Sports

Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC plays his shot from the 17th tee prior to LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 15, 2026, in Mexico City.

What LIV Golf’s woes suggest about Saudi Arabia’s economic headwinds

The Golf league, which is backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, is saying its season will go on after reports of an imminent collapse.

This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows Iranian players running towards their positions at the start of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 football match between Iran and the Philippines on the Gold Coast.

Trump praises Australia for aiding Iran women’s soccer team amid asylum calls

Pressure is growing on Australia to allow the athletes to stay after a commentator threatened them over their refusal to sing the national anthem amid the war.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 03: Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trailblazers drives over the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Frost Bank Center on January 3, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Culture

Israeli, Turkish stars named to NBA All-Star World team: What to know

Deni Avdija and Alperen Sengun are making their first appearances in the premier basketball league’s all-star game as the sport’s profile in the Middle East grows.

Aerial view of Riyadh at night with illuminated modern skyscrapers and busy streets under a clear dark sky, Al Olaya street.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia downsizes megaprojects, chases cash amid AI push

After years of breakneck spending, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s flagship plan to diversify the oil-dependent economy — dubbed Vision 2030 — is facing a fresh round of delays and recalibration as softer oil prices squeeze public finances and force tougher choices.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel , Jack Dutton

Latest News

Morocco’s markets rise as World Cup spending fuels largest IPO in decades

CASABLANCA, MOROCCO - AUGUST 20: In this handout image from Populous, digital renderings of the proposed Stade Hassan II stadium in Morocco, projected to be the largest football stadium in the world with 115,000 capacity are depicted on August 20, 2024 in Casablanca, Morocco. The stadium design is by Populous and Oulalou + Choi (Photo by Populous via Handout/Getty Images)

Iran’s World Cup players face US visa uncertainty over military service: What to know

Iran’s forward #9 Mehdi Taremi looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifiers Group A football match between Iran and the North Korea at the Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran on June 10, 2025.

Culture

World Cup: Iran fumes over LGBTQ+ themes as Jordan qualifies for first time

A fan waves a Pride flag before the soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field, on June 3, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.

Culture

AWSN predicts soaring Saudi Arabia demand for women’s sports apparel

Al Nassr Club were crowned champions of the 2024/25 Saudi Women’s Premier League for the third time, securing the title on April 23, 2025. Credit AWSN

Scott Behrens dives for the ball during a friendly game of volleyball with friends in the snow Jan. 25, 2016 in Washington, DC.

Dubai to host region's first snow volleyball tournament

With the four-day tournament, Dubai is hoping to bolster its reputation as a destination for snow sports enthusiasts.

United Arab Emirates

Iran's Amir Khosravani competes in the men's long jump (T12) final during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Aug. 30, 2021.

Iran strikes gold at Paralympics

Iranian athletes are currently atop the Middle East in medals won at the international sporting competition for disabled athletes, and one could soon make history in women's archery.

Iyad Shalabi of Team Israel celebrates winning the Men's 100m Backstroke - S1 final on day 1 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Center, Japan, Aug. 25, 2021.

First Arab-Israeli athlete to win gold medal in Paralympic Games

The recognition and congratulations by Israeli Jewish politicians over the achievement of swimmer Iyad Shalabi reflect societal changes that were long overdue.

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

Disabled Gazans compete in basketball tournament

Disabled Gazan basketball players are competing in a fifth annual tournament put on by the Palestinian Paralympic Committee and other organizations.

Displaced Syrian children run with a cutout of horseheads during the so-called "Camp Olympics 2020."

Displaced Syrian children take part in alternative Olympics camp

A local rights organization in northern Syria held an Olympics competition for children living in the displaced camps across the area, in conjunction with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Gold medalist Feryal Abdelaziz of Team Egypt poses with the gold medal for the Women’s Karate Kumite +61kg on day 15 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 7, 2021.

Egypt’s sports authorities under fire over Tokyo games

Although Egypt received six medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the first time in years, sports authorities in the country were criticized due to players’ complaints about inappropriate training.

Turkey's Zehra Gunes (C) and Ebrar Karakurt (R) attempt to block a shot in the women's quarter-final volleyball match between South Korea and Turkey during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Aug. 4, 2021.

Turks rally around Olympic volleyball star attacked over sexuality

When a member of Turkey's Olympic volleyball team faced online abuse after posting intimate photos of herself with a woman on Instagram, Turks of all stripes spoke up in her defense.

Zachary Weiss #44 of Team Israel pitches in the ninth inning against Team Dominican Republic during the knockout stage of men's baseball on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on Aug. 3, 2021 in Yokohama, Japan.

Despite loss, Israel’s Olympic baseball team wins big in Tokyo

The Israeli baseball team brought home no medals, but still made history by qualifying for the Olympic games and gaining visibility.

Olympic high jump medalists

Qatari, Italian athletes praised for sharing gold medal at Olympics

Entities in both Qatar and Italy praised high jumpers Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi for opting to share an Olympic gold medal, though one commentator said such a deal was unbecoming of elite athletes.

Israel's Raz Hershko (blue) and Saudi Arabia's Tahani Alqahtani compete in the judo women's +78kg elimination round bout during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on July 30, 2021.

Saudi judoka earns praise for facing Israeli opponent at Tokyo Olympics

Tahani Alqahtani is the first Saudi woman to compete in judo at the Olympics, bucking the trend of Middle Eastern and North African athletes refusing to face Israelis at the games.

Team Turkey celebrates after defeating Team China during the Women's Preliminary - Pool B on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Controversial cleric’s ‘modesty call’ to Turkish volleyball team bounces back at him

Following a victory by the Turkish women's volleyball team over China at the Tokyo Olympics, the all-too-familiar debate on women’s decency and clothes raised its head when a cleric urged the players to observe modesty in dress and behavior.

Tohar Butbul of Team Israel and Arthur Margelidon of Team Canada compete during the Men’s Judo 73kg Repechage contest on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Sudanese judoka refuses to face Israeli opponent

Some athletes in the Middle East and North Africa face domestic pressures to refuse to face Israelis in competition.