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Saudi Arabia

October 12, 2025

Riyadh 10:54 pm

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Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick leaves the Phillip Burton Federal Building on day three of the trial between Waymo and Uber Technologies on February 7, 2018 in San Francisco, California.

Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to Uber co-founder, Red Sea Global CEO

Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick and Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano have been granted Saudi citizenship.

Latest News

Saudi investment minister visits Morocco, Senegal on Africa trade drive

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih with Moroccan Industry Minister Riad Mezzour

Interview

Dar Global hints at Trump real estate deals in Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects

Ziad El Chaar, Dar Global's chief executive officer. — Dar Global

Ziad El Chaar

Chief Executive Officer, Dar Global

World Bank ups Middle East 2025 economic outlook as oil, tourism rebound

A picture taken from a station of Dubai's Palm Monorail, shows traffic on a road in Palm Jumeirah on August 28, 2025.

Saudi, Chinese companies to develop giant aluminum industrial hub in Riyadh

aluminium-dutton

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Francesco Schiavi

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

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

Sabena Siddiqui

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

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

A trader walks by beneath a stock display board at the Dubai Stock Exchange in the United Arab Emirates, on March 8, 2020. - Saudi's stock exchange fell 6.5 percent and other Gulf markets tumbled to multi-year lows at the start of trading after OPEC and its allies failed to clinch a deal over oil production cuts. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Oil prices fall as Gulf economies grapple with Trump’s tariffs: What to know

Falling oil prices could negatively impact the budgets of Gulf states and are coinciding with losses in the region’s stock markets.

The Netflix stand at the Red Sea International Film Festival 2023, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 3, 2023.

Analysis

In challenge to Netflix, local Middle East streaming services see robust growth: What to know

The Saudi MBC Group reported a staggering 515% surge in net profits in 2024 with its Shahid steaming service building its edge over Netflix.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

trump shows mbs a chart

Analysis

Can Saudi Arabia use investment flattery to woo Trump during visit?

The US president's top priorities will be shoring up US investment from the Gulf, discussing cease-fires in Ukraine and Gaza and the threat of Iran.

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

Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images

OPEC+ members boost output as Trump tariffs bring down oil prices

The US president has been calling on Saudi Arabia and other top oil producers to boost production and bring down prices.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 02: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Touting the event as “Liberation Day”, Trump announced additional tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

How Trump's latest tariffs impact the Middle East

Gulf countries were relatively spared, with the US imposing only a 10% tariff, whereas other Middle Eastern nations are facing steeper trade penalties.

US President Donald Trump walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, on March 28, 2025, in Washington.

After major arms sales, Trump to visit Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar: What to know

The president is urging Gulf countries to increase their investment in the US after a series of bilateral economic and defense deals in recent months.

The PwC Tower, or Libeskind Tower, Milan, March 12, 2021.

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.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Muslims perform the morning prayer around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, early on March 30, 2025.

Culture

In photos: Muslims celebrate Eid el-Fitr across the Middle East

Muslims in the Middle East came together on Sunday and Monday to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

A protestor waves a Turkish flag in front of riot police during a rally in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor in Istanbul, March 24, 2025.

Analysis

Turkey turmoil tests Gulf investors as crackdown fuels market unease

Improved relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had raised Ankara's hopes for a dealmaking boom, but the arrest of Istanbul's mayor could jeopardize it.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Jared Kushner, founder and CEO of Affinity Partners, and Steve Witkoff, US Middle East envoy, during a panel discussion at the FII Priority summit, Miami Beach, Feb. 20, 2025.

UAE, Qatar investments fuel Jared Kushner's firm assets to $4.8 billion

Commitments from Abu Dhabi–based asset manager Lunate and the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund, increased Affinity’s assets by $1.5 billion over a year.

United Arab Emirates

US President Donald Trump announces tariffs on auto imports in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on March 26, 2025.

Gulf markets dip after Trump announces 25% automotive tariffs

Donald Trump announced on Wednesday 25% tariffs on imported cars and light trucks entering the United States, set to take effect on April 2, further fueling the ongoing trade war and contributing to market volatility.