Saudi Arabia calls Houthi attacks on civilian, economic and airport facilities “full-fledged war crimes”; Trump says he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran or send ground troops.

Oman, Iran discuss regional tensions; Trump says Houthis acting at Iran's behest; Saudi forces intercept missiles, drones; Hormuz shipping attacks intensify sharply.

Etihad Airways cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19, while services to Dammam were heavily disrupted. Qatar Airways also temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam, citing regional tensions.

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has ordered 10 more intercity trains from Swiss manufacturer Stadler, doubling its fleet of custom-built trains to 20, Stadler said on Friday. The contract is worth more than 300 million Swiss francs ($360 million) and includes an extension of the existing maintenance agreement to cover the...

Tehran offers to help facilitate Riyadh-Houthis dialogue; Saudi business events to proceed despite attacks; US reinforces regional deployment as warnings grow; Tanker attack off Oman leaves two Indians missing

It is the deadliest attack in a decade on the kingdom; Trump calls the attack 'terrible', says US may join strikes on Houthis; Qatar urges unity among Gulf nations

The revised forecast represents an increase of about three percentage points and comes as the bank expects the Saudi economy to absorb the impact of the conflict and disruption to regional trade and energy flows.

Saudi Arabia’s construction sector continued to expand in September, although growth slowed to its weakest pace in four months as the Al Rajhi Capital Saudi Construction Index fell to 54.4 points from 55.4 in August. The latest reading extended the sector’s growth streak to five consecutive months, with all three...

Fitch Ratings expects Saudi Arabia’s fiscal deficits to remain wider than previously budgeted, with higher spending and conflict risks weighing on the outlook through 2029.

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington remains open to an agreement with Iran, but Tehran must make meaningful reductions in its uranium enrichment capacity.

The claim comes after Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan agreed to activate collective deterrence measures under their Mecca defense pact in response to attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people, most of them Israeli nationals, when a violent confrontation reportedly broke out in the cockpit between the pilot and the co-pilot while the aircraft was flying over the region.

Saudi Arabia jumps 17 places since 2019 on workforce reform and Vision 2030 investment, while the UAE tops the world for air transport infrastructure despite a three-spot ranking slip.

UAE suspends Iranian airline flights, joining regional countries restricting carriers as US sanctions intensify pressure on Tehran’s aviation sector and longstanding Dubai trade links.

Etihad Airways will launch a year-round service between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Airport in October, expanding air connectivity to the kingdom's emerging tourism destination. The airline will operate one weekly flight from Zayed International Airport to Red Sea International Airport every Sunday from Oct. 4, adding...

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched Gulf Coast Development Co. to develop an integrated tourism and residential destination in Khafji on the Arabian Gulf coast, the sovereign wealth fund said on Monday. The project will cover about 20 square kilometers and include a 10-km waterfront, with development carried...

Dubai, UAE -- Point-of-sale transactions in Saudi Arabia fell to nearly $3.79 billion in the week ended Aug. 15, from about $4.35 billion a week earlier, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The number of POS transactions fell to about 249.7 million from nearly 253.4 million the...

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH), has announced a decision to raise the Saudization rate for project management professions in the local private sector to 70 percent, effective Feb. 14, 2027. The decision applies to all...

The agreement comes as Gulf states seek closer defence coordination following months of conflict with Iran that disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea and heightened security concerns across the region.

A BCG report says rooftop solar and decentralized renewable systems can lower electricity costs, reduce emissions and help developers meet Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and net-zero ambitions.

The Houthis said on Telegram that a "Yemeni missile strike" had sparked fires in Jizan. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm the claim, although the kingdom's civil defence agency issued alerts for residents in Jizan and Yanbu.

The latest attack comes after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would strike Iran's civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, every time Tehran attacked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Dubai, UAE --  Qiddiya City launched "Powered by Play," a long-term initiative aimed at promoting play as a driver of human potential across Saudi Arabia, alongside research showing Saudis lead respondents in several countries in recognizing the benefits of play. Research commissioned by Qiddiya City and conducted with Toluna and...

Dubai, UAE -- Assets of Saudi Arabia's public investment funds rose 20 percent year-on-year to SAR231.7 billion ($61.8 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, driven by growth in both local and foreign funds, financial news website Argaam reported, citing data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Assets of local...

Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia has updated the executive regulations of its Anti-Money Laundering Law, introducing stricter disclosure requirements for travellers and enhanced risk-assessment obligations for financial institutions and designated businesses. The amendments, published in the Official Gazette and effective June 26, 2026, state that money-laundering provisions apply to anyone...

Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia's tourism authority has launched a digital platform bringing together travel offers and tourism packages from more than 50 private-sector partners as part of its summer tourism campaign. The platform, launched under the slogan "Offers Now and Later", is designed to attract visitors from within the...

Domestic travel helped sustain Saudi Arabia's tourism sector in the first quarter, with total visitor numbers rising to 37.2 million and hotel performance strengthening in key religious destinations.

Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury securities by $9.5 billion in April to $140.1 billion, according to U.S. Treasury data, as the kingdom trimmed short-term debt holdings while retaining its position as the world's 17th-largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt. The decline followed a...

The growth was driven primarily by domestic travel, which reached 93.3 million tourists, up 8.3% from 2024, while inbound visitor numbers declined 1.6% to 29.3 million.

The Kingdom ranked 13th out of 70 economies assessed in the annual report, improving from 17th place a year earlier and placing third among G20 countries, behind the United States and China.

Hormuz disruption and weakening policy commitment dragged down Middle East transition readiness in 2026. Saudi Arabia bucked the trend with accelerated renewables and battery storage investment, WEF's Energy Transition Index said.

The slowdown was most pronounced in Riyadh, where transaction volumes and values dropped 82% from a year earlier. Activity also weakened in Jeddah, the Dammam Metropolitan Area, Makkah and Madinah.

Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate rose to 1.8% in May 2026, up from April, as higher housing, transport and hospitality costs pushed consumer prices higher, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The cost-of-living index increased to 105.3 points in May from 103.5...

Saudi Arabia was represented by intella, which develops Arabic-language speech recognition and analytics tools, and Nommas Technologies, which provides AI-powered visual inspection systems for manufacturers.

According to the latest Vision 2030 annual report, the real non-oil GDP reached $892 billion against a target of $904 billion, while foreign direct investment accounted for 2.8% of GDP, below the government's 3.4% objective.

According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), all major economic sectors recorded positive annual growth during the quarter, reflecting continued momentum in the kingdom's economic diversification drive.

The expansion marks an early test of Saudi Arabia's ambition to build Riyadh into a major international aviation hub.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has launched five new logistics routes designed to enhance supply chain efficiency and integrate various transport modes.These routes link Arabian Gulf ports with the Kingdom’s central and northern regions, extending to the Red Sea and northern neighboring countries. By utilizing a multimodal...

Higher land plot sales boost revenue and operating income.

The petrochemicals' company's revenue also fell 17.7 percent.

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flynas posted a net loss of SAR 527 million in 2025, compared with a net profit of SAR 433.5 million a year earlier, according to financial data reported by Argaam. Revenue rose 3.8 percent year-on-year to SAR 7.84 billion in 2025 from SAR 7.56 billion in...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- Saudi Arabia secured a place for three hospitals in Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Hospitals 2026 (Top 250). The achievement highlights the Kingdom’s continued progress in strengthening its healthcare system under Vision 2030. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre ranked 153rd globally. The hospital advanced...

Arar, Saudi Arabia - The proliferation of flower flies, also known as hoverflies, has been observed across several natural and urban locations in Northern Borders Region, a positive indicator of improved ecological balance and enhanced biodiversity in the area. Flower flies of the Syrphidae family play a vital role in...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its global leadership in open data through a comprehensive national ecosystem led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA). Since its establishment, SDAIA has worked to develop the regulatory framework for data and build an advanced digital ecosystem that...

The mahmas is typically made of thick iron or copper and consists of a hollow cylindrical disc with a long handle used to stir coffee beans during roasting.

Capital investment during Q3 2025 $12.9bn on investments in energy projects.

In an interview with TRENDS, Josh Lerner says Gulf economies pursuing diversification must recognize that transformation takes time, patience, and resilience through inevitable ups and downs.

The GCC has quickly moved from passive capital allocation into active ecosystem building, spurred on by heavy sovereign capital and large infrastructure bets, setting the region apart from Europe and US markets. 

The Pakistan-Saudi pact was signed just months after Pakistan and India fought an intense four-day conflict in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides in missile, drone and artillery fire

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the gaming surge with world-class ecosystems and youth-driven expansion. Across the region, governments increasingly recognize gaming and esports as key drivers of future economies.