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Saudi Arabia

November 1, 2026

Riyadh 2:47 am

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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.

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.

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

A report by The Associated Press found evidence that Russian satellites helped Yemen’s Houthis identify and target specific sites, including energy facilities and military bases, in Saudi Arabia.

A woman walks past a mural bearing the Iranian national flag

Analysis

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

Tehran's push for a regional security order independent of Washington could be gaining diplomatic momentum, but the Islamic Republic has competing, if not conflicting, strategic priorities with the countries it hopes to engage.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

BILAL QABALAN/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi oil infrastructure in crosshairs as Houthis claim Ras Tanura strike

Ras Tanura is home to the kingdom’s largest refinery and one of the world’s most important oil export terminals.

Latest News

Explainer

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

Egyptian soldiers man an infantry fighting vehicle

Riyadh airport reopening faces turbulence as Houthis claim new strikes

A man looks at a screen displaying the flight schedule at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, on Oct. 12, 2026, as Saudi Arabia-bound flights remain canceled a day after a Houthi strike at Riyadh's international airport.

Saudi Arabia’s KBS, top Turkish and Pakistani officials hold rare meeting in Iran: What to know

GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images

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

Brittney Griner

Inside UAE, Saudi roles in facilitating release of Brittney Griner

A high-level Gulf source with access to the details of the exchange told Al-Monitor that the exchange happened at a UAE airbase at 5:00 pm Abu Dhabi time (8:00 am ET).

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) invites Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (L) to view an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony inside the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China, March 16, 2017.

Saudi, Chinese companies sign investment deals on renewable energy, cloud services during Xi’s visit

Xi Jinping’s trip to Saudi Arabia has focused largely on economic and energy ties so far.

China's President Xi Jinping (R) greeted by the Governor of Riyadh province Prince Faisal bin Bandar al-Saud (L) at King Khalid International Airport

Analysis

The Takeaway: Xi's Saudi Arabia trip sends a message to US

Plus, the Biden administration gears up for next week’s summit of African leaders and warns that Iran is still fueling Yemen’s war.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

A picture taken on November 3, 2019 shows a sign of Saudi Aramco's initial public offering (IPO) during a press conference by the state company in the eastern Saudi Arabian region of Dhahran. - Saudi Aramco confirmed it planned to list on the Riyadh stock exchange, describing it as a "significant milestone" in the history of the energy giant. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Aramco tested by deglobalization and energy transition

Gerald Kepes

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends

China's President Xi Jinping attends the 29th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok on Nov. 19, 2022.

China’s Xi heads to Saudi Arabia, adding strain to US ties

Xi's visit to Saudi, the first in six years, will include two summits with Arab and GCC leaders and could see an agreement on nuclear technology

A picture shows the UAE's al-Badia Farms in Dubai, an indoor vertical farm using innovative hydroponic technology.

Another vertical farm comes to Saudi Arabia

Vertical farming has great potential to help alleviate rising desertification in the Middle East, which could threaten the region’s food supply in the future.

Saudi Arabia Aseer

Saudi wealth fund to invest in mountainous Aseer region

Aseer receives the most rainfall in Saudi Arabia and has some tourism potential, but the kingdom is not close to meeting its tourism goals at present.

A picture taken on Nov. 3, 2019, shows a sign of Saudi Aramco's initial public offering.

Saudi Arabia announces new natural gas discoveries

The kingdom is already a major oil exporter, but it could also start exporting natural gas in the near future.

A man sits next to a currency exchange office at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar on May 5, 2022.

Turkish government banks on Gulf financial support to save economy

As crucial elections near, Ankara pins hope on financial support from “friendly” countries to ease its foreign currency shortfall and rein in inflation.

IVAN PISARENKO/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia to build giant solar power plant

The plant, which will be partially owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, will have more output than other solar energy facilities in the region if all goes to plan.

A worker cleans a car near graffiti of Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 5, 2017.

Saudi electric car company Ceer to build factory near Red Sea

Ceer, which will be Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle-maker, is the latest Saudi project to help the oil-rich kingdom diversify.

VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP via Getty Images

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia deny supporting OPEC oil production increase

Oil prices dropped after news broke of a potential production increase but have since rebounded.