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Saudi Arabia

October 13, 2025

Riyadh 6:07 am

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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

Hafez Gallery

Culture

AL-Monitor Riyadh: Lebanese artist Lana Khayat at Hafez Gallery

This week, we take you through the opening of a new exhibition by Lebanese artist Lana Khayat at Hafez Gallery in Riyadh.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on February 17, 2025. (Photo by Evelyn Hockstein / POOL / AFP) (Photo by EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Trump turned to Saudi Arabia for US-Russia talks

The high-level talks are an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to burnish its credentials as the Middle East's power broker.

TOPSHOT - (L to R) US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, the Russian president's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a meeting together at Riyadh's Diriyah Palace on February 18, 2025. Top US and Russian diplomats were meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks on res

US-Russia talks conclude in Saudi Arabia, most high-level meeting since 2023: What to know

The US State Department said one purpose of the talks was to “reestablish” bilateral relations with Russia as Saudi Arabia seeks to mediate between the two.

MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

BRICS waits on Saudi Arabia as Trump raises stakes for bloc’s Mideast growth

The BRICS group's influence is growing, and its expansion could accelerate if Saudi Arabia commits to joining.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Turkish Air Force fighter jets perform a military parade over the Bosphorus on Oct. 29, 2023.

Analysis

Turkey-Saudi defense ties see momentum with potential $6B deal: What to know

The Turkish-Saudi defense collaboration faces challenges despite promising advancements.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump step off Air Force One upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Where US-Saudi ties stand as Trump eyes kingdom for Russia summit

Saudi Arabia could host a meeting between the president and his Russian counterpart on the Ukraine war as investment ties grow and Trump helps move along the LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger.

Emiratis walk past a French Rafale fighter jet displayed during the Dubai Airshow on November 14, 2017, in the United Arab Emirates. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

France's burgeoning Gulf military influence: Rafale jets, naval systems and integration

France has emerged as the second-largest global arms exporter, surpassing Russia and solidifying its position as the leading European arms supplier to the Middle East.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

Report Error exhibit

Culture

AL-Monitor Riyadh: 'Report Error' transforms daily items in Abha

This week we guide you through exhibitions in Abha, Riyadh and Jeddah, showcasing the work of younger to mid-career Saudi artists.

An unidentified man speaks at the preliminary meeting for the fourth edition of the LEAP technology conference, set for Feb. 9-12, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 4, 2025.

Billions invested in AI, data centers at Saudi's LEAP summit: What to know

The four-day event saw billions of dollars worth of investment poured into artificial intelligence projects — many of them in Saudi Arabia.

Shaibani

At Dubai summit, Syrian FM expresses interest in Baghdad visit

On his second trip to the United Arab Emirates since assuming his role, new Syria Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stressed the need for good neighborly relations, lifting of sanctions and guaranteed rights for minorities in the country.

A visitor walks past an installation from the Food for Thought collection by contemporary Saudi artist Maha Malluh on display at Sotheby's Origins exhibition ahead of its international auction in Diriyah in Riyadh on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Culture

AL-Monitor Riyadh: Sotheby's first ever auction in Saudi Arabia

This week, Sotheby’s will stage its first ever live international auction in Saudi Arabia.

U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 4, 2025. (Photo by Bryan Dozier / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by BRYAN DOZIER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

From Saudi Arabia to Australia and China, world leaders denounce Trump’s plan to 'take over' Gaza

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about a possible US takeover of Gaza after relocating the Palestinians caused a wave of uproar across the region and the world.