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Saudi Arabia

June 18, 2026

Riyadh 7:21 pm

38°C

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Aramco's VC arm sees boom in emerging technologies, retail

Anas Alqahtani, CEO of Wa'ed Ventures, expects strong growth in Saudi Arabia’s emerging technology and retail sectors over the coming years.

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.

Latest News

Gulf cautiously welcomes US-Iran deal as Hezbollah congratulates Tehran

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

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

This picture taken from the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows the war-ravaged city of Rafah on July 4, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues.

Saudi Arabia condemns Netanyahu's Philadelphi Corridor statements

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments regarding the Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor.

A cargo ship is docked at the port of Yemen's Huthi-held city of Hodeida on July 28, 2024. Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi entity denies its ship hit as Houthis claim attack on Greek tanker

Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri denied reports that its tanker Amjad came under attack by the Houthis, the Yemeni armed group that has stepped up attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea.

Houthi ships

Two oil tankers come under attack in the Red Sea, sources say

Oil tankers transiting the Red Sea are facing renewed dangers while transiting one of the world's most critical chokepoints for crude.

King Abdullah Centre

Middle East fintech funding sees 650% spike in 2020-2023

Fintech is one of the most funded and transacted industries across the MENA region, according to a MAGNiTT report, accounting for 24% of all venture investment in the region in the first half of 2024.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi (R), shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, before a family photo for the attendees of a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on November 20, 2023.

How significant is PIF's $50B China investment for Saudi ties?

Though Riyadh continues its efforts toward economic integration with Beijing, it still seeks to balance relations with both Beijing and Washington.

MBS Erdogan

Saudi, Turkish leaders call for pressure on Israel to end Gaza war

The two countries have repeatedly called for an end of the war in the Gaza Strip since it erupted last October.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

As main funder of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's PIF doubles down on domestic investments

Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund is doubling down on domestic investments to support plans to diversify beyond oil revenues, which have fueled the kingdom’s economy for decades.

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir takes part in the Jerusalem Day Flag March in the Old City on June 5, 2024 in Jerusalem.

Saudi Arabia, UAE speak out against Israeli far right's moves on Al-Aqsa

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have called for an end to provocations at one of Islam's holiest sites amid comments by Israel's national security minister about building a synagogue on the site.

A vendor selling dates walks across a street in Islamabad on July 8, 2024, as cash-strapped Pakistan adopted a $68 billion budget laced with tax-raising measures on June 28, seeking to secure a new bailout from the IMF.

Pakistan to raise $4B from Middle East banks amid economic turbulence

For many years, Pakistan has relied on China and Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to roll over some of its debt to avoid having to repay it sooner.

Jennifer Gnana event

Al-Monitor expands Gulf coverage with new talent led by Jennifer Gnana

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's oil revenue falls to three-year low as OPEC+ cuts bite

A low price environment and sustained production cuts have impacted Riyadh's ability to earn more oil revenue.

Jennifer Gnana

Samuel Wendel

By Jennifer Gnana , Samuel Wendel

URS FLUEELER/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi FM makes unannounced visit to Iraq, meets Sudani: What we know

Saudi Arabia and Gulf states are showing increasing interest in Iran-dominated Iraq.