for Iran escalation after US midterms

On Friday, BP posted its highest profits in 18 years as a result of the Iran conflict, which has driven up oil and gas margins.

Latest News

Russian satellite data helped Yemen’s Houthis target Saudi Arabia: What to know

Security forces stand guard in front of a banner showing the Kaaba during a protest by supporters of the Houthi authorities against the Saudi intervention in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia's recent accusation that the Houthis fired at the holy city of Mecca, in Sanaa on Sept. 18, 2026.

Analysis

How wartime urgency pushed Iran to court Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan

A woman walks past a mural bearing the Iranian national flag

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Saudi oil infrastructure in crosshairs as Houthis claim Ras Tanura strike

BILAL QABALAN/AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

As parliament approves, what's driving Egypt's 'defensive' support to Saudi Arabia?

Egyptian soldiers man an infantry fighting vehicle

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

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

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Sabena Siddiqui

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

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Saudi religious scholars enraged over Moscow's recent Syria strikes

Saudi ulama would rather see action against Assad than against the Islamic State, but could their stance be seen as a call to jihad?

A Saudi military cargo plane is seen at the international airport of Yemen's southern port city of Aden July 22, 2015. A Saudi military plane loaded with arms for fighters loyal to Yemen's deposed president landed at Aden airport on Wednesday, an airport official said, the first flight to reach the embattled port city in four months. REUTERS/Stringer - RTX1LEI9

Senate Democrats hold up arms sales for Saudi war in Yemen

The State Department request for a bombs resupply has hit a snag amid a rising death toll.

Jordan's Prince Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein (R) and former Commander of Royal Saudi Navy Special Forces Prince Sultan bin Khalid Al-Faisal attend the opening ceremony of the Middle East Special Operations Commanders Conference (MESOC) in Amman May 5, 2014. REUTERS/Majed Jaber (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY ROYALS) - RTR3NT7M

Saudi prince alleges capture of Iranian military, Hezbollah in Yemen

A grandson of the late Saudi King Faisal and former senior military officer says the time has come for Saudi Arabians “to take care of ourselves” and “lead” the Middle East against regional threats.

Egypt's secular culture minister ruffles Salafi feathers

Comments by new Egyptian Culture Minister Hilmi al-Namnam have sparked criticism from local Salafis as well as Saudi Wahhabis.

Former U.S ambassador Thomas Pickering speaks at the International Economic Alliance Global Investment Symposium in New York September 24, 2008. REUTERS/Jacob Silberberg (UNITED STATES) - RTX8VYI

Gulf-funded think tank to make Capitol Hill debut

The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington promises a broader view of Gulf affairs.

Matias Hadwa of Palestine jumps for a header during their 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match against the United Arab Emirates at Faisal al-Husseini Stadium in the occupied West Bank town of Al-Ram near Jerusalem September 8, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed Torokman - RTX1ROFK

Palestinian soccer scores goal in venue dispute

Following popular anger from Palestinian fans, a decision to relocate a soccer match between the Palestinian and Saudi teams outside of Palestine has been revoked.

Vlad and Yuri: How Putin is applying the lessons of Afghanistan to Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin is using his regional allies to create "Alawistan," an enclave isolated from the rest of Syria.

Saudi policemen look at monitor screens showing footage from cameras set up around the holy places, during a tour for journalists, on the second day of Eid al-Adha in Mina near the holy city of Mecca September 25, 2015. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood - RTX1SG86

Saudis investigate Mina stampede

Since the deadly Mina incident, Iranian officials have been criticizing Saudi Arabia for its mismanagement of hajj affairs and its approach that seems focused on containing Muslim anger and avoiding a direct confrontation with Iran.

U.S. President Barack Obama extends his hand to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York September 28, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTX1SYBB

Obama prepared to work with Putin to broker Syria transition

Despite widespread condemnation of Russian airstrikes in Syria, signs of progress on UN-brokered talks on a political transition; Iran’s ties with Saudi Arabia and Egypt; the trend toward counterterrorism; United States should not treat Iraq as a "weak partner."

Congress to probe war in Yemen

A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Oct. 5.

Saudi security forces block the way to an area where a stampede occurred at the camp city at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca September 24, 2015. At least 717 pilgrims from around the world were killed on Thursday in a crush outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi authorities said, in the worst disaster to strike the annual haj pilgrimage for 25 years. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood - RTX1SAS4

Hajj disaster lost chance for Saudi-Iranian engagement

Rather than functioning as a platform for cooperation, the deadly stampede in Mina has only worsened the war of words between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi troops walk at their base in Yemen's southern port city of Aden September 28, 2015. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser - RTX1SX8G

Saudi war in Yemen impossible to win

As Yemen's civilian casualties mount and Arab coalition forces sustain further losses, it looks increasingly likely that Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen will only lead to more destruction.