Battle of the Tech Hubs
The GCC is competing to build world-class technology hubs, investing heavily in AI, infrastructure, and sovereign capital to drive digital...
Economy
Iran says US talks in Oman a ‘good beginning’ as fears of military confrontation grow
The discussions took place in Muscat, with the US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian side...
Geostrategy
Opinion
The GCC must deploy its ‘strategic advantages’ to lead the transition
The models that once governed aid, CSR, employment, and economic engagement are shifting, and the GCC has an opportunity to...
- Across the region, business leaders are confronting a reality already transforming global markets.
- Instead of funding isolated projects, Gulf institutions can help build ecosystems such as agritech clusters, circular-economy value chains,
Geostrategy
Iran’s Khamenei likens protests to ‘coup’, warns of regional war
Iran's supreme leader on Sunday likened recent anti-government protests to a "coup", warning that any US attack on the Islamic...
- The Iranian authorities' deadly response to the protests sparked threats of intervention from US President Donald Trump
- "The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said
Geostrategy
Saudi-Pakistan mutual defence pact will not include Turkey: sources
The Pakistan-Saudi pact was signed just months after Pakistan and India fought an intense four-day conflict in May that killed...
- "This is a bilateral defensive relationship with Pakistan. We have common agreements with Turkey but the one with Pakistan will stay bilateral," the official said
- The defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, announced last year raised many questions, given that Islamabad possesses nuclear weapons
Geostrategy
Iran says defence capabilities ‘never’ up for negotiation as US seeks end to nuclear enrichment
Iran's top diplomat said Friday that his country's missile and defence capabilities would "never" be on the negotiating table, as US...
- The Axios site on Monday reported that US officials say any deal with Tehran would have to include a cap on its long-range missiles
- Other regional actors have joined calls for diplomacy, including Gulf states, some of which host US military sites, and Tehran's ally Russia
Geostrategy
Turkey to offer mediation in US-Iran showdown during Iran foreign minister’s Friday visit
Friday's visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi comes after US President Donald Trump threatened a military strike on Iran...
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will tell Araghchi that his country "is ready to contribute to resolving the current tensions through talks", a Turkish diplomatic source said
- Speaking to Al-Jazeera television on Wednesday, Fidan said he had suggested Washington tackle outstanding issues with Iran "one-by-one", starting with the nuclear file
Geostrategy
Trump says ‘time running out’ as Iran threatens response to any attack “like never before”
In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump did not mention the protests but said Iran needed to negotiate a...
- A US naval strike group that Trump described as an "armada" led by aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln is now lurking in Middle East waters
- In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran needed to negotiate a deal over its nuclear programme, which the West believes is aimed at making an atomic bomb
Geostrategy
Trump says Iran wants talks and ‘make a deal’ as US aircraft carrier deploys
A US naval strike force led by an aircraft carrier was in Middle Eastern waters on Tuesday as Iran vowed...
- Washington has not ruled out new military intervention against Tehran over its crackdown on protests, which according to rights groups saw thousands of people killed within days
- A strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has now arrived in Middle Eastern waters, US Central Command said, without revealing its precise location
Geostrategy
US deploys aircraft carrier as Iran warns against attack, says ready to hit back
A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday,...
- Iran's foreign ministry warned on Monday of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression".
- Rhe United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.
Geostrategy
Netanyahu, US envoys discuss opening Rafah crossing: Israeli media
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and...
- Reopening Rafah forms part of a Gaza truce framework announced by Trump in October, but the crossing has remained closed
- Ali Shaath, appointed to head a committee of 15 Palestinian technocrats, said at the World Economic Forum that the gateway would reopen next week
Geostrategy
Next round of Russia, Ukraine talks to begin in Abu Dhabi on February 1: US official
A next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US to halt the war will continue in Abu Dhabi...
- This was the first time the warring sides have talked about a plan being pushed by Trump to end the nearly four-year war
- Ukrainian and Russian delegations held their first direct talks in months in Abu Dhabi even as Russia launched a barrage of drones
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Battle of the Tech Hubs
The GCC is competing to build world-class technology hubs, investing heavily in AI, infrastructure, and sovereign capital to drive digital...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Israeli airstrike kills five Palestinians in West Bank
Palestinian medics said an air strike targeting a car in the occupied West Bank killed five people on Thursday, while...
Biden, Kadhemi meeting to focus on US troop withdrawal from Iraq
The White House talks between the two allies come just a week after a deadly attack claimed by the Islamic...
Bomb-laden drones hit Erbil airport in northern Iraq
The attack took place at around 1930 GMT but caused no injuries or major damage Since the start of the...
Saudi-Pakistan mutual defence pact will not include Turkey: sources
The Pakistan-Saudi pact was signed just months after Pakistan and India fought an intense four-day conflict in May that killed...
Geostrategy
Iran says defence capabilities ‘never’ up for negotiation as US seeks end to nuclear enrichment
Iran's top diplomat said Friday that his country's missile and defence capabilities would "never" be on the negotiating table, as US...
Geostrategy
Turkey to offer mediation in US-Iran showdown during Iran foreign minister’s Friday visit
Friday's visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi comes after US President Donald Trump threatened a military strike on Iran...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Trump says Iran wants talks and ‘make a deal’ as US aircraft carrier deploys
A US naval strike force led by an aircraft carrier was in Middle Eastern waters on Tuesday as Iran vowed...
- Washington has not ruled out new military intervention against Tehran over its crackdown on protests, which according to rights groups saw thousands of people killed within days
- A strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has now arrived in Middle Eastern waters, US Central Command said, without revealing its precise location
Geostrategy
US deploys aircraft carrier as Iran warns against attack, says ready to hit back
A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday,...
- Iran's foreign ministry warned on Monday of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression".
- Rhe United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.
Geostrategy
Netanyahu, US envoys discuss opening Rafah crossing: Israeli media
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and...
- Reopening Rafah forms part of a Gaza truce framework announced by Trump in October, but the crossing has remained closed
- Ali Shaath, appointed to head a committee of 15 Palestinian technocrats, said at the World Economic Forum that the gateway would reopen next week