Culture What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo after retirement from Portugal team? The Portuguese superstar is signed to the Saudi side Al Nassr until 2027, but the Yemen war is impacting the sport in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh Dana Awartani revives lost mosaics Also this week: Lebanese dining, a new Arab art prize and ‘Girls of Riyadh.’ By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Business & Tech Democrats’ win: What’s at stake for Gulf business The immediate concern for the region is whether Washington and Israel will resume strikes on Iran, potentially triggering further Iranian attacks on Gulf states. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Aramco begins expansion of oil export route bypassing Hormuz The kingdom plans to expand the East-West Pipeline’s capacity to carry crude to as much as 10 million barrels per day. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: FutureVerse US elections spotlight Gulf tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis How wartime urgency pushed Iran to court Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis Amid Saudi-UAE rivalry, Turkey courts Riyadh without crossing Abu Dhabi Turkey is moving closer to Saudi Arabia on key regional security files from Yemen to Gaza, while carefully avoiding a rupture with the United Arab Emirates. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
US envoy pushes for Sudan truce in meeting with UAE’s MBZ after talks in Saudi Arabia Boulos’ meeting in Abu Dhabi follows discussions earlier this week in Riyadh, as the two Gulf countries navigate both Sudan diplomacy and a dispute over Yemen. Sudan
Meet Aidarus Zubaidi: Separatist leader at heart of Yemen’s power struggle Zubaidi’s Southern Transitional Council has experienced massive losses at the hands of the Yemeni government as Saudi Arabia ups its military campaign against the UAE-backed group. Yemen
Saudi SABIC sells $950M in overseas assets amid global chemicals slump The global chemicals industry is facing a slowdown due to high energy prices, stagnant economic growth, investment shifts and trade tensions. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh The art of becoming Also this week: Mirzam’s Michelin debut, Diriyah Biennale and Six Flags Qiddiya By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Yemen separatists accuse Saudi Arabia of 'betrayal' as pro-Riyadh forces advance Southern Transitional Council head Aidarus al-Zubaidi did not board a scheduled flight to Saudi Arabia for talks as Riyadh intensified its airstrikes against the group. Yemen
Analysis From Red Sea to Horn of Africa: How Yemen exposed the Saudi-UAE divide Saudi Arabia’s confrontation with the UAE in Yemen has laid bare a deeper struggle for influence over the Red Sea and surrounding regions. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Gulf Yemen separatists travel to Saudi for talks as tensions ease Saudi Arabia pairs recent military gains with dialogue efforts to ease southern Yemen tensions and reassert Gulf leadership. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Saudi Arabia, UAE accelerate cashless payment push in 2026: What to know Dubai is targeting 90% cashless transactions by the end of 2026, while Saudi Arabia is now set to enforce an e-payments rule for domestic workers. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia to open stock markets to all foreign investors in February: What to know The Saudi Capital Market Authority announced that it would remove restrictions that have historically limited foreign investors' access to the country’s Tadawul stock exchange. Saudi Arabia
Syria's Sharaa, Saudi crown prince discuss economic ties as SDF clashes flare Syria is facing a number of security challenges amid sectarian tensions as it rebuilds its economy. Syria
Newsletter: FutureVerse From oil to algorithms: The Gulf’s AI moment Gulf states launch AI champions, competing for regional dominance with US backing. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech