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Saudi Arabia

November 11, 2026

Riyadh 8:13 pm

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ankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes, on June 23, 2025.

Explainer

UAE selling Saudi oil highlights new Gulf energy realities

News surfaced on Nov. 10 that the UAE has reportedly marketed 1.87 million barrels of Saudi crude salvaged from a damaged supertanker for sale, marking an exceptional example of energy cooperation between Gulf rivals.

United Arab Emirates

ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images

GCC to build military command center in Kuwait as region simmers: What to know

GCC countries have stepped up their joint defense efforts with the announcement of a new forward command center to be headquartered in Kuwait, as tensions between Iran and the US continue to escalate.

Latest News

Analysis

Syria denies sending troops to fight Houthis in return for Saudi loans

Saudi Arabia's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed el-Khereiji (R) speaks with Syria's interim foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Iraq, Saudi Arabia face attacks as Trump pursues Iran deal

Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Analysis

Gulf’s $3 trillion US investment drive faces post-midterm Trump reckoning

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during a dinner in the East Room at the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the Crown Prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) and Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa.

Saudi GDP grew 3.2% in 2021, highest in seven years

Saudi economic progress includes growth in the non-oil sector, as foreign direct investment moves more slowly.

China currency

Analysis

Saudi considering China’s yuan for oil purchases

Saudi Arabia and China have been growing closer for years, and the news comes at a time of frustration among Gulf states with the US.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

A flame from a Saudi Aramco oil installation known as "Pump 3" is seen in the desert near the oil-rich area of Khouris, 160 kilometers (99 miles) east of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 23, 2008.

Saudi cooperation with China continues with finalization of long-planned refinery deal

Saudi oil giant Aramco has made a few agreements with Chinese companies in recent years.

Saudi central bank

Analysis

Saudi Central Bank extends guaranteed financing program for small businesses

The program encourages Saudi banks to loan to small businesses by guaranteeing a portion of the funds, and was launched in response to the coronavirus-related economic downturn in Saudi Arabia.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff

OPEC

UAE sticks to OPEC+ production limits

The Biden administration is asking Gulf partners to increase production in response to rising oil prices, but so far the cartel is holding to its earlier agreement.

United Arab Emirates

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Oil prices, Saudi Aramco shares soar as Ukraine fighting continues

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major oil producers have so far declined to increase production despite pleas from the United States.

electric car

Electric SUV race coming to Saudi Arabia’s NEOM

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has prioritized investing in new types of sports as part of his Vision 2030 initiative.

Saudi tourism

Emirates airline to boost Saudi tourism

The Dubai-based carrier has signed an agreement with the Saudi Tourism Authority to bring international travelers to Saudi Arabia.

AFP via Getty Images

Gulf foreign ministers, GCC chief visit China for talks

GCC Secretary General Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf said the five days of meetings will "contribute to enhancing GCC-Chinese relations."

Volunteers check IDs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Nov. 17, 2021. There are fears emergency measures are leading to the profiling of ethnic Tigrayans.

Ethiopia detaining Tigrayans deported from Saudi Arabia, rights group says

Human Rights Watch urged Ethiopia to release the arbitrarily detained Tigrayans and called on Saudi Arabia to stop its deportations.

ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey's Erdogan says he'll visit Saudi Arabia in February

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's planned visit to Saudi Arabia comes as Ankara seeks to mend ties with several Gulf countries.

Airport workers inspect the damage at Sanaa International Airport on Dec. 21, 2021, following a reported airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition.

Yemen’s Houthis say Sanaa airport reopen to flights after bombing

The UN envoy for Yemen said the recent escalation was "among the worst" seen in the conflict in years.