Syria to develop first offshore oil, gas field with US’s Chevron, Qatar’s UCC In 2013, Russian firm Soyuzneftegaz signed a deal to explore for oil and gas in Syrian waters, but the project was dropped two years later due to the civil war. Syria
Gulf markets recover after gold rout, buoyed by Iran de-escalation hopes Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index, TASI, rose 1.4%, a day after falling the most in nearly 10 months amid a broad sell-off in the commodities market. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: City Pulse Doha Art Basel makes its Qatar debut in Doha Also this week: Sport for good, electronic beats and desert traditions By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Newsletter: City Pulse Doha FuelFest lands in Qatar Also this week: Contemporary sound art, live orchestral performance and sporting heritage By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Newsletter: City Pulse Doha Doha’s biggest food playground returns By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Meet the Silicon Valley-linked AI startup targeting Gulf’s costly inefficiencies Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, formerly a director at Silicon Valley’s Scale AI, shares how he spotted an opportunity to automate complex workflows that could reduce inefficiencies potentially worth over $10 billion across the Gulf's airports, ports, construction and the energy sector. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: City Pulse Doha Qatar Museums revives the spirit of MF Husain Also this week: seafaring elegance, coffee rituals, family fairs and camel pride. By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Analysis UK chases elusive GCC trade deal that could boost exports, economic links A new charm offensive at Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference has fueled optimism that a UK-GCC trade pact, under negotiation since 2022, could soon be completed. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis How Gulf states are powering Turkey’s Eurofighter ambitions After years of political deadlock over the sale of Eurofighters to Turkey, Ankara appears to be nearing success with pending deals for new and secondhand versions of the aircraft. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Newsletter: China-Middle East China getting ahead in the Gulf China’s Vice President Han Zheng is visiting Saudi Arabia and Kuwait this week before traveling to Qatar to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development Nov. 3-5. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Newsletter: City Pulse Doha Doha artists trace worlds in flux Also this week: living archives, hair couture, oud trails and desert horizons. By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Qatar slams US lawmaker over allegations of funding anti-Israel protests: What to know Rep. Randy Fine criticized Qatar for allegedly backing Gaza war-related protests at American universities after the Pentagon said Qatari pilots would start training in the US, leading to a denial and rebuke from Doha. Qatar
Analysis Turkey strengthens defense, energy ties following Erdogan’s Gulf tour The Turkish president’s Gulf tour saw the signing of over a dozen agreements to strengthen military ties, diversify energy sources and expand economic partnerships amid regional instability. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Doha Doha welcomes back Lusail Winter Wonderland Also this week: tiara artistry, high-speed karting, shaabi rhythms and herb-inspired art. By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Turkey, Qatar sign defense deal as Ankara eyes Doha’s Eurofighters The Turkish president’s visit to Qatar during his Gulf tour largely centered on defense ties and Qatar’s little-used Eurofighters, as Ankara moves to quickly rebuild its air power. Turkey
Newsletter: Gulf Qatar brokers Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire Qatar brokered a landmark ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan as Gulf states advanced major economic, energy and defense initiatives across the region. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Erdogan heads to Gulf as Turkey looks to ease energy dependence on Russia The Turkish president will visit Kuwait, Oman and Qatar to strengthen economic ties, boost regional diplomacy and sign a series of agreements. Turkey