U.S.-SAUDI

House Speaker Ryan meets Saudi King Salman in Riyadh

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A statement by Ryan's office said his meetings in the Middle East "will focus on regional stability, the campaign against ISIS and terrorism, and Iranian aggression."

Saudi Arabia

News, analysis, and more

Driving Ban Lifted

Road To 2030: The Economic Impact Of Women Driving In Saudi Arabia

An immediate effect from allowing women to drive is the new market for women drivers. There are estimates that out of the country’s 30 million...

 

Economy and Energy

Goodbye oil, Saudi Arabia’s future economic growth will come from its mega-cities

Saudi Arabia's economy is entering a post-oil era in which the kingdom's mega-cities, a number of which are under construction, will provide the country's future...

 

Vision 2030

Big reforms are coming to Saudi Arabia this year

Saudi Arabia began a series of reforms last year to its ultraconservative social dictates, including bringing back movie theaters and, most notably, announcing that women...

 

MBS

Perspective: The rise of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince reveals a harsh truth

The crown prince inherited a sclerotic state with limited administrative capacity and an economy that is largely reliant on declining oil revenues....

 

Corruption Crackdown

Saudi Corruption Cash Settlements Will Help Finance Royal Handouts: Finance Minister

Cash settlements obtained from people detained in Saudi Arabia's crackdown on corruption will help to finance a 50 billion riyal ($13.3 billion) package to help...

 

Tourism

´White oil´: Saudi Arabia seeks place on tourism map

Saudi Arabia will soon begin issuing tourist visas, opening up one of the last frontiers of global tourism -- a sector touted as the desert...

 

Finance Minister Interview

CNBC Interview with Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan

I think, if you look at the announcement of the budget for 2018, it is an expansionary budget. We are spending a lot on infrastructure,...

 

Aramco IPO

Saudi regulator asked to study local market impact of Aramco IPO

The Shura Council’s fiscal committee has also asked the Capital Market Authority (CMA) to make sure that the stock market’s liquidity does not become concentrated...

 

Aramco IPO

NYSE sees no need to ‘bend over backwards’ to woo Aramco IPO

The New York Stock Exchange took a swipe on Tuesday at its London rival in their battle to attract the foreign listing of shares in...

 

Oil Exports

Saudi Arabia to keep Q1 crude exports at around 7 million BPD

Saudi Arabia plans to keep its crude oil exports at around 7 million barrels per day for the first quarter despite planned refinery shutdowns, industry...

 

US Speaker Visit

US House Speaker meets Saudi king in regional security talks

Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, is traveling with five Republican members of congress and one Democrat. The delegation includes Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry...

 

The King Abdelaziz Center for World Culture

Unforgettable Architecture of Saudi Arabia’s Newest Cultural Center

Located in the city of Dharan in Saudi Arabia is The King Abdelaziz Center for World Culture, a center for promoting cultural learnings through symphony...

 

Saudi Aramco

Aramco Trading Starts Swapping Saudi Crude Oil for Refined Fuels

Saudi Aramco’s trading unit started swapping the kingdom’s crude oil for products refined in other countries, according to its chief executive officer....

 

Culture and Tradition

Camels banned from Saudi beauty contest over Botox

Twelve prized camels have been disqualified from a beauty contest in Saudi Arabia after their owners tried to tweak their good looks with Botox....

 

Saudi +

Regional and related topics

Afghanistan

US says multiple Americans among casualties in Kabul attack

Multiple American citizens were among the dead and wounded in the Taliban’s 13-hour siege of an upscale hotel in the capital Kabul over the weekend...

 

Davos ME Session

Davos holds session on ‘finding a new equilibrium in the Middle East’ : Video

The World Economic Forum in Davos hosted a special panel session on ‘finding a new equilibrium in the Middle East’ which  included Deputy Prime Minister...

 

Iran Nuclear Agreement

Commentary: US uncertainty over nuclear deal complicates Iran’s economy

Given that the success of the deal seems increasingly predicated on the delivery of economic dividends — and given that these dividends are now admittedly and...

 

Iran Unrest

The Tweet Trump Could Never Send Tehran

That’s not something an American president who thinks climate change is a hoax can tweet about — but it is a key reason the street...

 

Jerusalem

Analysis: The Implications of President Trump’s Jerusalem Ploy

When the second Temple was destroyed and the sages deferred its rebuilding and the resumption of its rituals to messianic times, there was no longer...

 

U.S.-Syria

Perspective: A New Decision to Go to War in Syria

The U.S. military expedition in Syria is now, according to Tillerson’s own words, aiming at three things other than IS or terrorism....

 

Syria's Chemical Weapons

US blames Russia for Syria chemical weapons attacks

Washington's top diplomat has accused Moscow of breaching "its commitments" to destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles, following reports of a new attack near Damascus. Syria...

