The Trump administration faces a Middle East shaped by shifting alliances, unresolved conflicts, and evolving regional priorities, demanding a measured strategy to balance stability, diplomacy, and U.S. interests.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased by 3.4 percent in November 2024, compared to Nov 2023, according to the kingdom's ]General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).This increase is driven by growth in mining and quarrying, manufacturing, water supply, sewerage, and waste management and remediation activities.Furthermore, the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia maintained its first rank across MENA in terms of Venture Capital (VC) funding in 2024, witnessing a total VC deployment of $750 million (SAR2.8 billion).The "2024 Emerging Markets Venture Capital Report", published today by the venture data platform MAGNiTT, said the Kingdom secured the...

Saudi Arabia secured a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility from Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Credit Agricole SA, and Dubai Islamic Bank, with total 2024 bond funding reaching $50 billion, according to a Bloomberg report.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Monday announced its first murabaha credit facility for the sum of $7 billion as part of its medium-term capital raising strategy. The financing structure is supported by a diverse syndicate of 20 international and regional financial institutions, PIF said...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The seasonally adjusted Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), formerly S&P Global Saudi Arabia PMI, dropped to 58.4 points in December 2024.The latest reading indicated a significant improvement in operating conditions in the non-oil private sector, while the index has remained above the neutral...

The 10-day Qassim Truffle Festival, currently in its fourth year, features 18 booths showcasing truffles, a dedicated auction area and 32 booths for local producers.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Renowned luxury fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli shared his insights on building a global brand and the future of fashion with Saudi creatives and entrepreneurs during a special event hosted by the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) in AlUla.The event, held in collaboration with the Fashion Commission, brought...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Dakar Rally 2025, the largest and longest race in the world of motorsports, is set to kick off on Friday from Bisha, marking the sixth consecutive year the Kingdom hosts this thrilling event.Over 800 participants are poised for the fierce competition, which runs until January...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia’s trade balance recorded a 30% monthly growth, achieving a surplus of SAR 20.769 billion ($5.6 billion) in October 2024, according to the Kingdom’s recently released global trade bulletin. This marks an increase of over SAR 4 billion ($1.08 billion) from SAR 15.999 billion ($4.32...

Manufacturers see AI as critical for decarbonization (66%), improving ESG scores, energy monitoring (55%), advancing digital twins (68%), and enabling predictive maintenance (64%), driving sustainability and operational gains.

Last week, in an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television, Sharaa said Saudi Arabia "will certainly have a large role in Syria's future", pointing to "a big investment opportunity for all neighbouring countries".

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The value of assets under Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) assets—both domestic and foreign—in the Saudi financial market recorded an annual growth of 37 percent (by nearly SAR 43 billion or $11.44bn) by the end of the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.This brings...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Unemployment rate among Saudi nationals reached 7.8 percent in the third quarter of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 1 percentage point from the similar period last year.Data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said that the Saudi and non-Saudi labor force stood at 66.6 percent,...

Paris, France -- Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk's startup xAI said it had raised $6 billion from investors in its latest funding round, as it battles stiff competition in the artificial intelligence market.The firm, whose flagship product is the Grok chatbot, garnered support from US venture capitalists, chipmakers NVIDIA and AMD,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The number of employees in tourism-related activities in Saudi Arabia increased by 5.1 percent in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 959,175, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).GASTAT's Tourism Establishments Statistics bulletin for the second quarter of...

The occupied Golan is home to about 23,000 Druze Arabs, whose presence predates the occupation and most of whom retain Syrian citizenship, as well as around 30,000 Israelis.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Fireworks and drones depicting the iconic golden World Cup trophy lit up the sky in Saudi Arabia's capital Wednesday after FIFA confirmed the Gulf kingdom would play host to the tournament in 2034.While the news was hardly a surprise, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the sole candidate...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Landmark talks on desertification are set to conclude in Saudi Arabia this week amid doubts that pledged funds will make a meaningful difference in the fight against the growing scourge.The 12-day meeting of parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), known as COP16, has already...

London, United Kingdom -- Britain's leader Keir Starmer makes his first trip to the Gulf as prime minister from Sunday, seeking to attract investment from the region's oil-rich states, Downing Street announced.Starmer will first visit the United Arab Emirates and then travel to Saudi Arabia, before stopping off in Cyprus on...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Artificial intelligence (AI) has contributed to saving 150 million sheets of paper and conserving 1.5 billion liters of water, Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) President Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi said on Wednesday.In a speech at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum 2024 held on the sidelines...

The French president said they want to involve both European and non-European allies who are ready to move in this direction but who are waiting for France.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- French President Emmanuel Macron and over 100 CEOs besides members of OPSWF, asset managers, and private equity fund representatives attended the seventh annual summit for the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Funds (OPSWF) Group in Riyadh on Tuesday.Among the attendees was Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor Public Investment Fund...

