Geopolitics

• “Houthi strike on Saudi airport kills 12, worst attack on kingdom in a decade.” Al-Monitor, October 10, 2026.

“At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in an attack on Riyadh's international airport on Saturday, the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade.”

“The dead from the third attack this week on the airport included four Saudis, two people from Bangladesh and one person each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, the Saudi civil aviation authority said. At the latest count, 309 were wounded, officials said.”

• “Vessel struck by unknown projectile off UAE coast amid surge in attacks, UKMTO says.” Reuters, October 9, 2026.

“While there was no claim of responsibility, maritime security sources said on Friday that the strike was outside of the Hormuz ​area and indicated a widening of risk for ships.”

• “FlyDubai Co-Pilot Planned to Crash Into Israeli Airport, U.A.E. Says.” WSJ, October 9, 2026.

“Al-Hammami “drew inspiration from the 11 September 2001 attacks, and the idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his thinking,” Al Shamsi said in a statement carried by the U.A.E.’s state-run WAM news agency.”

• “UK says Kuwait buys $489mln air defence system.” Zawya, October 9, 2026.

“Kuwait is buying the system, which will incorporate jammers, radars and interceptors with an AI-enabled control centre, from London-headquartered MARSS, a company owned by Australia’s EOS.”

Market, Economy & Domestic Issues

• “New construction projects in the Gulf plunge 37%.” Semafor, October 9, 2026.

“The war caught up with the Gulf’s construction sector last quarter. Project awards across the region fell 37.2% from a year earlier to $47.4 billion, according to Kuwaiti investment firm Kamco Invest. Every country was down by double digits..”

Go Deeper: “GCC Projects Market Update October-2026” KAMCO, [PDF].

• “UAE economy reaches $262bln in H1 2026.” Zawya, October 9, 2026.

“Non-oil GDP grew by 1.8 percent, increasing the contribution of non-oil activities to 79.2 percent of the national economy, compared to 78.1 percent during the corresponding period of the previous year.”

Go Deeper: “Quarterly National Accounts.” Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC) , 2026.

• “Saudi Arabia quietly shelving NEOM Stadium, one of 2034 World Cup venues.” Reuters, October 4, 2026.

“According to MEED, NEOM’s stadium is expected to cost $2.5 billion. It lists the projected 46,000-seat stadium in its data as ‘on hold’.”

The stadium has no listed completion date, according to the data, which describes the remaining stadiums and facilities as in various stages of development, with completion expected between 2026 and 2033.

Go Deeper: “Joy Awards 2027 set to be cancelled in Saudi Arabia as entertainment calendar shifts.” Gulf News, October 06, 2026.

• “QatarEnergy’s LNG expansion project poised to start operations in November, sources say.” Reuters, October 7, 2026.

“QatarEnergy Chief Executive Saad al-Kaabi said last month that the project was expected to begin production in the first half of 2027 ​despite the US-Israeli war against Iran and the resulting disruption to shipping through ​the Strait of Hormuz.”

• “Saudi Tycoons Built $9 Billion Fortune Off Water Instead of Oil.” Bloomberg, October 8, 2026.

“ACWA has a market value of $34.9 billion. Saudi Arabia’s Abunayyan and Al Muhaidib families together own at least 26.3%, both directly and through their joint holding company, Vision Invest, based on filings and calculations by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The kingdom’s $905 billion Public Investment Fund is the biggest shareholder, controlling 44.2%.”

• “Saudi, UAE Join Japan-Led Push to Bolster Asian Oil Buffers.” Bloomberg, October 8, 2026.

“In April, Japan announced $10 billion of financial support for Southeast Asian nations struggling with soaring crude prices and supply disruptions from the Middle East war. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s initiative includes assistance for oil procurement, storage and emergency reserves aimed at strengthening the region’s ability to withstand future shocks.”

• “SoftBank seeks up to $100 billion from Gulf investors for AI push, FT reports.” Reuters, October 9, 2026.

“The move comes as Son ​ramps up AI bets, with the company announcing last week ‌that ⁠it completed its $30 billion investment in OpenAI as part of its commitment to the ChatGPT maker’s last fundraising round.”

