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Saudi Arabia

December 22, 2025

Riyadh 3:44 pm

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Traffic moves on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai on March 24, 2025.

Analysis

Gulf finance hubs race to expand as hedge funds flock to Dubai, Abu Dhabi

The Gulf’s top financial hubs have posted another strong year in 2025, with the UAE spearheading a regional push to attract hedge funds, asset managers, crypto and fintech firms as regional neighbors target growth of their own.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Solar panels in a Sinai desert, Egypt.

Egypt lands $572M UAE-backed solar deal, expanding Gulf's clean-energy footprint

Gulf companies have been increasing their investments in North African renewable energy.

Latest News

Saudi Arabia cements ties with Sudan during Burhan visit as UAE rivalry heats up

Sudanese leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Dec. 15, 2025.

Exclusive

Inside Netanyahu’s pressure campaign to block Turkey, Saudi Arabia from acquiring F-35s

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (L) talks to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump is meeting with Netanyahu to discuss ongoing efforts to release Israeli hostages from Gaza and newly imposed U.S. tariffs. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

Francesco Schiavi

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

Sabena Siddiqui

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

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images

Houthis warn Saudi Arabia 'would be a target' if it backs US-UK strikes

The Houthi warning comes amid increased attacks against vessels in the Red Sea claimed by the Iran-backed group in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

India's President Ram Nath Kovind (C) looks on as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during a ceremonial reception at the presidential palace in New Delhi on Feb. 20, 2019.

As it looks East, Saudi Arabia strikes delicate balance between India, Pakistan

"Shared strategic interests" with India and Pakistan motivate Saudi Arabia to maintain diplomatic relations with both countries.

A picture taken on March 31, 2018 shows a Saudi man standing at the entrance of a tomb at Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, near Saudi Arabia's northwestern town of al-Ula. - Al-Ula, an area rich in archaeological remnants, is seen as a jewel in the crown of future Saudi attractions as the austere kingdom prepares to issue tourist visas for the first time -- opening up one of the last frontiers of global tourism. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to sign a landmark agreement with Paris

Saudi tourism blitz accelerates as Riyadh hopes investors buy the hype

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Graphic of a planned roller coaster, Extraordinary Shenron, at the Dragon Ball Z theme park.

What's behind Saudi Arabia's decision to host first-ever 'Dragon Ball' theme park

The announcement of the park based on the popular Japanese anime show follows the kingdom’s developments in video games and mixed martial arts.

A general view of processing facilities at the Tenke Fungurume Mine, one of the largest copper and cobalt mines and the subject of a dispute between Congolese authorities and the Chinese firm CMOC, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on June 17, 2023.

UAE eyes Zambia mine as minerals race heats up against Saudi Arabia, China

Wealthy Gulf countries are racing against China, Europe and the United States for minerals critical to powering the global green transition.

United Arab Emirates

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

With $40B fund, Saudi Arabia looks to become world leader in AI

The fund would make the Gulf state the world’s largest investor in AI and help the kingdom realize its Vision 2030 agenda to diversify the economy away from oil.

Saudi Mining and Industry Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef addresses the Future Mineral Forum in Riyadh on Jan. 10, 2024.

Saudi Arabia offers $182M package, other incentives for mining investors

The kingdom is prioritizing the lucrative sector as part of its ambitious Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy away from a reliance on oil.

Saudi fighter jets are displayed during Saudi Arabias first World Defense Show, north of the capital Riyadh, on March 6, 2022. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt among world's top arms importers: SIPRI

Concerns about Iran drove Gulf states’ weapons imports, while imports by Morocco and Algeria fell in the past four years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin Nasser speaks during a press conference in the eastern region of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 3, 2019.

Saudi Aramco turns to China for future oil demand as profits fall 25%

China is the biggest customer for Saudi crude but is also crucial in Aramco’s ambitions to convert 4 million bpd of its oil production into petrochemicals by 2035.

President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Amin Nasser (L) and Aramco's chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan attend a press conference in the eastern Saudi Arabian region of Dhahran on November 3, 2019. - Saudi Aramco confirmed it planned to list on the Riyadh stock exchange, describing it as a "significant milestone" in the history of the energy giant. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia’s PIF poised for more bold investments as Vision 2030 squeezes war chest

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Photo from LEAP 2024.

AI and cloud investments dominate Saudi Arabia's LEAP tech summit

Amazon Web Services and DataVolt were among the companies that made significant cloud investments in the kingdom, which is looking to become a global technology hub.

BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY - JULY 28: Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Yasir al-Rumayyan, head of the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, look on from the second tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

What does Donald Trump's latest $200 million deal with Saudi Arabia entail?

The former president, who is now the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, has long had significant business ties to Saudi Arabia via his properties and the LIV Golf league.