Analysis Russian leak signals Su-35s for Iran moving to production: What to know Recently leaked documents suggest 16 fighters are already on Russian assembly lines, with deliveries slated through 2027. For Tehran, it would be the first meaningful fighter upgrade in decades. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
What role is Jordan playing in Syria's reconstruction? As Syria’s southern neighbor, Jordan is already positioning itself as a logistics hub and diplomatic broker for Syria’s reconstruction. Syria
Iran currency dips to new low of 1.2M per dollar as sanctions bite: What to know Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, the rial has plummeted. Iran
Meloni to attend GCC summit in Bahrain as Italy deepens Gulf ties The summit is expected to focus on economic integration in the Gulf, but regional issues will likely loom just as large, including post-war Gaza and the conflict in Sudan. Bahrain
Analysis US-Gulf critical minerals ties grow in bid to weaken China’s grip on industry By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Deals and data: Saudi Crown Prince brings growing AI ambitions on US visit By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Jordan economic rating shows upswing, but problems remain Jordanians in the private sector are praising their government's ambitious economic strategies, but still see systemic inefficiencies as a barrier to making them a reality. By Salim A. Essaid
Qatar's Manchester United takeover could monetize new Mideast fan base A Qatari takeover of the English soccer club would “turbocharge” the global presence of the English Premier League, analysts told Al-Monitor Legacy: Gulf
Qatar loses 'World’s Best Airport' to Singapore, Turkey's Istanbul climbs to 6 Most Gulf Cooperation Council city airports went up in rank from last year's SKYTRAX’s World Airport Awards. Legacy: Gulf
Egypt signs $1.6 billion deals with China, EU companies to develop sea ports The Egyptian government wants its Red Sea and Mediterranean ports to help boost the economy amid rising inflation and declining foreign currency reserves. Egypt
Top Iran official meets UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed after Saudi thaw On his trip to Abu Dhabi, Iran's Ali Shamkhani spoke of "constructive" engagement as Tehran is exhausting all channels to push back on its growing isolation. Iran
UAE’s G42 buys $100 million share in China's ByteDance, parent of TikTok ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has seen its value fluctuate, predominantly due to investor uncertainty caused by a possible ban on TikTok in the United States. Legacy: Gulf
Biden administration budget would slash Tunisia’s economic aid The State Department’s latest budget calls for steep cuts to US economic aid to several countries in the Middle East while largely sustaining military aid. Tunisia
Saudi Arabia to buy 121 Boeing-787s in ‘historic’ $37 billion deal The agreements make up the fifth-largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history and is valued at nearly $37 billion. Legacy: Gulf
Egypt’s exports to China up more than 20% in 2022 China is making inroads in the Middle East, including by strengthening economic ties to Egypt. Egypt
Saudi’s new Riyadh Air set to compete with Emirates, Qatar Airways The airline is expected to better connect travelers to Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural attractions, create more than 200,000 jobs and add $20 billion to non-oil gross domestic product. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi Arabia’s 2022 GDP breaks record, exceeds $1 trillion Saudi Arabia’s government report states that it achieved its highest gross domestic product growth rate in over a decade in 2022 at 8.7% and broke its total amount record of more than $1 trillion last year. Legacy: Gulf
UK Islamic bank: Soccer boosting Gulf property investments Andrew Ball, the CEO of the Bank of London and The Middle East (BLME), spoke to Al-Monitor about how soccer is fueling a rise in Gulf investment in northern England. Legacy: Gulf