“SoftBank also raised $11.1 ​billion last month ​in ⁠the largest high-yield corporate bond sale globally to fund its mammoth ​bet on OpenAI.”

Go Deeper: “OpenAI in $30 Billion Round Talks With UAE Funds, BlackRock.” Bloomberg, October 5, 2026.

• “Oman tests global investor appetite for funding net-zero transition.” Zawya, October 6, 2026.

“Dr Muhannad al Kalbani, Vice President (Centre of Excellence) - Oman Net Zero Centre, said the Centre recently joined the Ministry of Finance on a non-binding green finance roadshow in London, where the Omani delegation held discussions with prospective investors.”

• UAE: “Alabbar advances $18 billion Syria projects.” Semafor, October 7, 2026.

“Alabbar said he would prioritize using Syrian contractors and sourcing supplies locally for the projects, which are expected to create more than 40,000 jobs but the value of which wasn’t disclosed, according to The National.”

Go Deeper: “Abu Dhabi’s Eagle Hills to develop residential and tourism projects in Syria.” The National, October 5, 2026.

Geopolitics

• “UAE Forms Investigation Team to Probe Flydubai Flight Incident.” Asharq Al-Awsat, October 1, 2026.

“UAE Public Prosecutor Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered the formation of an investigation team comprising specialized members of the Public Prosecution to investigate an incident involving Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv yesterday and was diverted before landing safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.”

Go Deeper: “Plane to Israel Narrowly Averts Disaster After Pilot Stabbing.” New York Times, September 30, 2026.

• “Saudi Grand Mufti tells troops to ‘stand united’ against Houthis, restore stability in Yemen.” Khaleej Times, September 25, 2026.

“The rare and strongly worded message by Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al Fawzan was addressed to soldiers stationed at the country’s borders and drew on Quranic verses and recorded sayings of the Prophet Muhammad related to sacrifice and struggle in defence of God.”

• “Saudi coalition says it intercepts Houthi missiles, drones.” Reuters, September 25, 2026.

“Hours earlier, the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia and defence allies Pakistan and Turkey ​reviewed threats facing ​Saudi Arabia at ⁠a meeting in the Saudi capital.”

“The three signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement last month, saying they would regard ​an armed attack on any of them to be ​an ⁠attack on all. They said the pact aimed to strengthen collective deterrence and military cooperation.”

• “UAE bars Iranian airlines as US sanctions squeeze Iran’s aviation sector.” Al Jazeera, September 25, 2026.

“The United Arab Emirates has halted flights operated by Iranian airlines, joining several other countries in adopting United States sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran’s aviation sector.”

• “Oman urges UN members to refrain from use of force.” Arab News, September 27, 2026.

“Al-Busaidi said negotiations and dialogue could have avoided the conflict in the region and its devastating effects on the Gulf, including the disruption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for transporting oil.”

• “Saudi Arabia pledges $6 million to UN Counter-Terrorism Center programs.” Saudi Gazette, September 27, 2026.

“The announcement came on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Kingdom’s contribution will be distributed over four calendar years beginning in the 2027 fiscal year.”

• “France to protect Saudi energy sites after Houthi attacks.” AGBI, September 25, 2026.

“France will provide military support to Saudi Arabia to help protect the port city of Yanbu, French president Emmanuel Macron said.”

Market & Economy

• “Qatar Reshapes Wealth Fund Strategy With New Local Platform.” Bloomberg, September 20, 2026.

“The platform, Doha Investment, will seek to accelerate long-term value creation and boost private-sector participation in the Gulf nation’s economy, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at the Qatar Economic Forum in New York Sunday.”

• “UAE VAT Changes Indicate Broader Shift in Administration.” Bloomberg Tax, September 25, 2026.

“The United Arab Emirates has approved a significant overhaul of its value-added tax executive regulations. The changes affect how businesses calculate input VAT recovery, make payments, structure composite supplies, and document certain transactions.”

Go Deeper: “The Executive Regulation of the Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax.” [UAE] Federal Tax Authority, 2026 [PDF].

• “Microsoft doubles down on investment in the Gulf.” Semafor, September 24, 2026.

