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

Saudi Arabia cover image

Saudi Arabia

July 5, 2026

Riyadh 6:58 pm

39°C

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

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi employment numbers improve

Unemployment in Saudi Arabia is higher than in other Gulf states, but the labor market is showing signs of strength in other areas.

COMESA,

Saudi Arabia partners with Senegal on railway, desalination plant

The UAE, Israel and Turkey have also upped their engagement with African states in recent years.

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk to send Saudis to space, internet to Iran

The eccentric billionaire has said he'll ask for an exemption to US sanctions on Iran to provide Spacelink internet access to the country.

The Line NEOM

NEOM’s ambitious concept-to-project transition presents funding, feasibility challenges

Robert Mogielnicki

Robert Mogielnicki

Rob Stothard/Getty Images

Saudi crown prince unveils national strategy for esports, video games

Investment in video games is officially forming part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative for economic diversification.

Guests attend the Global AI 2020 (Artificial Intelligence) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 21, 2020.

Saudi Arabia plans new AI center

The agreement between the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence and King Abdullah University was made on the sidelines of an artificial intelligence summit in Riyadh.

AFP via Getty Images

Culture

Yemeni man arrested for dedicating pilgrimage to Queen Elizabeth

Saudi authorities said the Yemeni man seen in a video dedicating his umrah to the English queen was arrested simply for bringing a banner to a holy site.

Saudi economy

Saudi GDP quarterly growth rate reaches 10-year high

Saudi Arabia is investing in several sectors in its bid to diversify the economy, but oil remains a major driver of growth.

A general view of Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq oil processing plant on Sept. 20, 2019.

Oil prices fall following Saudi-backed OPEC+ production cut

The decrease in production could be a message from Saudi Arabia to the US over the Iran nuclear deal.

A general view during Netflix’s First Arabic Film “Perfect Strangers (ar) أصحاب … ولا أعز” on Jan. 17, 2022 at Bvlgari Yacht Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Culture

Gulf states warn Netflix over content that 'contradicts Islamic values'

The controversy follows some Gulf states cracking down on rainbow colors due to their resemblance to the LGBTQ pride flag, though the Gulf Cooperation Council did not mention what exactly the issue is with Netflix.

Hydrogen tank.

Saudi firm Alfanar to build green hydrogen plant in Egypt

Saudi Arabia is helping Egypt boost its renewable energy capabilities.

Saudi chemical

Saudi-India economic ties grow closer with mining agreement

Saudi Arabia is seeking to boost its mining sector, and India is a natural partner in this endeavor.