Saudi Arabia - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Saudi Arabia cover image

Saudi Arabia

September 23, 2026

Riyadh 10:48 am

39°C

red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival

Saudi Arabia pauses star-studded Red Sea film festival as Houthis hit kingdom

The postponement arrives as attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants are increasingly disrupting the kingdom’s economy and could also impact other high-profile international events.

Gargash

UAE's Gargash expects 'prolonged' war, calls for Iran-Gulf security talks

"We need a new mindset that these sort of discussions ... can happen at an Iranian-American level, it should also take place at an Iranian-Arab level," Gargash told Al-Monitor.

United Arab Emirates

Latest News

Explainer

After $5B in Saudi backing, what’s next for bankrupt LIV Golf?

LIV Golf

Analysis

Despite Mecca pact, Turkey rules out direct military role in Yemen

Saudi-backed Yemeni government fighters

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Explainer

From Maysan to Saudi Arabia, drone attack puts Iraqi province under scrutiny

A man uses a pole to navigate a boat

Analysis

Houthi attacks pressure Saudi Arabia’s splashy economic overhaul

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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

Conference co-chairs French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, attend a ministerial high-level meeting during a United Nations conference at UN headquarters on July 28, 2025, in New York City.

US calls Saudi-French UN conference on Palestine ‘publicity stunt’ as Riyadh rallies behind PA

The United Nations conference on Palestinian statehood featured strong support for the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to return to Gaza even as the Trump administration boycotted the event, calling it "ill-timed."

LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Fitch maintains Saudi Arabia's A+ credit rating, but how secure is it?

The kingdom's oil dependence, World Bank governance indicators and vulnerability to geopolitical shocks have improved but remain weaknesses, the ratings agency noted.

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

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi mining licenses soar as kingdom hunts critical metals: What to know

The Saudi government has cleared hurdles for the mining industry in its pursuit of critical materials.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is greeting Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Shara, left, during his arrival on Sunday at the royal palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia pledges $6B investment, to sign 47 deals with Syria: What to know

The event is a milestone for Syria-Saudi relations and the deals coming out of it are expected to help create 50,000 jobs across the country.

BAKR ALKASEM/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia to invest $6B in Syria in boost to Sharaa: What to know

The kingdom has been at the forefront of diplomatic and economic efforts to support Syria's recovery.

A man carries the Syrian and the Saudi flags past a billboard thanking Qatar, in Damascus, on May 14, 2025.

Saudi Arabia offers travel permits to Syrian businessmen, investors: What to know

Syrian entrepreneurs can now directly apply for travel licenses at the Saudi Embassy in Damascus, while Saudi investors seeking to visit Syria can register via the Interior Ministry’s e-platform.

A flame from a Saudi Aramco oil instillation known as "Pump 3" is seen in the desert near the oil-rich area of Khouris, 160 kilometers east of the Saudi capital Riyadh, on June 23, 2008.

Saudi crude oil exports hit 3-month high as production soars: What to know

The increase comes as the kingdom is reeling from negative effects of lower oil prices and production boosts from OPEC+ under US pressure.

A picture taken on Dec. 16, 2020 shows towers under construction in Riyadh.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia bets big on foreign property ownership to power post-oil future

The kingdom’s unprecedented policy shift aims to boost real estate investment while navigating religious and social sensitivities.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

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

A picture taken on December 7, 2022 in Riyadh, shows the Chinese and the Saudi flags adorning a street ahead of the Chinese president's visit to the Saudi capital. - Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia this week, meeting the king and de facto ruler of the world's biggest oil exporter. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia's Diriyah awards Chinese firm $1.53B contract: What to know

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has awarded a major contract to China Harbour Engineering Company for the development of a Vision 2030 project.