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Saudi Arabia

June 8, 2025

Riyadh 12:25 am

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Muslim worshippers make their way towards the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in in the holy city of Mecca to take part in morning prayers on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, early on June 6, 2025.

In photos: Muslims kick off Eid al-Adha across the Middle East

The holiday’s arrival cast a spotlight on deepening humanitarian crises, leadership transitions and shifting regional dynamics.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Mideast airlines to deliver industry’s highest profit margins in 2025

The region's airlines are forecast to hit a profit margin of 8.7% in 2025, slightly lower than last year's figure of 8.9% but the highest in the industry.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud (R) receives his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, prior to their meeting in Riyadh on April 25, 2025.

Israel blocks Saudi, UAE and other FMs from West Bank visit: What to know

The move to block the visit comes amid heightened international pressure on Israel to end its military offensive in Gaza and make progress toward Palestinian statehood, a key condition for normalization with Riyadh.

Latest News

Saudi Arabia releases Iranian cleric who criticized Hajj: What to know

The pilgrims' convoy departs from the city of Al-Dana, Syria, to Damascus Airport in order to set off to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj rituals on May 21, 2025.

Tom Barrack talks Syria aid during Saudi Arabia, Jordan visits: What to know

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meets with United States special envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack.

China expands visa-free policy to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait

JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

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

Jakarta

GCC-Indonesia economic ties deepen with Saudi MoUs, joint Qatar fund

Trade between Indonesia and the Gulf is rising and negotiations are underway for a GCC-Indonesia free trade agreement.

Retired US army general, David Petraeus, speaks at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 15, 2024.

David Petraeus, ex-CIA head, tapped to lead KKR's push into Mideast markets

The newly-formed team will identify investment and partnership opportunities in the region, with a focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the private equity firm said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: People walk by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) New York headquarters after the company announced a major restructuring on September 12, 2024 in New York City. PwC LLP will let go of up to 1,800 US employees next month as the accounting firm shifts to in-house technology developers and streamlines its advisory practice. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Analysis

Saudi Arabia-PwC split signals shift to local consultancies: What to know

The Saudization of the consultancy sector is not a compliance exercise but instead amounts to a strategic realignment that challenges the long-standing, but outdated, assumption that foreign expertise is inherently superior.

Amal Altwaijri

By Amal Altwaijri

In Washington, DC, reporting on Saudi Arabia

People walk past the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street on April 11, 2025, in New York City.

Where Middle East’s top investors stand as tariffs roil US bond market

GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images

China courts Gulf, BRICS allies as trade war with US escalates

Since US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on more than 180 countries on April 2, Beijing has stepped up engagement with Riyadh.

Florian Wiegand/Getty Images

Mideast markets rebound with tariff suspension after top Gulf firms suffer $100B rout

A global stock rally on April 10 followed a major sell-off in the Gulf, driven by a policy reversal from US President Trump suspending tariffs.

An aerial view of the Cheniere Energy liquefied natural gas plant, on Feb. 10, 2025, in Port Arthur, Texas.

UAE's Mubadala makes first US gas play in wave of Gulf LNG investment

Other Gulf energy majors such as Saudi Aramco and ADNOC have already made significant investments in US LNG.

United Arab Emirates

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 11: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan hosts talks between the US and Ukraine on March 11, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An American delegation led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Jeddah to attend a high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian officials, in efforts to lay the groundwork for peace negations to end Russia's war in Ukraine. The talks come after Zelensky met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, and in the wake of a recent rift in US-Ukraine

Saudi FM in Washington to lay groundwork for Trump visit, address tariffs

The prince's main agenda is to prepare for Donald Trump's first foreign trip overseas to Riyadh in May.

oil field

After steep fall, oil prices slightly recover following Trump tariff pause

Over the last week, oil prices have plummeted amid the escalating trade war between the United States and China.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Analysis

Trump tariffs could disrupt Gulf’s IPO hot streak as markets sink

New US tariffs have roiled markets worldwide and initial public offerings should not be expected to escape unscathed.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech