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July 5, 2026

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A man walks past the flags of the countries attending the Gulf Cooperation Council summit at Bayan palace in Kuwait City on Dec. 5, 2017.

Analysis

How Iran war shaped divergent paths to security among GCC states

The Iran war left the Gulf more fragmented than united, with competing security strategies replacing any prospect of a common regional defense.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

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

Oil drilling near Dakhiliyah in the desert region of Hasakah, Syria, Jan. 25, 2026.

Syria launches gas project with Saudi firm in latest Gulf energy partnership

The project is the latest in a series of Gulf-backed investments aimed at rebuilding Syria's energy sector after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Crude oil tankers, bulk carriers and vessels sit anchored around Qaboos Port on June 22, 2026, in Muscat, Oman.

Oil falls below $71 as US-Iran talks continue, Gulf exports rebound

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an X post on Wednesday that Iran and the United States had made "positive progress."

Latest News

Explainer

Saudi FM concludes China visit amid Trump-MBS friction: What to know

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud before a family photo for the attendees of a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on November 20, 2023. The international community must take urgent action to stop the "humanitarian disaster" unfolding in Gaza, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told visiting diplomats from Arab and Muslim-majority nations on Novembe

Saudi Arabia's FM heads to China amid differences with US on Iran war

PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images

Interview

Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO

A student attends a training seminar at the Tourism Ministry Training center in the city of Riyadh on August 30, 2022.

Olivier Badard

CEO of Armada Holding

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

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

A picture taken on Oct. 23, 2018, shows Lubna Olayan, CEO and Deputy Chairperson of Olayan Financing.

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead Forbes’ 2023 Arab family business ranking

Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE dominated the list, with 33 and 29 of the top 100 spots respectively, Egypt’s Mansour Group sat in first place, with the UAE’s Al-Futtaim Group in second and Saudi Arabia’s only female-led company, Olayan Financing Company, at third.

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Gulf investment in UK property expected to reach $3.2 B in 2024

Middle Eastern investors are capitalising on lower property valuations and those investors are likely to refinance when interest rates start falling, the Islamic bank said.

A man counts Saudi riyal banknotes at his jewelry shop in Tiba market in the capital Riyadh on Oct. 3, 2016.

Saudi Arabia borrowing rate hits new high, posing risk to foreign investments

The Saudi Arabian Interbank Offered Rate climbed above an average of 6% in July, which was higher than the rate during the 2008 global financial crisis.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli solar firm enters rare venture with Saudi business

Such partnerships are seldom seen, as Israel and Saudi Arabia do not recognise each other formally and the two countries have never established diplomatic relations.

Benjamin Netanyahu train

Israel’s north-south rail project will link to Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu says

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is optimistic about the possibility of connecting Israel to the Saudi and wider Gulf rail network.

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.