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Saudi Arabia

June 17, 2026

Riyadh 12:57 pm

40°C

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft of Saudi airline Riyadh Air is pictured on the tarmac at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on June 7, 2026.

Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air wins US flight approval: What to know

The approval follows Riyadh Air’s first commercial flights as the carrier pushes to establish a foothold in lucrative global aviation markets despite industry turbulence linked to the US-Israel-Iran war.

Veiled women in black Chadors wave Iran and Hezbollah flags during commemoration at the Iranian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 22, 2026.

Gulf cautiously welcomes US-Iran deal as Hezbollah congratulates Tehran

Arab and regional countries welcomed the deal to end the war between Iran and the United States.

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam (R) shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan before their meeting in Beirut on Jan. 23, 2025.

Saudi Arabia lifts 5-year ban on Lebanon imports: What to know

Saudi Arabia had been a main donor for Lebanon before ties strained during Hezbollah’s rising influence in the country.

Latest News

Explainer

Saudi Arabia, Turkey advance plans to revive historic Hejaz Railway

An old locomotive sits outside the Hejaz rail station in old Damascus on February 23, 2010. The Hejaz railway ran from Damascucs to Medina in Saudi Arabia and was part of the Ottoman railway network. AFP PHOTO/LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

UAE's Sky News Arabia split from Sky raises issue of media, power in Gulf

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

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

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

The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces graduated the third class of THAAD anti-ballistic missile operators after its members completed the stages of specialized individual training at Fort Bliss military base in the United States.

US Army trains new Saudi anti-missile THAAD crew as Gulf air defense lags

Despite damage from Israel’s June air campaign, Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal continues to threaten Arab states and has in the past limited US military access to regional bases, testing the Pentagon’s ability to manage its global resources.

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Faleh speaks during the fourth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference at the capital Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel on Jan. 27, 2021.

In China, Saudi investment minister looks to build on $100B+ trade ties

China is the kingdom’s largest trade partner, with bilateral trade between the two reaching roughly $107.5 billion in 2024.

Employees man their terminals at the control room for traffic and crowd management for pilgrims at the General Transport Centre at the Royal Commission for Mecca and Holy Sites in Mecca on June 3, 2025.

Saudi Arabia escalates Arabic AI race with new state-backed chatbot

The app is available only in Saudi Arabia, but the company plans to expand across the region and eventually globally.

A man watches stock movements on a display at the Dubai Financial Market stock exchange, United Arab Emirates, April 12, 2022.

Analysis

Middle East demand for US debt soars to $400B in turbulent year

The first half of 2025 saw regional investors boost holdings of US Treasuries to record levels, led by the UAE, Israel and Kuwait, as markets digested turbulence from President Trump's trade agenda.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives for a press conference in Riyadh, on April 25, 2016.

Analysis

How Saudi defense shake-up exposes frustration with localization goals

As Riyadh struggles to reach its 50% Vision 2030 target, leadership reshuffles signal pressure for faster progress.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

Botswana Qatar

Qatari royal expands Africa push with $12B in Botswana after $39B in DRC, Zambia

A Qatari delegation began a tour of 10 African countries on Aug. 13 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, to explore investment opportunities.

HRH the Crown Prince welcomes President of Egypt upon arrival in Neom, Saudi Arabia, on Aug. 21, 2025.

Egypt's Sisi, Saudi crown prince discuss Red Sea, Gaza, trade in Neom

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi headed to Saudi Arabia as the two countries continue to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation on regional and international issues.

British Chef Gordon Ramsey shouts instructions from his kitchen at his Chelsea restaurant Jan. 12, 2001.

Culture

Gordon Ramsay chef school heads to Saudi Arabia: What to know

Saudi Arabia lacks the plethora of renowned restaurants the neighboring UAE boasts, but the kingdom’s fine dining scene may be on the rise.

VistaJet Bombardier Bombardier Global 6000 is landing at Milano Malpensa international airport.

Saudi Arabia licenses charter operator VistaJet as first foreign airline for domestic flights

The Dubai-based private airline group looks to capitalize on the kingdom's growing super-rich luxury travel market.

The tallest solar power tower in the world at 260 metres is pictured at the concentrated solar thermal power (CST) Noor Energy 1 solar complex at Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park, about 50 kilometres south of Dubai, on July 19, 2025. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE’s Masdar secures $1.1B for 2 GW Saudi solar megaproject: What to know

The Al Sadawi Independent Power Producer (IPP) Project is set to be one of the largest solar plants in the world, according to Masdar.

United Arab Emirates