While developing countries paid a record US$1.4 trillion to service debts, the non-oil sectors in the GCC countries are fueling growth and diversification,

According to World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, “The new Knowledge Hub being created by the World Bank Group and Saudi Arabia is a key step forward to scale up".

An agreement for the purchase of 10% equity stake was signed in June 2024.

Macron is beginning the first state visit by a French president to Saudi Arabia since Jacques Chirac in 2006, cementing what the presidency calls a "very close relationship". He arrives as France's less than three-month-old minority government faces the prospect of being forced out by a no-confidence vote in the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia will host the COP16 UN conference on land degradation and desertification next week as the top oil exporter pitches itself as an environmental defender despite criticism of its role at climate talks.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the meeting for the United Nations Convention to...

The 22-member OPEC+ group led by Saudi Arabia and Russia was due to decide on its 2025 output policy at a ministerial meeting originally scheduled for Sunday.

Cities must adopt EVs alongside shared transport, robust infrastructure, clean energy, and inclusivity, says Jamie Wylie, an urban mobility expert.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday it is ready to open the first part of the Riyadh Metro, a major project intended to help shift the car-centric kingdom to public transport.Three lines will open to the public on December 1, "with gradual launches completing the six-line, 176-kilometre (109...

US president says ceasefire takes effect on Wednesday at 4:00 AM Beirut time, as Lebanese officials accuse Israel of trying to inflict maximum damage through a wave airstrikes in Beirut before the truce deadline.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has set a Guinness World Record for the largest food cluster in the world with the Jeddah Food Cluster, which spans over 11 million square meters and has set a new global benchmark.The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) announced ambitious...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) announced Sunday the launch of the Centre for Space Futures, the first of its kind within the network of Fourth Industrial Revolution Centers affiliated with the World Economic Forum. This initiative is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to solidify its...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports surged by 22.8 percent in September, according to a report by the kingdom's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).The September 2024 International Trade Report said national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, rose by 11.6 percent and the value of re-exported goods increased by 65.4...

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has backed extravagant sports investments -- set to culminate in Saudi Arabia hosting the football World Cup in 2034 -- to diversify its oil-rich economy.

For the nine-month period, net profit increased by 73.3%.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Minister of Education Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan alongside U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, on Wednesday launched the Saudi-U.S. Higher Education Partnerships Forum.Organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Institute of International Education (IIE), the...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian Joint Tripartite Committee to follow up on the Beijing Agreement in Riyadh on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement in all its provisions.They also reaffirmed their continued endeavor to consolidate neighborly relations between their countries through adherence...

In the world of real estate, luxury is traditionally linked to opulent homes and lavish design. But luxury in the Saudi market is something deeper and more meaningful than any individual property. It is about a holistic approach that transcends physical spaces. LuxuSuch a vision, therefore, aligns perfectly with the Saudi...

In a big move, Saudi Arabia appoints Aiman al-Mudaifer as NEOM’s interim CEO, a strategic choice to advance the futuristic city’s progress and strengthen Vision 2030.

The summit's closing statement said that "a just and comprehensive peace in the region... cannot be achieved without ending the Israeli occupation of all occupied Arab territories to the line of June 4, 1967," referring to the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem as well as Gaza and the Golan...

Indicating improving ties between the two major powerhouses in the Middle East, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged international community to ensure respect the sovereignty of the "sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran".

Prince Salman also called on Israel not to attack Iran, highlighting improving ties between Saudi Arabia and its former regional rival. Meanwhile, Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned that the country was suffering an "existential" crisis and hit out at countries meddling in its internal affairs -- a thinly veiled...

Arab and Muslim leaders are gathering in Saudi capital city Riyadh to discuss Israeli war against Gaza and Lebanon in a bid to send a message to President-elect Donald Trump.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Arab and Muslim leaders have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia for a summit scheduled for Monday that will focus on Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon, Saudi state media said.The Saudi foreign ministry announced the summit in late October during the first meeting of an "international alliance"...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Energy giant Saudi Aramco reported a 15 percent year-on-year drop in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, citing prices which have stayed low despite production cuts and war in the Middle East.The fall in net income to $27.56 billion from $32.58 billion in 2023 is the seventh consecutive quarterly...

Since last year Saudi Arabia has been bargaining hard for a defense pact with the United States as well as assistance with a civilian nuclear program. As part of that deal the Gulf kingdom, home to the holiest shrines in Islam, would recognize Israel for the first time.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Two falcons were sold for a combined total of $81,300 (SAR305,000 ) on the tenth night of the Saudi Falcons Club Auction 2024, held at the club's headquarters in Malham and running through November 15.The auction began with a Shaheen falcon from Al-Shuaibah. Owned by Saud,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's planned futuristic mega-city known as NEOM announced on Sunday the opening of its "first physical showcase": a luxury Red Sea island featuring restaurants, hotels and yachting berths.The opening of the island, known as Sindalah, comes amid persistent doubts about NEOM's viability and ahead of a...