Saudi Arabia - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Saudi Arabia cover image

Saudi Arabia

September 7, 2026

Riyadh 1:40 am

32°C

The entrance to the city of Qiddiya, south of the capital Riyadh, April 25, 2019.

Analysis

Iran war tests Gulf's theme park ambitions

Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead with multibillion-dollar projects as the conflict disrupts regional tourism and exposes weaknesses in the Gulf states' entertainment strategies.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

A man walks past a mural depicting oil pumps and the Venezuelan flag, with portraits of Venezuelan independence leader Simon Bolivar (L) and former late President Hugo Chavez (R), in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sept. 3, 2026.

Analysis

Could Trump’s oil push in Venezuela upend OPEC’s energy order?

Washington’s growing role in controlling the Latin American country's crude riches could help reshape an energy order centered on OPEC as the Hormuz crisis pressures Gulf exports.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Guests stand at the booth of Saudi artificial intelligence company Humain during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, on Oct. 29, 2025.

Saudi Arabia taps China’s MiniMax for Arabic AI model

The development signals that the kingdom continues deepening AI ties with China while simultaneously pursuing major US technology partnerships, keeping the Gulf state at the center of an intensifying technology race between the superpowers.

Latest News

Saudi oil exports hit nine-year low as tanker attacks threaten recovery

A commercial vessel passes through an international shipping lane off Yemen's Hanish Island in the Red Sea on July 27, 2026.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan set Mecca Alliance into motion

Mecca Alliance

Iraq reinforces Saudi border security amid militia tensions: What to know

Iraqi army troops patrol the Iraq-Saudi Arabia border

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

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.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares before a roundtable meeting during the 29th EU-Japan Summit at the European Union building, Brussels, Belgium, July 13, 2023.

Analysis

On Gulf tour, Japan's PM secures energy ties as China’s influence grows

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s three-day trip that began Sunday to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — its key energy suppliers — is seen as a crucial move to secure Japan’s energy future.

By Salim A. Essaid

A young man looks at the Bayraktar TB2 drone, manufactured by Turkey's Baykar, as it is presented during the opening of the Teknofest Azerbaijan aerospace and technology festival at Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan, May 27, 2022.

Saudi Arabia signs major deal with Turkey to acquire Baykar drones

Riyadh has long been interested in Baykar drones and the possibility of producing the weapons in Saudi Arabia.

A car drives past a road signal indicating the Allenby (King Hussein) bridge crossing point to Jordan.

Work on Israel-Saudi land bridge has begun, Israeli Foreign Ministry confirms

The project will facilitate the transfer of goods in trucks intially between the UAE, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during the UAE - Japan Business Forum in Abu Dhabi on July 17, 2023. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Japan’s PM visits UAE after Saudi Arabia, talks green energy, supply sources

Japan is trying to move away from fossil fuels toward greener energy, which it plans to promote in the region during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to the Gulf this week.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia outranks US for expat life, Kuwait ranks worst

Saudi Arabia was found to be the 28th best country to live in as an expatriate while the United States ranked 30th, according to a Tuesday report.

ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia imports record volumes of discounted Russian fuel oil in June

Europe used to be the top market for Russian oil and petroleum products but all that has changed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Public Investment Fund reports $11 billion loss for 2022

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund reports its assets have risen from $676 billion to about $778 billion in 2022 in a rare gesture of transparency for the Gulf.