Explainer Aramco HQ attack exposes Saudi defense gaps, infrastructure vulnerabilities The Iran-linked Yemeni militants struck at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry this week amid an expanding campaign against key infrastructure. Saudi Arabia
Who is Abdulrahman Alfozan, Saudi national charged in bugging OpenAI meetings? The Saudi national who was arrested for allegedly planting a covert listening device at OpenAI’s offices has extensive experience working at leading technology companies in the US and serves as a venture partner at a Saudi venture capital firm. Saudi Arabia
Explainer IMF projects Gulf rebound in 2027. Can energy production keep pace? Restoring shipping access in the Strait of Hormuz is only part of the recovery, as Gulf producers also need to repair damaged infrastructure to avoid further disruption to production and exports. Saudi Arabia
Jeddah airport flights disrupted as Houthis escalate threats Saudi Arabia’s busiest airport, Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport, saw widespread flight cancellations and delays on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia
Analysis How Manchester City fallout tests Gulf’s global investment model By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Two Etihad Airways ads banned in UK over greenwashing claims The Gulf carrier was accused of exaggerating climate claims by the British Advertising Standards Agency. Legacy: Gulf
Middle East debt issuances nearly triple in Q1 2023 as Saudis take lead In Q1 of 2023, Saudi Arabia was the leading debt issuer in the MENA region. Legacy: Gulf
China’s Sinopec acquires stake in Qatar gas project Chinese energy firms are increasingly cooperating with their Qatari and Saudi counterparts as the People’s Republic makes further inroads into the region. Legacy: Gulf
Sonatrach announces six new oil discoveries in Algeria The state-owned oil company made several discoveries in the first quarter of this year. Algeria
Turkey's industries see biggest decline since 2020 in quake aftermath Production output fell by 8.2% annually in February, the same month the earthquakes wreaked havoc on the country, according to new data. Turkey
Analysis Experts pour cold water on Tunisia BRICS ‘bid,’ as country rejects IMF Experts say economic reforms and stronger anti-Western credentials are needed before the North African country could be seriously considered to join the five-member bloc. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Turkey's natural gas offers much needed energy options The new development of gas from the Sakarya field in the Black Sea is a remarkable achievement for Turkey's national oil company. Gerald Kepes In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends
Who is exempt from UAE’s upcoming corporate tax? Government entities, investment funds and others will be exempt from the first-ever corporate tax that will soon take effect in the Emirates. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi, UAE banks rank highest valued in Middle East: Forbes Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries took 41 places, or 82%, of the list of the 50 highest-valued banks in the Middle East and North Africa. Legacy: Gulf
Inflation hits 33.9% in Egypt as food prices surge Egypt’s Central Bank continues to raise interest rates amid surging inflation, but past rate hikes have failed to alleviate the situation. Egypt
Gulf's economic transformation will drive air traffic, IATA says Kamil Al-Awadhi, the association's Middle East chief, said countries in the region have spurred air traffic by hosting global business, political and sporting events. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi Arabia will mine minerals, but can it extract maximum added value? The kingdom wants to leverage its untapped mineral deposits to boost non-oil exports and incentivize local manufacturers to turn raw materials into high-value products. Legacy: Gulf