Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh Tracing memory through art Also this week: Nikkei cuisine, esports and summer escapes By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Explainer Saudi FM concludes China visit amid Trump-MBS friction: What to know Saudi Arabia is still absorbing the war’s security fallout and is widening its circle by leaning more on Beijing as a diplomatic counterweight to Washington and as a partner that can engage Tehran. China
Newsletter: China-Middle East Saudi FM goes to China amid Trump-MBS friction By Joyce Karam , Rosaleen Carroll
Saudi Arabia's FM heads to China amid differences with US on Iran war Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visit to Beijing comes as commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains unstable. Saudi Arabia
Interview Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO Olivier Badard CEO of Armada Holding
Explainer Gulf states push incentives for investors, expats after war dents image United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: Business & Tech Oil falls to prewar levels as Hormuz reopens By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Interview Franco-Gulf investment holds firm despite Iran war, French official says Axel Baroux France’s trade and investment commissioner for the UAE and Middle East
Saudi sports push targets NFL with flag football series featuring Tom Brady The Public Investment Fund is not yet investing in the National Football League amid restrictions on state entities, but is eyeing flag football as the sport grows in the region. Saudi Arabia
Iran’s Larijani meets MBS, Saudi defense chiefs in Riyadh: What to know The trip is Ali Larijani’s third since he returned to head the Supreme National Security Council and follows Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian calling for greater unity in the region. Iran
Culture Saudi Arabia dreams of Hollywood as $150M epic 'Desert Warrior' debuts Backed by government funding, the kingdom aims to become a global filmmaking hub with the $150 million epic 'Desert Warrior' and other high-profile productions. Saudi Arabia
Analysis KFC’s Turkey relaunch tests Western brands’ resilience in Gaza boycott era From KFC to Carrefour, the Middle East's consumer brand landscape is undergoing significant shifts as the two-year anniversary of boycotts linked to the Gaza war approaches. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Saudi Arabia launches 24-hour women’s sports channel: What to know The launch coincides with the start of the Saudi Women’s Premier League season, which will see the soccer competition broadcast nationally and globally for the first time. Saudi Arabia
Saudi crown prince vows to ground soaring property prices: What to know Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed to implement policies aimed at reducing real estate costs and providing a wider range of housing options. Saudi Arabia
Hong Kong inks agreements with Gulf partners at BRI Summit Some 36 business agreements covering finance, technology, logistics, professional services and education were set to be signed at the event. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh From Jeddah to Bukhara: AlMusalla Prize Also this week: Saudi fashion in Venice, opera deals and Riyadh luxury. By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Saudi firm to pump $700M into economic zone developer in Africa The kingdom's Vision Invest will invest in pan-African developer Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, which will use the funds to expand across the continent and develop green industrial ecosystems. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: Business & Tech Revolut makes Middle East entry with UAE approval This week’s newsletter looks at Egypt’s $18 billion Gulf-backed tourism project, Revolut’s entry into the Middle East via the UAE, and a new India-Israel investment pact, alongside fresh moves in the Gulf’s AI race. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Trump aims to crack Gulf's armed drone market with looser export restrictions Washington's latest reinterpretation of the 35-nation MTCR agreement is expected to open the door for a potential major sale of advanced aerial weaponry to Saudi Arabia. United States
Saudi Arabia, UAE firms sign $18.5B tourism megaproject for Egypt The new deal forms part of Egypt’s Vision 2030 agenda as the government aims to secure $42 billion in foreign direct investment this year. Egypt