“Microsoft is accelerating investment in the Gulf, planning to spend at least $10 billion by 2030 to shore up the region’s digital resilience. While a drop in the bucket compared with global AI spending, the move to expand data centers and lay more subsea and overland cables for backup connectivity is a vote of confidence in a region whose tech ambitions were called into question by the Iran war. Amazon Web Services said this month it won’t restore one of its three UAE availability zones or its Bahrain network after damage from Iranian strikes.”

• “Saudi Arabia contracts SLB to drill 450 wells.” AGBI, September 25, 2026.

“Following Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia shifted oil exports west to Yanbu, with the stated aim of shipping 5 million barrels per day (bpd).”

“This ambition has been hampered as conflict with the Iran-backed Houthi group prevents Saudi vessels from passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait, which connects the Red Sea to Asian oil markets.”

• “Saudi-listed MIS says HUMAIN AI-focused data centre contract valued at $2.3bln.” Zawya, September 21, 2026.

“The agreement value exceeds 689 percent of the company’s total revenue in 2025, MIS said in a statement to the Saudi stock exchange. Revenue stood at 1.27 billion Saudi riyals (2.33 billion).”

• “Saudi Arabia’s $1.3 billion biotech push following Riyadh summit.” Semafor, September 24, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia announced $1.3 billion in biotech deals following a Riyadh summit last week, part of its push to become a global hub for the industry by 2040. They include a $130 million vaccine manufacturing plant that would be the Gulf’s largest.”

Go Deeper: “MODON Signs SAR500 million Contract to Establish Vaccine Industrial Company.” SPA, September 21, 2023

• “Saudi’s Ceer unveils first EVs in bid to build regional auto powerhouse.” Reuters, September 21, 2026.

“Ceer’s efforts to impress the market coincide with the greatest period of upheaval in the established car industry in the last ​century as Chinese automakers take share from traditional rivals and lead the world in developing flashy new EVs.”

Domestics

• “Saudi government agencies adopt over 500 public proposals to improve regulations.” Saudi Gazette, September 27, 2026.

“The platform, operated by the Saudi Center for Competitiveness and Business (SCCB), enables the public and the government and private sectors to provide feedback on draft laws and regulations related to economic and development affairs before they are approved.”

• “UAE launches new freight rail service connecting Fujairah with Abu Dhabi.” Semafor, September 24, 2026.

“Three times a week, Etihad Rail will move containers about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the port on the UAE’s Gulf of Oman coast to Abu Dhabi, where they can clear customs. Fujairah has become a crucial entry point since Iran began attacking ships in the strait early in its conflict with the US.”

• “Kuwait to host 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup in December.” Saudi Gazette, September 14, 2026.

“The tournament will be played at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and feature four clubs: Al Nassr, Al Kholood, Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah. The draw will take place on Oct. 14 to determine the two semifinal fixtures.”

Geopolitics

• “Gulf states postpone strait of Hormuz talks with Iran as Yemen conflict intensifies.” The Guardian, September 14, 2026.

“Gulf states have postponed a critical meeting with Iran on the future of the strait of Hormuz owing to a lack of Arab consensus and growing Saudi Arabian anger with Tehran for helping the Houthis loosen Riyadh’s grip in Yemen.”

• “Kuwait may join Abraham Accords within six months, Israeli envoy says.” I24, September 15, 2026.

“Yossi Shelley, Israel’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), told Kan on Tuesday that Kuwait may join the Abraham Accords within the next six months.”

• “US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say.” Reuters, September 16, 2026.

“The meeting, which has not been made public, was held at the US Embassy in Muscat, three of the sources said on ​the condition of anonymity. Two sources said that Oman’s government, a longtime regional mediator, helped organise the meeting.”

• “China presses Iran to help rein in Houthis after Saudi appeal, sources say.” Reuters, September 17, 2026.

“Riyadh turned to China for help after the Houthis made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, moves that have left Saudi oil exports and ‌shipping more exposed, the sources said.”

Go Deeper: “Iranian and Saudi panellists spar at Xiangshan Forum over Middle East attacks.” South China Morning Post, September 17, 2026.

