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Saudi Arabia

October 9, 2024

Riyadh 7:28 am

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the press, in front of the portrait of slain Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, after meeting with Syrian officials at the Iranian embassy in Damascus on Oct. 5, 2024.

Analysis

'Do not test our will,' Iran FM Araghchi warns Israel ahead of Saudi Arabia visit

Iran's foreign minister began a regional tour as Tehran prepared for a possible Israeli strike, with its Revolutionary Guard saying it had a wide range of plans in store for retaliation.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

AFP via Getty Images

Middle East startups see 34% uptick in global investors

Data firm MAGNiTT reported Tuesday that the Middle East far outperformed other markets and regions, including Africa and Southeast Asia, which saw steeper drops.

People pass by a cryptocurrency exchange branch near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul on Oct. 20, 2021, a day after Bitcoin took another step closer to mainstream investing with the launch of a new security on Wall Street tied to futures of the cryptocurrency.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia power Mideast crypto adoption as growth cools in Iran, Egypt

Although one of the world's smaller crypto markets, the Middle East in 2024 has continued featuring strong grassroots uptake in key markets

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with regional leaders at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha on Oct. 2, 2024.

As Iran, Israel lurch toward war, Saudi Arabia seeks rapprochement with Tehran

Riyadh seeks assurances from Tehran that energy infrastructure in the region is spared amid talks of Israeli retaliation targeting Iranian oil and gas assets.

Latest News

Analysis

How an Israeli retaliation on Iran could impact Gulf energy flow

A man walks across from a raging fire at oil storage tanks a day after Israeli strikes on the port of Yemen's Houthi-held city of Hodeidah on July 21, 2024.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Analysis

Egypt-Saudi deals beckon after $5B PIF pledge but question marks cloud outlook

A man walks near the new headquarters of Egypt's Central Bank at the New Administrative Capital megaproject about 45 kilometres east of the current capital Cairo on Aug. 1, 2023.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

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What's behind attack on UAE ambassador in Sudan?

Smoke billows during airstrikes in central Khartoum as the Sudanese army attacks positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces throughout the capital, Khartoum, Sudan, Sept. 26, 2024.

United Arab Emirates

Saudi crown prince says no Israel normalization without Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) in Jeddah, on March 20, 2024.

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

This picture taken from the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows the war-ravaged city of Rafah on July 4, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues.

Saudi Arabia condemns Netanyahu's Philadelphi Corridor statements

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments regarding the Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor.

A cargo ship is docked at the port of Yemen's Huthi-held city of Hodeida on July 28, 2024. Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi entity denies its ship hit as Houthis claim attack on Greek tanker

Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri denied reports that its tanker Amjad came under attack by the Houthis, the Yemeni armed group that has stepped up attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea.

Houthi ships

Two oil tankers come under attack in the Red Sea, sources say

Oil tankers transiting the Red Sea are facing renewed dangers while transiting one of the world's most critical chokepoints for crude.

King Abdullah Centre

Middle East fintech funding sees 650% spike in 2020-2023

Fintech is one of the most funded and transacted industries across the MENA region, according to a MAGNiTT report, accounting for 24% of all venture investment in the region in the first half of 2024.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi (R), shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, before a family photo for the attendees of a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on November 20, 2023.

How significant is PIF's $50B China investment for Saudi ties?

Though Riyadh continues its efforts toward economic integration with Beijing, it still seeks to balance relations with both Beijing and Washington.

MBS Erdogan

Saudi, Turkish leaders call for pressure on Israel to end Gaza war

The two countries have repeatedly called for an end of the war in the Gaza Strip since it erupted last October.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

As main funder of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's PIF doubles down on domestic investments

Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund is doubling down on domestic investments to support plans to diversify beyond oil revenues, which have fueled the kingdom’s economy for decades.

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir takes part in the Jerusalem Day Flag March in the Old City on June 5, 2024 in Jerusalem.

Saudi Arabia, UAE speak out against Israeli far right's moves on Al-Aqsa

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have called for an end to provocations at one of Islam's holiest sites amid comments by Israel's national security minister about building a synagogue on the site.

A vendor selling dates walks across a street in Islamabad on July 8, 2024, as cash-strapped Pakistan adopted a $68 billion budget laced with tax-raising measures on June 28, seeking to secure a new bailout from the IMF.

Pakistan to raise $4B from Middle East banks amid economic turbulence

For many years, Pakistan has relied on China and Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to roll over some of its debt to avoid having to repay it sooner.

Jennifer Gnana event

Al-Monitor expands Gulf coverage with new talent led by Jennifer Gnana

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's oil revenue falls to three-year low as OPEC+ cuts bite

A low price environment and sustained production cuts have impacted Riyadh's ability to earn more oil revenue.

Jennifer Gnana

Samuel Wendel

By Jennifer Gnana , Samuel Wendel

URS FLUEELER/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi FM makes unannounced visit to Iraq, meets Sudani: What we know

Saudi Arabia and Gulf states are showing increasing interest in Iran-dominated Iraq.