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Saudi Arabia

December 23, 2025

Riyadh 2:45 pm

19°C

Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images

Yemeni ministries declare support for STC campaign as Gulf tensions flare

Yemen's Saudi-backed government criticized the statements in support of the Southern Transitional Council, which is supported by the UAE, as Gulf states deliberate on how to move forward.

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

US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Mecca province governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal (white robe) and Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud (L), Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Washington, at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, upon his arrival from Israel, on July 15, 2022.

Analysis

Iran should be catalyst for Israel-Saudi normalization

Saudi-Israeli diplomatic relations could also give a financial and political boost to the moribund two-state solution.

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

This picture taken on December 11, 2019, shows a view of railroad tracks by a quarry site at the Jubail Industrial City, about 95 kilometres north of Dammam in Saudi Arabia's eastern province overlooking the Gulf. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

In a first, Saudi Arabia seals deal with Brazil’s largest miner VBM

The Vale partnership will give Riyadh access to assets in Canada, Brazil and Indonesia.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (C) arrives at the Palais Brongniart for the New Global Financial Pact Summit in Paris on June 22, 2023. Dozens of global leaders are gathering in Paris on June 22 for a summit to tease out a new consensus on international economic reforms to help debt-burdened developing countries face a growing onslaught of challenges, particularly climate change. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Top White House officials meet MBS to talk Saudi-Israel normalization

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh as the White House seeks to further integrate Israel into the Middle East.

France's forward Kylian Mbappe kicks the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 group B qualification football match between France and Greece at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, in the northern outskirts of Paris, on June 19, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Kylian Mbappe declines Saudi meeting to discuss record $333 million transfer

A report from L'Equipe newspaper said that the French captain never considered a move to Saudi Arabia.

People look at a Turkish attack helicopter "T129 ATAK" on May 9, 2017 during the opening day of the 13th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul. / AFP PHOTO / YASIN AKGUL (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)

China, UAE overtake US companies at Turkey’s IDEF 23 weapons fair

During the 15th edition of the IDEF in 2021, the global fair saw more than a thousand companies from 53 countries attend and had more than 94 signing ceremonies take place.

A picture taken on January 14, 2023, shows the Kingdom Centre tower in the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

IMF dims 2023 Middle East outlook as Saudi Arabia's growth slows

The International Monetary Fund's projections for the Middle East and North Africa are down slightly in its latest report.

A flame from a Saudi Aramco oil installion known as "Pump 3" is seen in the desert near the oil-rich area of Khouris, 160 kms east of the Saudi capital Riyadh, on June 23, 2008. Oil producers are at war with speculators but they have been left speculating themselves over the future of their precious commodity after a unique summit, analysts said. Government ministers and traders alike are anxiously waiting to see which way prices go in coming weeks after Sunday's summit of consumers and producers, which Sau

Saudi oil exports hit new low, dropping by more than one-third

In May of this year, Saudi Arabia’s value of oil exports hit a low of just over $19 billion, reported the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics. This includes both crude and refined products.

Ursula von der Leyen

EU commission sees Tunisia's migration deal as 'blueprint' for region

On July 16, the bloc agreed to spend 100 million euros on Tunisia to combat human trafficking and illegal crossings of the Mediterranean Sea.

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain in action during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Clermont Foot at Parc des Princes, Paris, France, June 3, 2023.

Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal makes record $332 million bid for soccer star Mbappe

Mbappe’s current club Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that the formal offer for its player took place.

A supporter of the former paramilitary group Hashd al-Shaabi holds the Koran.

Iran, Saudi Arabia condemn Quran protest as Sweden relocates embassy staff from Iraq

Another provocative protest by Sweden-based Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika targeting Islam’s holy book has the region up in arms once again.

A Sinopec employee looks at a group of jounalists visiting Polypropylene Plant No3 of the Sinopec Yanshan Petrochemical Company (SYPC) during a tour arranged by the State Council Information Office in Beijing on May 25, 2018. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) (Photo credit should read WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Aramco acquires $3.4 billion stake in a China petrochemical firm

The world’s biggest oil exporter is making further inroads in China, Saudi Arabia’s top customer for crude.

Tunisian demonstrators raise national flags and protest placards as they take to the streets of the capital Tunis, on January 14, 2023, to protest against their president. - In July 2021, President Kais Saied sacked the government, froze parliament and seized far-reaching executive powers, later grabbing control of the judiciary -- moves opponents said aimed to install a new dictatorship in the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP) (Photo by FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia to give Tunisia $500 million amid economic crisis

Tunisia is seeking help from the kingdom as well as the EU and the IMF as it battles debt and inflation.