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Saudi Arabia

June 18, 2026

Riyadh 3:47 pm

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Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji meets with Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin Hathloul Al-Dosari, the new Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, in Beirut on June 17, 2026.

Who is Fahd Al-Dosari, Saudi Arabia’s new ambassador to Lebanon?

Ambassador Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin Hathloul Al-Dosari, a seasoned diplomat, arrives in Beirut as Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen its ties with Lebanon.

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.

Latest News

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

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.

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

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi's PIF downsizes foreign investment, turns to AI, domestic priorities

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is looking to invest in tourism, real estate and sustainability as its Vision 2030 deadline draws closer.

Attendees arrive for the yearly Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Oct. 24, 2023.

Saudi Arabia pushes for Africa debt relief as private investments set to reach $25B

Saudi Arabia is pushing for debt relief for African nations burdened with more than $1 trillion in liabilities.

A Saudi navy ship is pictured docked at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah before the departure of a team to Port Sudan to help with the evacuation efforts of people fleeing Sudan, on April 29, 2023. - Warplanes on bombing raids drew heavy anti-aircraft fire over Khartoum as fierce fighting between Sudan's army and paramilitaries entered a third week, despite a renewed truce. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Saudi naval ambitions get a boost after joint Greece, France exercise

The kingdom is modernizing its navy under Vision 2030, replacing outdated vessels while seeking to diversify its military partnerships beyond traditional US reliance — but operational gaps remain.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

Attendees take part in the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, Oct. 25, 2022.

What to expect at Saudi Arabia's eighth Davos in the Desert

This year's Future Investment Initiative focuses on tech, energy and investment as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons.

US President Joe Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan walk to the Oval Office for a meeting, where the two discussed AI and ending the war in Gaza on Sept. 23, 2024, in Washington.

Analysis

How new US AI framework could impact UAE, Saudi ambitions

The framework comes as the UAE has deepened its AI ties with the United States in recent months over a series of visits to Washington by senior Emirati officials.

Samuel Wendel

By Jack Dutton , Samuel Wendel

Attendees take part in the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh on October 25, 2022. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

What to make of Saudi Arabia's $96B in foreign direct investment in 2023

Driving foreign investment into key sectors is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify away from an oil-dependent revenue model.

An Iranian Navy warship takes part in the "National Persian Gulf day" in the Strait of Hormuz, on April 30, 2019.

Iran eyes naval drills with Saudi Arabia, Egypt amid simmering regional tensions

The planned drills come on the heels of a recent joint exercise that Iran hosted in the Indian Ocean, as Tehran seeks to counterbalance Israel and curb US influence in the region's strategic waters.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with the heads of leading media outlets from the BRICS member countries in the Moscow region, on Oct. 18, 2024.

Russia's BRICS summit: Gulf states seek influence as Iran, UAE debut as members

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince will not be in attendance but has sent his foreign minister. Expansion of the group and adoption of a new currency are on the three-day agenda.

United Arab Emirates

Palestinian security forces close off the entrance of a building housing the offices of Saudi broadcasters MBC, Al-Arabiya, and Al-Hadath in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 21, 2024, during a protest calling for their closure against the backdrop of their descriptions of Hamas leadership which the protesters reject. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

What's behind Algeria's suspension of Saudi-owned Al Arabiya?

Algeria suspended the press license of Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya news channel just one day after Iraq suspended the license of Saudi-owned TV channel MBC.

JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images

Gulf governments silent as Iran, proxies mourn Hamas' Yahya Sinwar

Regional governments have not commented on Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar’s killing by Israeli forces in Gaza, but Iran and its proxy groups mourned his death, vowing that the resistance against Israel will continue.

This picture shows Aramco tower in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh on April 16, 2023.

What are Aramco’s priorities in Asia after cancelation of Saudi chemical project?

The Saudi oil giant is showing increasing interest in Asia’s petrochemicals market amid the energy transition.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Oct. 15, 2024. — Saudi Press Agency

Egypt's Sisi hosts Saudi crown prince as Cairo looks to attract investment

Saudi's crown prince met with Egypt's president in Cairo on Tuesday, where the two oversaw the signing of an investment protection agreement and the creation of the Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council.