 

Turkey

Turkey detains scores over comments on Syria incursion

Turkey arrested dozens of people overnight for “spreading terrorist propaganda” about its Syrian incursion, state media said Tuesday, raising to nearly 100 the number of...

 

U.S. Middle East Policy

In Israel, Pence says U.S. aims to pull out of Iran nuke deal

The remarks came as Pence wrapped up his visit to Israel. On Monday, he repeatedly referred to Jerusalem as Israel's capital, speaking alongside Prime Minister...

 

UN Envoy to Yemen

British mediator Martin Griffiths ‘appointed new UN envoy to Yemen’

UN Yemen mediator Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed will step down when his current contract finishes at the end of February after nearly three years in...

 

Egypt

Egypt ‘arrests former general Sami Anan’ who planned to challenge Sisi in elections

Sami Anan, the former army chief of staff, announced earlier this month that he would stand against Mr Sisi but on Tuesday he was summoned...

 

Iran

The Lion and the Dragon: Iran Looks to China for Trade and Development

Iran has already increased oil exports to China. In October, 2017, for example, Iran exported 786,060 barrels per day to China, a 59 percent increase...

 

National Defense Strategy

How to read the 2018 National Defense Strategy

By rolling out the NDS himself, Secretary Mattis succeeded in conveying that this is his strategy, not simply the work of hundreds of diligent Pentagon...

 

Turkey

Turkey detains 91, including politicians, journalists, over Syria comments

Turkey arrested dozens of people overnight for "spreading terrorist propaganda" about its Syrian incursion, state media said on Tuesday, raising to nearly 100 the number...

 

Syria

Can Trump’s anti-Iran strategy survive hostilities with Turkey?

As Russia, Iran, and the US strive to establish facts on the ground to maximize their chances of shaping postwar Syria, Turkey is posing a...

 

Global Oil Markets

Global Oil Markets Set to Strengthen Further in 2018

While the strong start to 2018 is a welcome development for producers, OPEC is also mindful that prices ebb and flow on any number of...

 

TSA Restrictions

TSA tightens screening on cargo from six Middle East airlines

The carriers are Egypt Air, Royal Jordanian, Saudia, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad. They operate flights to the U.S. from seven points-of-departure airports in five...

 

Davos Survey

Mideast CEOs’ confidence in global economy at record levels, WEF told

For the first time, a majority of top executives in the region — some 52 percent — thought that global economic growth would improve this...

 

Iran in the Region

Out in the cold: Iran faces anger of US, Europe, Saudi Arabia

Iran came under sustained diplomatic attack on three fronts on Monday over its destabilizing activities in the region, its ballistic missile program and the “ill-conceived”...

 

Raqqa

In Shattered Raqqa, Top US General Calls for the World’s Help

The population of Raqqa dwindled from 200,000 to just 5,000 of the most hardcore ISIS followers and their families, according to one U.S. military officer...

 

Hamas

Analysis: Hamas shifts West Bank strategy

Zohri’s threats to send “more cells like the Jenin cell” were meant to reach the Palestinian street. His threats express Hamas’ new strategy in light...

 

Iran

Iran may try to loosen Revolutionary Guard’s grip on economy

The comments this weekend by Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami appear to be a trial balloon to test the reaction of the idea, long pushed...

 

Yemen

OIC ministers warn Yemen could turn into terror haven

The threat posed to the region was raised at a meeting of the OIC's ministerial contact group on Yemen that was held on the sidelines...

 

Cyber Attacks

Lebanese Government Hackers Hit Thousands of Victims With Incredibly Simple Campaign

Hackers allegedly working for the government of Lebanon stole hundreds of gigabytes from thousands of victims all over the world, and they did it using...

 

Syria

Turkish troops enter Afrin in northern Syria as offensive against Kurds continues

Turkish troops have reportedly entered the Kurdish-held enclave in northern Syria as part of the second day of their offensive alongside Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters....

 

Syrian Refugees

Syria conflict: 15 refugees found frozen to death

Lebanon, with a population of four million, has taken in nearly one million Syrians since the war began in 2011....

 

Qatar Crisis

Gulf Crisis turns Qatar into the ‘Region’s Israel’

Mr. Dershowitz no doubt did Qatar a favour by visiting the country and by coming out in its defense. Comparing Qatar to Israel, however, may...

 

Jerusalem

Mike Pence’s Israel Speech Disrupted By Brawl After Arab Lawmaker Protest

Vice President Mike Pence’s speech to the Israeli parliament was disrupted Monday after Arab lawmakers held up placards and engaged in a brawl with security...

 

Iraq

Commentary: Can the US still rely on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi?

His coalition announced that he will join forces with Iran-aligned militias that spear the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the umbrella Shiite militia organization established in...

 

ME Force Posture

Analysis: How Should the Pentagon Reshape Its Mideast Posture? Four Indicators to Watch

The Qatar flap will hardly be the region’s final challenge to U.S., allied and partner interests. In this second piece in a series, we look...

 

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