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Saudi Arabia

December 28, 2025

Riyadh 2:55 am

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Saudi Air Force advanced F-15SA fighter jets perform during a ceremony in Riyadh on Jan. 25, 2017.

Analysis

2025: Why Gulf defense megadeals finally met reality

From fighter jet debates to drones and megadeals, Gulf defense planners are shifting from political signaling to tangible results.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

A boy looks on as supporters of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a coalition of separatist groups seeking to restore the state of South Yemen, hold South Yemen flags during a rally calling for the revival of the former independent state, in Aden on December 12, 2025. The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council last week swept through swathes of Yemen in a near-bloodless takeover they say aimed to expel Islamists and halt smuggling for the benefit of the Iran-backed Houthis. (Photo by Saleh Al-OBEID

As UAE-Saudi rivalry heats up, Yemen’s STC accuses Riyadh of airstrikes

Saudi Arabia has criticized the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council’s military offensive, which has sent shockwaves through the country and the Gulf.

A picture taken from a station of Dubai's Palm Monorail shows traffic on a road in Palm Jumeirah on Aug. 28, 2025.

Feature

Cheap oil, tighter finances, wars constrained Mid East economies in 2025

Low oil prices, tighter financial conditions and elevated geopolitical risk hampered growth across much of the Middle East and North Africa this year.

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

Latest News

Analysis

France seeks to bolster Lebanon's army through UNIFIL coordination, donor conference

A view of a concrete wall built by Israel near the Blue Line in Maroun al-Ras, Lebanon, on Nov. 13, 2025.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Yemeni ministries declare support for STC campaign as Gulf tensions flare

Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Gulf finance hubs race to expand as hedge funds flock to Dubai, Abu Dhabi

Traffic moves on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai on March 24, 2025.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and 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

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

an waves as they walk down the Colonnade on the way to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025.

Live Updates

Trump gives MBS red-carpet welcome, touts F-35 deal, $1T Saudi investment

Trump is hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in a high-profile visit aimed at resetting US-Saudi ties and securing major defense, nuclear and investment deals.

An Israel Air Force F-35 fighter lands during the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of Eilat, Israel, Oct. 24, 2021.

Analysis

Trump’s Saudi F-35 deal jolts Israel’s security elite, weakens Netanyahu

The expected sale to Saudi Arabia of American stealth F-35 jets, as well as their sale to Turkey, deeply worries Israel’s security apparatus.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

This photograph shows a pilot disembarking a Belgium's newly purchased Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet for the first time, after arriving at the Florennes military airbase, southern Belgium on October 13, 2025. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP) (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, first Arab country to acquire jets

The deal could rattle Washington's ties with Israel and is not likely to be approved by Congress unless conditioned on Saudi normalization of ties with Israel.

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / A Lebanese soldier sits on top of a military vehicle outside the municipality building of the southern Lebanese border village of Blida in the aftermath of an Israeli army raid on the village, on October 30, 2025. The Israeli military on October 30 killed a municipal worker in a raid in southern Lebanon, prompting the Lebanese president to order the army to confront such incursions. Israel's military confirmed the raid, saying it was operating against Hezbollah infrastructure

Lebanon's new army chief to make first visit to US: What to know

Regional and international diplomatic activity in Lebanon is increasing as concerns of a new war between Israel and Hezbollah mount, with Washington working to maintain the ceasefire.

MOHAMED AFRAH/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Org, Saudi partner Dar Global launch crypto scheme for Maldives resort

The deal marks a notable fusion of the Trump family’s traditional real estate business and its expanding foothold in the crypto world, and arrives a day before Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince arrives in Washington.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's MBS on 'comeback tour' in first US visit since Khashoggi murder

President Donald Trump will host Saudi Arabia's de facto leader for talks focused on deepening US-Saudi ties, Gaza diplomacy and reciprocal investments.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Newly graduated Saudi air force officers march in front of F-15 fighter jets during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of the King Faisal Air Academy at King Salman airbase in Riyadh on January 25, 2017. / AFP / FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

With reduced Iranian threat, MBS visit seeks to advance F-35 deal, boost Saudi-US ties

The Trump administration isn't likely to persuade Saudi Arabia's crown prince to normalize ties with Israel by the time they meet Tuesday, but analysts say piecemeal defense deals may now be on the table after Iran has been weakened by its war with Israel.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

US President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a “coffee ceremony” at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Analysis

Deals and data: Saudi Crown Prince brings growing AI ambitions on US visit

At the White House, the kingdom's de facto ruler is set to discuss strategic priorities ranging from defense ties to Syria’s reconstruction and beyond — but the visit will also underscore how the US-Saudi partnership is being rewritten for the age of artificial intelligence.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Culture

YouTuber MrBeast brings pop-up theme park to Saudi Arabia

Beast Land, open from Nov. 13 to Dec. 27, features several obstacle-course challenges similar to those that appear in the influencer’s videos.

US President Donald J. Trump leaves the Saudi Royal Court with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Analysis

Ahead of MBS visit, Saudis link Israel normalization to 3 asks from Trump

President Donald Trump would clearly like to say he persuaded Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize ties, but neither Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman nor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seem ready to make the necessary compromises.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense