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Saudi Arabia

September 6, 2026

Riyadh 10:47 am

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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

A man walks past a mural depicting oil pumps and the Venezuelan flag, with portraits of Venezuelan independence leader Simon Bolivar (L) and former late President Hugo Chavez (R), in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sept. 3, 2026.

Analysis

Could Trump’s oil push in Venezuela upend OPEC’s energy order?

Washington’s growing role in controlling the Latin American country's crude riches could help reshape an energy order centered on OPEC as the Hormuz crisis pressures Gulf exports.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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.

Latest News

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

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

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

THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia's MBS embarks on tour of Gulf states

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit Qatar for the first time since Saudi Arabia ended a yearslong blockade on its Gulf neighbor.

Lewis Hamilton

British F1 driver Hamilton not 'comfortable' in Saudi Arabia

Lewis Hamilton cited the kingdom's human rights record and 'pretty terrifying' LGBTQ laws before it hosts its first Grand Prix race.

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia confirms first case of Omicron variant

The detection of Omicron in Saudi Arabia comes days after the kingdom suspended flights to 14 African countries.

Mobile billboards urging Justin Bieber to cancel his upcoming concert in Saudi Arabia near the Microsoft Theater on Nov. 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Khashoggi's fiancee urges Justin Beiber to cancel Saudi performance

Hatice Cengiz called on the Canadian pop star to choose "justice and freedom over money."

A Saudi woman consults a plastic surgeon during a bridal expo in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 11, 2017.

Saudi Arabia grants citizenship to prominent doctors, scholars

The official Saudi Press Agency said the kingdom will grant citizenship to “experts and exceptional global talents."

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) listens during a news conference on the treatment of Haitian immigrants at the U.S. border in Texas on Sept. 22, 2021 in Washington, DC.

US Rep. Ilhan Omar moves to block $650 million Saudi arms sale

If passed by the Senate, the joint resolution would block the sale of 280 air-to-air missiles to Riyadh.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Ex-Saudi official says MBS suggested killing former king with 'poison ring'

The Saudi government responded by describing Saad al-Jabri as "a discredited former government official with a long history of fabricating.”

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud walks toward the Treaty Room at the State Department, October 14, 2020, in Washington, DC.

Biden aide, Saudi crown prince discussed Israel normalization: report

Axios reports that White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan discussed Saudi Arabia's potential diplomatic ties with Israel during his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's FM says Saudi Arabia talks have progressed 'good distance'

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's comments came after Saudi Arabia confirmed the two rivals held their first round of talks with Tehran's new hard-liner government.

The One World Trade Center "Freedom Tower" and "The Oculus" are reflected in a window in New York, on Sept. 8, 2021.

Saudi Arabia says it welcomes Biden's order to release 9/11 files

The Saudi Embassy in Washington said it hoped the documents' declassification would put an end to the "baseless allegations against the kingdom."

Areej al-Sadhan and her brother Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

Intel: US family seeks Biden's help freeing detained Saudi aid worker

The United States said it’s urging Saudi Arabia to resolve the case of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, an aid worker sentenced to prison for allegedly running a Twitter account critical of the kingdom’s rulers.

Saudi proof of vaccination required

Saudi Arabia to require vaccination proof for foreign tourists

Saudi Arabia has imposed some particularly strict travel measures recently amid regional concerns about coronavirus variants.