Trump's sweeping tariffs are reshaping trade dynamics across MENA, impacting oil-exporting Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, according to Atlantic Council experts.

Other Gulf markets also took a dive, reflecting global trends as countries around the world grapple with Trump's shock tariffs affecting US allies and rivals alike.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's tourism sector achieved a record surplus in the 2024 travel account, reaching SAR49.8 billion ($13.27bn), a 7.8% increase over 2023, according to a Tourism Ministry press release. The release said that this surge was fueled by a 13.8 percent increase in inbound visitor spending...

China on Thursday said it "firmly opposes" sweeping new US tariffs on its exports and vowed "countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests".

Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf Arab states are to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday from Sunday but other Middle Eastern countries will not do so until Monday.

Saudi Arabia is transforming its culinary arts into a cultural ambassador, blending tradition with innovation. Through culinary education, tourism, and global collaborations, the Kingdom showcases its rich heritage, fostering cultural exchange and positioning Saudi cuisine on the international stage.

Hofuf, Saudi Arabia - Saudi tailor Habib Mohammed's shop once made ornate, hand-woven cloaks for royals, a time-honoured craft he is determined to preserve even as mass-produced garments flood the market, threatening his traditional business. He makes "bisht", a long gown which for centuries has been a status symbol, worn...

With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid end to the war that has killed tens of thousands of people, US negotiators shuttled separately over three days in the Saudi capital Riyadh between delegations from Ukraine and Russia.

The 50% equity interest in BHIG is Aramco-APQ joint venture.

Saitama, Japan --  Saudi Arabia battled to a 0-0 away draw with already qualified Japan on Tuesday to keep their fading hopes of an automatic place at the 2026 World Cup alive. The Saudis went into the game in Saitama in third place in Asian qualifying third round Group C,...

The US-Ukraine and US-Russia talks were originally planned to take place simultaneously to enable shuttle diplomacy, with the United States going back and forth between the delegations, but they are now taking place one after the other.

US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes talks in Riyadh could pave the way for a breakthrough, with both sides have proposed different plans for temporary ceasefires.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's poultry sector has reached complete self-sufficiency in table egg production, with output surpassing 8 billion eggs by 2024, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. The Ministry highlighted that the Kingdom's egg production not only meets domestic demand but also generates a...

Az Zulfī, Saudi Arabia -- The ear-splitting roar of his jet ski fills the air as Hamza al-Hamm thunders past, kicking up plumes of water -- not at the beach, but in the heart of the Saudi Arabian desert. Sand-caked SUVs ring the temporary lake, formed by winter rains, as...

The company's net profit increased by 81.5 percent in Q4 2024.

US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week, officials said on Sunday, as Washington and Kyiv's European allies press Moscow to accept a ceasefire in the three-year war.

The bigger your vision, the bigger your achievement will be. Will you stumble on the way? Perhaps, but we cannot let fear keep us small, says Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai.

A study by the World Economic Forum reveals that AI could replace around 85 million jobs by 2025

Partnerships with institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Venice Biennale, and Hollywood productions elevate the GCC’s cultural landscape.

IoT applications are transforming critical sectors such as transportation, where connected vehicles improve traffic management, utilities where smart grids enhance energy efficiency, and healthcare, where remote monitoring optimizes patient care.

The talks on Tuesday will be the first Ukraine-US meeting since a White House blow-up between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump that led to Washington halting military aid to Kyiv. "We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea," the official told AFP.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed a meeting between the United States and Ukraine due next week in Jeddah, describing it as part of the kingdom's efforts "to end the Ukrainian crisis". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had announced he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to...

PwC forecasts that AI could contribute US$320 billion to Middle Eastern economies by 2030, with healthcare predicted to see some of the largest gains relative to its current size

The region, fueled by ambition and massive investment, is rapidly advancing in technology and infrastructure, aiming to secure a leading role in the 4IR.

Truce mediators Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of blatantly violating the ceasefire deal by halting the aid, a move left trucks loaded with goods lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to Gaza.

Observing fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. Observant Muslims are also encouraged to donate to the poor.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 81.6 percent of Saudi individuals visited at least one cultural event or activity in 2024, according to the 2024 Household Culture and Entertainment Survey by the Kingdom's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The survey said that 85.3 percent attended at least one entertainment event or activity. The...

This is an increase of 85.7 percent over the previous year.

Washington noted European nations would have to have a seat at the negotiating table "at some point", following the first high-level official Washington-Moscow talks since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "committed to US President Trump's plan for the creation of a different Gaza", also promising that after the war, "there will be neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority" ruling the territory.

Paris, France - Saudi Arabian sports investment fund SURJ, linked to the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, has acquired a minority stake in sports streaming platform DAZN, the two parties announced on Monday. The statement said the deal would focus on the Middle East and North Africa. "As part of this agreement,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate in Jan 2025 reached 2 percent compared to January 2024, the kingdom's General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for January 2025. According to GASTAT, Saudi Arabia's inflation rate is considered the lowest among the...

Trump sparked a global outcry with his proposal for the United States to "take over" the Gaza Strip and to move more than two million Palestinians out of the war-devastated territory, citing Egypt or Jordan as possible destinations.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Under a vast canopy of tents in the Saudi city of Jeddah, religious artefacts are on display alongside contemporary art pieces, part of the kingdom's bid to transform its image. The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, titled "And All That Is In Between", features as...

Trump told Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier that "I would own it" and that there could be as many as six different sites for Palestinians to live outside Gaza -- under the plan which the Arab world has rejected.

The Sukuk were offered in a five-year and a 10-year tranche.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it will not formalize ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is established, after Israel's prime minister remarked that he thought normalisation with the Gulf kingdom was "going to happen". "Saudi Arabia will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state...

In a bid to boost prices, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) headed by Saudi Arabia and Russian-led allies have cut supply by almost six million barrels per day (bpd) since 2022. The OPEC+ alliance has repeatedly postponed putting some of the withheld barrels back on the market.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, marking his first foreign visit and signaling Syria’s realignment towards the Gulf after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

Visit Saudi, experience the warmth, generosity and hospitality of the people, Jerry Inzerillo tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

Beyond AI, new technologies will leverage artificial intelligence to drive the next phase of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Alphaeus Hanson, Chair of Jacksonville Global Shapers tells TRENDS in an interview.

The international community must prioritize cooperation and dialogue to overcome the challenges of a fragmented world, the Saudi delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 said today. Calling for global collaboration to shape a prosperous future, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin...

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....

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...

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...

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,...