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Saudi Arabia

September 6, 2026

Riyadh 5:09 am

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Guests stand at the booth of Saudi artificial intelligence company Humain during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, on Oct. 29, 2025.

Saudi Arabia taps China’s MiniMax for Arabic AI model

The development signals that the kingdom continues deepening AI ties with China while simultaneously pursuing major US technology partnerships, keeping the Gulf state at the center of an intensifying technology race between the superpowers.

A commercial vessel passes through an international shipping lane off Yemen's Hanish Island in the Red Sea on July 27, 2026.

Saudi oil exports hit nine-year low as tanker attacks threaten recovery

The country’s oil exports were around 3 million barrels per day in August.

Latest News

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan set Mecca Alliance into motion

Mecca Alliance

Iraq reinforces Saudi border security amid militia tensions: What to know

Iraqi army troops patrol the Iraq-Saudi Arabia border

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

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

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

A photograph taken on October 28, 2019 shows Saudi and foreign journalists at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) badge collection centre in the Saudi capital Riyadh. - Top finance executives and political leaders have converged on Saudi capital Riyadh for a Davos-style investment forum, in stark contrast to last year's mass boycott following the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. US officials and the heads of giant banks, top asset management firms and major sovereign wealth funds top the g

Gulf sovereign investors unshaken by Middle East wars but opt for global markets

Gulf Cooperation Council investors accounted for 40% of deals made by sovereign investors globally in 2023 and 2024.

United Arab Emirates

JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images

Son of Osama bin Laden deported, banned from France: What we know

French authorities have deported Omar bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, and banned him from returning to the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the press, in front of the portrait of slain Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, after meeting with Syrian officials at the Iranian embassy in Damascus on Oct. 5, 2024.

Analysis

'Do not test our will,' Iran FM Araghchi warns Israel ahead of Saudi Arabia visit

Iran's foreign minister began a regional tour as Tehran prepared for a possible Israeli strike, with its Revolutionary Guard saying it had a wide range of plans in store for retaliation.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

AFP via Getty Images

Middle East startups see 34% uptick in global investors

Data firm MAGNiTT reported Tuesday that the Middle East far outperformed other markets and regions, including Africa and Southeast Asia, which saw steeper drops.

People pass by a cryptocurrency exchange branch near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul on Oct. 20, 2021, a day after Bitcoin took another step closer to mainstream investing with the launch of a new security on Wall Street tied to futures of the cryptocurrency.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia power Mideast crypto adoption as growth cools in Iran, Egypt

Although one of the world's smaller crypto markets, the Middle East in 2024 has continued featuring strong grassroots uptake in key markets

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with regional leaders at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha on Oct. 2, 2024.

As Iran, Israel lurch toward war, Saudi Arabia seeks rapprochement with Tehran

Riyadh seeks assurances from Tehran that energy infrastructure in the region is spared amid talks of Israeli retaliation targeting Iranian oil and gas assets.

A man walks across from a raging fire at oil storage tanks a day after Israeli strikes on the port of Yemen's Houthi-held city of Hodeidah on July 21, 2024.

Analysis

How an Israeli retaliation on Iran could impact Gulf energy flow

Energy facilities along the east and west of the Arabian Peninsula brace for possible Israeli attacks against Iran and its proxies.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

A man walks near the new headquarters of Egypt's Central Bank at the New Administrative Capital megaproject about 45 kilometres east of the current capital Cairo on Aug. 1, 2023.

Analysis

Egypt-Saudi deals beckon after $5B PIF pledge but question marks cloud outlook

After a massive financial bailout powered by the UAE in early 2024, Egypt is banking on big Saudi investments that have been slow to materialize in recent years.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Smoke billows during airstrikes in central Khartoum as the Sudanese army attacks positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces throughout the capital, Khartoum, Sudan, Sept. 26, 2024.

What's behind attack on UAE ambassador in Sudan?

The UAE's role in Sudan is coming under greater scrutiny as the battle for power between rival groups SAF and RSF drags on into its 17th month.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) in Jeddah, on March 20, 2024.

Saudi crown prince says no Israel normalization without Palestinian state

The crown prince's comments follow the kingdom's top diplomat saying that any deal with Israel would require a pathway toward a Palestinian state.

Saudi energy minister

How Saudi Arabia plans to lure foreign investors to kickstart nuclear program

Saudi Arabia is looking to begin an ambitious nuclear project and tap into its significant uranium deposits.

Nestle to build first food factory in Saudi Arabia with $72M investment

The Swiss food and beverage firm is investing an initial 270 million riyals in the project, according to the Saudi Press Agency.