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Saudi Arabia

February 19, 2026

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Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, US President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to Israel, testifies during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, March 25, 2025.

Interview

Huckabee confirms US-Israel alignment on Iran, says Hamas will disarm 'sooner or later'

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Al-Monitor in an interview that the 2025 strike on Iranian nuclear sites was only a preview of what the US military is capable of.

FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images

Unfazed by Saudi pressure, UAE unveils solar investment in Somaliland

The UAE also has other significant investments in Somaliland, including around $442 million in funding from logistics company DP World to modernize the port of Berbera.

United Arab Emirates

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received Lindsey Graham, member of the US Senate. During the meeting at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi,

UAE’s MBZ appears with Lindsey Graham, dismissing health rumors

Graham pushed back against what he called “false narratives” about the UAE leader, making the remarks after days of online rumors regarding the president’s health.

United Arab Emirates

This photograph taken on Jan. 20, 2026, organized by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, shows Saudi-backed Yemeni forces in the city of Mukalla in Yemen's coastal southern Hadhramaut province.

Saudi-UAE rift complicates Israel's counter-Iran efforts, normalization

Israel fears that the rivalry between the UAE and Saudi Arabia will further push Riyadh toward countries that espouse political Islam policies.

Latest News

Analysis

Turkey courts Saudi Arabia on Kaan, but stealth fighter deal faces hurdles

Photo of a waving Turkish flag in the sky with a jet flyover behind, and a crowd below holding flags, captured on Izmir's liberation anniversary.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

What’s behind Saudi outreach to Ethiopia amid UAE rift?

Ethiopian Prime Ministry

By Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Meet Fahad Al-Saif, PIF exec and Saudi Arabia's new investment minister

Fahad

Saudi Arabia names new investment minister as Vision 2030 funding lags

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman looks on during a meeting with US President Donald Trump (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2025. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived at the White House to fanfare and a jet flyover Tuesday, in his first visit to the United States since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Ima

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

US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia stand for a photo.

US-Gulf critical minerals ties deepen as Saudis strike rare earths deal

The Nevada-based producer said the new joint venture will develop a refinery capable of processing raw materials from Saudi Arabia and abroad to supply manufacturing and defense industries in both countries.

An undated image of Saad Ibrahim Almadi.

Saudi Arabia lifts travel ban on US citizen Saad Almadi

Almadi's release comes during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington.

White House dinner

Tech titans gather as US-Saudi investment forum opens, MBS nets key deals

President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a red carpet to Oval Office talks and a black-tie dinner with celebrities.

Amal Alhasan/Getty Images for Red Sea International Film Festival

Culture

Middle Eastern works to take center stage at Saudi Red Sea Film Festival

The festival’s main competition features 10 directors from the Middle East and North Africa.

US President Donald Trump meets with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025.

MBS pledges Saudi investment of $1T in Trump meeting

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the move is in line with Saudi Arabia's investment strategy, particularly its desire to increase computing capabilities and develop an artificial intelligence sector.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump watch a military flyover as bin Salman arrives at the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the crown prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia to receive F-35 jets ‘pretty similar’ to Israel’s, Trump says

The US president says he would like to provide both Saudi Arabia and Israel "top-of-the-line" stealth-capable F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, risking potential blowback from Israeli leaders intent to maintain their country's military supremacy in the region.

Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Interview

Saudi foreign ownership property law won't overheat market, says Dar Global CEO

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has frozen rent in Riyadh for five years to contain soaring prices.

Ziad El Chaar

CEO of Dar Global

an waves as they walk down the Colonnade on the way to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025.

Live Updates

Trump gives MBS red-carpet welcome, touts F-35 deal, $1T Saudi investment

Trump is hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in a high-profile visit aimed at resetting US-Saudi ties and securing major defense, nuclear and investment deals.

An Israel Air Force F-35 fighter lands during the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of Eilat, Israel, Oct. 24, 2021.

Analysis

Trump’s Saudi F-35 deal jolts Israel’s security elite, weakens Netanyahu

The expected sale to Saudi Arabia of American stealth F-35 jets, as well as their sale to Turkey, deeply worries Israel’s security apparatus.

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