Saudi Arabia - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Saudi Arabia cover image

Saudi Arabia

May 15, 2025

Riyadh 2:54 am

27°C

US President Donald Trump looks on as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets the crowd during the Saudi-US investment forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. Saudi Arabia on May 13 promised billions of dollars in deals with the United States from defence to artificial intelligence as it threw a lavish welcome for President Donald Trump on the first state visit of his second term. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty I

Analysis

Trump’s Gulf tour alarms Iran as it fears isolation, shifting alliances

Sanctions-hit Iran is anxiously watching Trump clinch multibillion-dollar trade deals with regional heavyweights, yet it is finding a moment of relief in the "sidelining" of Israel.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

A member of Saudi security forces stands next to a replica of a fighter jet of the Saudi armed forces during the daily media briefing on Operation Decisive Storm, the Saudi-led coalition carrying out air strikes against Shiite Huthi militia in neighboring Yemen, on April 2, 2015 at the Air Base of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

US signs $142B deal to upgrade Saudi military

Announcement says the US will help modernize Riyadh’s air force and space capabilities, air and missile defenses, maritime and coastal fleet and border security forces, White House says.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

US, Saudi Arabia ink $600B economic pact amid AI, energy deals

The economic partnership agreement includes energy, mining and defense pacts, according to a White House readout.

Latest News

Trump to lift Syria sanctions, meet with Sharaa in Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a “coffee ceremony” at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Defense, energy and AI deals await Trump during Gulf visit: What to know

Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, hours before of a visit by US President Donald Trump to the desert kingdom this week.

Analysis

With US-Saudi defense pact stalled, Trump eyes civilian nuclear deal

President Donald Trump boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

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

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Qatar places major bet on gas as Saudi Aramco scores new find in Jafurah

Asian liquefied natural gas prices have fallen to a nearly three-year low as warmer winter temperatures have dampened demand.

Lana Nusseibeh speaks during a UN Security Council meeting on the Israel-Hamas war at the United Nations headquarters on Nov. 22, 2023.

Analysis

International law 'cannot be a la carte': UAE, Saudi and Egypt scold Israel at ICJ

The presentations at The Hague could further the rift between Israel and the Arab world amid the Gaza war and efforts to expand normalization, though countries in the region are still interested in maintaining relations with Tel Aviv.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

Laborers work at the construction site of Saudi Aramco's (the national oil company) Al-Khurais central oil processing facility.

Saudi Arabia reports oil export slump after OPEC cuts

The dip in exports for the fourth quarter of 2023 was due to Saudi Arabia’s decision to reduce crude output in accordance with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies — the kingdom has also implemented voluntary cuts.

Guests attend the Global AI 2020 (Artificial Intelligence) Summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Oct. 21, 2020.

Saudi tech giant expands investments into China, AI as part of $100B plans

Alat plans to invest $100 billion by 2030 to coincide with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to wean the kingdom’s economy off of its reliance on oil.

Prince Abdulaziz 1

Saudi energy minister reveals why Aramco cut oil target by 1m bpd

In January, the world's biggest corporate crude producer said it would halt its oil expansion plan and set a minimum sustained production capacity of 12 million bpd, 1 million bpd below its target announced in 2020 to be reached in 2027.

Visitors stop at the Aramco exhibition section at the Misk Global Forum on innovation and technology held in the Saudi capital Riyadh on November 13, 2019. - The Misk non-profit foundation was established by Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman to empower Saudi youths through cultivating learning and leadership. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Aramco pivots investment plans as deals beckon in key Asian growth markets

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

A man poses for video outside a Starbucks coffee shop in a market area in Dubai on May 18, 2023.

US firm mulls stake in Starbucks Middle East franchise as local competition heats up

Apollo Asset Management's reported interest comes after the coffee chain said boycotts related to the Gaza war had hurt its regional business.

A sign for the London Metal Exchange (LME).

London Metal Exchange to build delivery centers in Saudi Arabia

Investors and mining companies are bracing for a wave of exploration licenses awarded in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom nearly doubled its untapped mineral estimate to $2.5 trillion and announced new incentives for miners in January.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi inks $3.2B missile defense deal with South Korea as Iran attends expo

The World Defense Show has yielded deals between Saudi Arabia and South Korea and may lead to the strengthening of the kingdom’s ties with Iran, the United States and others.

Milkor 380 drone.

South Africa’s Milkor gets go-ahead to produce drones in Saudi Arabia

The Gulf country is bolstering its defense capabilities amid increasing instability in the Middle East.

ISMAILIA, EGYPT - JANUARY 10: A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on January 10, 2024 in Ismailia, Egypt. In the wake of Israel's war on Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Houthi rebels in Yemen pledged disruption on all ships destined for Israel through the Red Sea's Suez Canal. The disruption on world trade is evident in the number of companies using this container ship route - a 90 per cent decline compared to figures one year ago. (Photo by Sayed Hassan/Getty Images)

Red Sea attacks push global firms to seek overland shipping alternatives

An Israeli company is sending goods overland from the United Arab Emirates through Saudi Arabia and other firms are looking at different arrangements as US strikes fail to deter Houthi attacks.

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah gestures as he delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 17th parliamentary term at the National Assembly in Kuwait City on Oct. 18, 2022.

Kuwait emir travels to Saudi Arabia for first foreign visit

Relations with Saudi Arabia are a priority for Kuwait's new emir.