Vision 2030

Vehicles move along a main street in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on Sept. 16, 2026.

Explainer

Indonesia first foreign country to own property in Saudi Arabia's Mecca

Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara has received ownership certificates for the 2-billion-riyal ($531.4 million) acquisition of a hotel and 14 adjoining development plots.

Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova returns the ball to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina during their WTA Finals tennis tournament in Riyadh on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP via Getty Images)

Explainer

From Six Kings Slam to FIFAe finals, Saudi Arabia's events derailed by war

Some of Saudi Arabia’s flagship events — across sectors including culture, entertainment and sports — have been canceled or postponed following deadly Houthi attacks over the weekend.

LIV Golf

Explainer

After $5B in Saudi backing, what’s next for bankrupt LIV Golf?

Saudi Arabia is likely to focus on hosting key sporting events and developing the esports scene after the failures of LIV Golf.

The entrance to the city of Qiddiya, south of the capital Riyadh, April 25, 2019.

Analysis

Iran war tests Gulf's theme park ambitions

Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead with multibillion-dollar projects as the conflict disrupts regional tourism and exposes weaknesses in the Gulf states' entertainment strategies.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Latest News

France, Saudi Arabia announce more than $10B in deals on MBS visit

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shake hands

Culture

Iran war hits Saudi gaming drive as Esports Nations Cup pushed to 2027

People attend the international esports gamers Next World Forum in Riyadh, Sept. 7, 2022.

Interview

Saudi labor localization will take ‘generation or two': Armada CEO

A student attends a training seminar at the Tourism Ministry Training center in the city of Riyadh on August 30, 2022.

Olivier Badard

CEO of Armada Holding

Interview

Saudi Arabia eyes state-backed stablecoin amid digital finance push

The symbols of bitcoin and the stablecoin Tether (USDT) are displayed at a cryptocurrency store in Hong Kong on July 29, 2025.

Beijing

China’s Baosteel ups investment in Saudi steel plate venture to $1B

A subsidiary of the world’s largest steelmaker, China Baeowu Steel Group, will have a 50% stake in a major new Saudi-based venture.

Media image of a Lilium eVTOL jet, download July 18, 2024.

Saudia inks deal for electric flying taxis from Germany amid airline order spree

The agreement to purchase 50 jets, with an option for 50 more, was made with Lilium, headquartered outside Munich.

An Airbus A330 of Saudi airline company, also known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, lands in Toulouse, on July 22, 2017.

As Boeing struggles, Airbus inks 4-aircraft deal with Saudi Arabia

The kingdom ordered four more of Airbus’ A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force as Boeing's challenges mount in Gulf over safety issues.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 4: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the 2nd goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al Wehda at Al Awwal Park on May 4, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Culture

Saudi Arabia's soccer dreams tested as Vision 2030 goal posts move

2023 saw Saudi Arabia take the world of soccer by storm with record-breaking spending on new stars, but those hoping for a repeat performance in 2024 have so far been left disappointed.

NEOM, SAUDI ARABIA - NOVEMBER 17: Athletes compete during stage 4 of NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia during the NEOM Beach Games 2023 on November 17, 2023 in Neom, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images for NEOM Beach Games 2023)

Why is Saudi Arabia cutting funding, reducing costs on ambitious projects?

Saudi Arabia is reevaluating its financial priorities under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan to diversify the nation away from a reliance on oil.

A man watches stock movements on a display at the Dubai Financial Market stock exchange in the Gulf emirate on April 12, 2022. Shares in the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) rose 16 percent on April 12 in the Gulf region's biggest initial public offering since Saudi oil giant Aramco in 2019.

Saudi Arabia poised to raise $11.2B in Aramco's second IPO

Aramco had set a price range of its shares between 26.7 and 29.0 riyals ($7.12 and $7.73) but said on Friday it ended up pricing them at 27.25 riyals ($7.27).

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas, on March 18, 2024.

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.

Sebastian Castelier

By Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attends the Moldova support conference at the Foreign Ministry, Berlin, Germany, April 5, 2022.

Le Drian says France keen to help Saudi Arabia transition away from oil

France's former top diplomat said that his country was supportive of Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy.

AYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia sees 477% increase in multinational HQs in first quarter

The 127 international companies relocating to Saudi Arabia so far this year follow a Saudi program to attract world businesses.

Goldman Sachs first Wall Street bank to get green light for Saudi Arabia HQ

The US-headquartered investment bank received a license from the Saudi Ministry of Investment to set up its regional headquarters in the capital, Riyadh.

Qatar's Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari (L) listens as his Saudi counterpart Mohammed Al-Jadaan speaks during a session at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 14, 2024.

Saudi Arabia 'conservative' on oil revenue as it pares back Vision 2030 plans

Mohammed Al-Jaadan warned that being a resource-rich country was a curse as well as a blessing because being dependent on one commodity such as oil can hold a country "hostage" to the volatility of global demand and prices.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Feb. 22, 2019.

Chinese investors skeptical as Gulf pushes for deeper economic ties with Beijing

Gulf states are building economic ties with Beijing in non-energy fields, but Chinese investors remain skeptical of ambitious economic diversification plans in the Gulf.

Sebastian Castelier

By Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business