Analysis Gulf’s $3 trillion US investment drive faces post-midterm Trump reckoning A sweeping midterm election victory by Democrats on Nov. 3 is cause for concern among Gulf states that eagerly embraced Trump's White House and pledged huge investment commitments. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: Gulf Gulf states step up China diplomacy as Trump’s lame-duck session nears Oman and Saudi Arabia are deepening diplomatic outreach to Beijing as the outcome of Tuesday’s US midterm elections introduces fresh uncertainty over Washington’s Iran policy. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Turkey’s parliament ratifies Mecca pact in boost to Saudi Arabia Turkey will now decide the scope of military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Turkey
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 By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Business & Tech Democrats’ win: What’s at stake for Gulf business By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Newsletter: FutureVerse US elections spotlight Gulf tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Saudi FM: No Israel normalization without ‘irreversible path’ to Palestinian state Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the kingdom would not finance the rebuilding of the enclave unless there is a viable path to a two-state solution. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia bolsters expat incentives as war complicates efforts to lure foreign talent Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis 'Hallucination' or realpolitik? Netanyahu's long shot at Israel-Saudi normalization Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still hopes to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia after rejecting US proposals for Palestinian control of Gaza and the West Bank. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Saudi Arabia nabs Rafa Nadal as its star tennis ambassador amid criticism Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has become an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, leading to criticism from some fans and furthering the kingdom’s tennis ambitions. Legacy: Gulf
Davos 2024: Reaching net zero without space tech 'wishful thinking,' says Saudi minister On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha told Al-Monitor that technology will help countries deliver on climate promises. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Canada reestablish business council as ties warm Saudi Arabia and Canada resumed diplomatic relations last year following a row over Ottawa’s criticism of the treatment of women in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Key players want out of Saudi soccer league: reports The Saudi Pro League landed several top stars last year with lucrative deals, but now some players may be looking to leave the kingdom. Legacy: Gulf
Will Saudi Arabia see mining gold rush in 2024? The kingdom plans to take advantage of the growing demand for critical minerals to power the green transition. Saudi Arabia
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur reps Saudi fitness brand Kayanee at Australian Open Jabeur has expressed support for Saudi investment in tennis in the past as the kingdom seeks to boost its sports holdings. Tunisia
Germany reverses, to greenlight Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia Germany stopped selling arms to Saudi Arabia following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018, but has since come under increasing pressure to allow the sale of the jets to the Gulf country. Saudi Arabia
Why has Iran Air abandoned plans to relaunch Saudi Arabia flights despite detente? The Iran Air flights to Saudi Arabia were intended to transport pilgrims to Jeddah and were scheduled to take off from Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan on Wednesday. Iran
Saudi PIF invested $31.6B in 2023, record in global sovereign wealth funds The PIF is estimated to have nearly $800 billion in assets and wants to become the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund by 2030. Saudi Arabia