Will Saudi Aramco's massive share sale to raise $12B pay off? Saudi Arabia is selling a 0.64% stake in its state energy company in a bid to offset rising debt and fund its economic diversification plans, but foreign investors remain wary. By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Quick Take India’s Modi ‘deeply concerned’ about Saudi King Salman’s health The 88-year-old king has faced health setbacks in recent weeks, prompting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to cancel a trip to Japan. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia looks to Japan to hedge exposure to China Expanding economic ties with Japan is a focus of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plan as it looks to venture into new industries, including auto manufacturing and gaming. By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
As Saudi Arabia pushes socioeconomic change, arrests show limits to reform Riyadh has been heavily investing in its economic diversification agenda but a slate of recent arrests over citizens' social media posts and other alleged state violations highlight the limits of Saudi Arabia's socioeconomic reforms. By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Biden’s grand bargain between Saudi Arabia and Israel hangs by a thread By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Soaring regional tensions boost Gulf budgets, threaten long-term goals By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Analysis What MBS' latest sports reforms mean for soccer in Saudi Arabia By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on Middle East business, climate change, AI, tech
China's top diplomat meets Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed strengthening ties and the controversial detention of Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. China-Saudi relations have strengthened in recent years, despite opposition from the United States. By Al-Monitor Staff
Gulf unity deal further isolates Iran Healing the Gulf Cooperation Council rift is a parting gift for Trump and a welcome gift for Biden in dealing with the Islamic Republic. By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
Biden’s national security adviser criticizes Saudi Arabia for jailing women’s rights activist Jake Sullivan called the sentencing of activist Loujain al-Hathloul "troubling." By Al-Monitor Staff
Trump administration weighs immunity for Saudi crown prince Saad al-Jabri alleged that Mohammed bin Salman has led an attempt to lure him back to the kingdom and kill him. By Al-Monitor Staff
The Takeaway: Is Israel ready to welcome the Squad? Israeli minister says it is time to ramp up outreach to Democrats; Amberin Zaman gets the scoop on Turkey-Israel channel; Biden administration needs to lay out Saudi policy early; four Mideast takeaways from Obama’s book. By Andrew Parasiliti In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security
Saudis say Biden’s threats are ‘election talk' Although there are political tensions on human rights issues, the US-Saudi relationship could be vital for the United States to address Russian and Chinese influence in the Middle East region. By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
Elections weigh on US-Gulf economic relations Investments worth billions of dollars in the US market and currencies pegged to the greenback leave Gulf states heavily exposed to the American economy. By Sebastian Castelier In Dubai, reporting on regional business
State Department legally skirted Congress freeze on Saudi arms sales, inquiry finds An inspector general's report redacted by the State Department says that while the department found ways to legally bypass congressional restrictions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, measures that Congress had called for were not taken. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Democrats prepare legislation forcing Trump to declassify report on Khashoggi murder Democrats are drafting new legislation that would force the Donald Trump administration to declassify a report on Khashoggi’s murder, potentially implicating the crown prince. By Bryant Harris In Washington, reporting on Congress
Iraqi series produced by Saudi Arabia sparks controversy Some TV programs on Saudi-funded channels have sparked controversy among Iraqis. By Omar al-Jaffal
Saudi Arabia braces for economic impact Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council states must make dramatic cuts in spending, and not just on megaprojects, as unsustainably large annual deficits have arrived. By Karen Young In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy
Is the new OPEC+ deal a win for Russia? The new OPEC+ deal has some advantages for Russia but some of the potential long-term implications may be dire for Moscow. By Maxim A. Suchkov