Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh Ithra brings MENA design to Milan Also this week: Lana Khayat at Art Dubai and Najdi dining in Diriyah By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Analysis Gulf energy deals face Iran war stress test as global expansion meets oil shock ADNOC, Aramco and QatarEnergy have aggressively expanded their international portfolios in recent years, a strategy facing new constraints as the US-Israel-Iran war impacts Gulf production and exposes structural risks. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Syria’s Sharaa makes fourth visit to Saudi Arabia, first since Iran war: What to know The visit comes in light of the deepening economic relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia post-Assad. Syria
Newsletter: FutureVerse NEOM’s new logistics look Saudi Arabia recasts NEOM as a regional logistics hub amid war disruption. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Pakistan’s quiet fighter jet deployment to Saudi Arabia signals Gulf anxiety By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Newsletter: City Pulse Riyadh Saudi creatives in Milan By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
London Metal Exchange to build delivery centers in Saudi Arabia Investors and mining companies are bracing for a wave of exploration licenses awarded in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom nearly doubled its untapped mineral estimate to $2.5 trillion and announced new incentives for miners in January. Saudi Arabia
Saudi inks $3.2B missile defense deal with South Korea as Iran attends expo The World Defense Show has yielded deals between Saudi Arabia and South Korea and may lead to the strengthening of the kingdom’s ties with Iran, the United States and others. Legacy: Gulf
South Africa’s Milkor gets go-ahead to produce drones in Saudi Arabia The Gulf country is bolstering its defense capabilities amid increasing instability in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia
Red Sea attacks push global firms to seek overland shipping alternatives An Israeli company is sending goods overland from the United Arab Emirates through Saudi Arabia and other firms are looking at different arrangements as US strikes fail to deter Houthi attacks. Israel
Kuwait emir travels to Saudi Arabia for first foreign visit Relations with Saudi Arabia are a priority for Kuwait's new emir. Legacy: Gulf
Why has Saudi Arabia ordered Aramco to halt its plan to raise oil production? The move may be simply a cost-cutting strategy, or it could be driven by a new, less optimistic outlook from the world's largest crude producer on future oil demand. Saudi Arabia
What does Saudi's first-ever alcohol store say about new Gulf culture? Alcohol-free 'mocktails' are also becoming increasingly popular across the region. Saudi Arabia
Saudi FM: No Israel normalization without ‘irreversible path’ to Palestinian state Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the kingdom would not finance the rebuilding of the enclave unless there is a viable path to a two-state solution. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia bolsters expat incentives as war complicates efforts to lure foreign talent Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis 'Hallucination' or realpolitik? Netanyahu's long shot at Israel-Saudi normalization Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still hopes to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia after rejecting US proposals for Palestinian control of Gaza and the West Bank. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Saudi Arabia nabs Rafa Nadal as its star tennis ambassador amid criticism Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has become an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, leading to criticism from some fans and furthering the kingdom’s tennis ambitions. Legacy: Gulf
Davos 2024: Reaching net zero without space tech 'wishful thinking,' says Saudi minister On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha told Al-Monitor that technology will help countries deliver on climate promises. Saudi Arabia