• “Trump Moves Ahead With F-35 Jet Sales to Saudi Arabia Despite Intelligence Concerns.” New York Times, September 17, 2026.

“The package of the jets and a spare engine, valued at $24.3 billion, “will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense,” the State Department said in the announcement. The agency also gave formal notification to Congress of the pending sale.”

Go Deeper: “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft.” U.S State Department, September 17, 2026.

Market & Economy

• “GCC central banks raise interest rates after US Fed rate increase.” Zawya, September 16, 2026.

“GCC central banks raised interest rates after the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted unanimously to raise its benchmark interest rate to a target range of 3.75% to 4%.”

• “Aramco to boost Gulf exports to 60 million barrels in September, October, traders say.” Reuters, September 18, 2026.

“Chinese and South Korean refiners are among the top buyers of the ​spot supplies, while some volumes will be going to India and Japan, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.”

Go Deeper: “Download Monthly Oil Market Report - September 2026.” OPEC, [PDF].

• “Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate remains at 1.8% in Aug.” Reuters, September 15, 2026.

“The August data, released ​by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics, showed an increase by 3.9% in these sectors ​on an annual basis, slowing from ​a 4.2% rise in July.”

Go Deeper: “Average Prices of Goods and Services August 2026” General Authority for Statistics, [PDF].

• “Saudis Give European Oil Buyers No Supplies for Next Month.” Bloomberg, September 18, 2026.

“The absence of Saudi flows next month will heighten the need for European buyers to secure replacements. Already, Poland’s Orlen SA has been hunting for shipments, helping propel the prices of regional oil grades higher. Dated Brent, which is the benchmark for real-world barrels in Europe, topped $130 this week at one point.”

• “OPEC Fund earmarks $40mln for Oman’s Yiti Sustainable City project.” Zawya, September 18, 2026.

“The allocation forms part of $645 million in new financing announced by the OPEC Fund on September 16 for projects across 14 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The package comprises $435 million for public-sector projects and $210 million for private-sector operations.”

• “Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of uranium-bearing ore in Medina.” Reuters, September 14, 2026.

“Saudi ​Arabia has ‌discovered 110 million ​tonnes ​of raw materials ⁠containing uranium ​concentrations ​in Medina, the kingdom’s energy ​minister ​said at the ‌IAEA ⁠General Conference in Vienna, ​Saudi ​state ⁠TV reported ​on ​Monday.”

• “Little-Known UAE Investor Adds to Over $40 Billion Bet on Musk.” Bloomberg, September 10, 2026.

“Vy Capital features in the tunneling venture’s Series D round alongside Shamal Holding, which invests on behalf of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. The $3 billion round was backed by the United Arab Emirates and affiliated investment entities, Boring said in a statement on Thursday.”

• “Aramco says technology delivered $5 billion in value last year.” Semafor, September 17, 2026.

“The state-controlled oil producer’s “realized value” from technology, its measure of the financial impact of its tech investments, exceeded $5 billion last year. That surpassed Aramco’s targets and should grow further in coming years, senior vice president of digital and information technology Sami Al Ajmi said in an interview.”

• “Saudi Arabia’s US Treasury holdings rise by $10.7bln.” Zawya, September 17, 2026.

“The report also indicated that Saudi Arabia’s investments in US Treasury bonds and bills posted a monthly decline of 0.1 percent representing $100 million in July, reaching $142.4 billion. The Kingdom’s holdings are distributed between $110.2 billion in long-term bonds and bills, accounting for 77 percent and approximately $32.2 billion in short-term bonds and bills, that make up 23 percent.”

Geopolitics

• “Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Pipeline That Was a Crucial Hormuz Bypass.” WSJ, September 11, 2026.

“The crucial East-West pipeline can carry up to 7 million barrels of crude a day 750 miles from Saudi Arabia’s oil-producing heartland on the Persian Gulf to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea. From there, the Saudis had been able to ship millions of barrels of oil to customers around the world.”

Go Deeper: “Saudis shut down oil pipeline as Houthis tighten grip on Red Sea shipping.” Reuters, September 11, 2026.

• “Saudi crown prince sought US military help from Trump with Houthis, sources say.” Reuters, September 11, 2026.

“Trump held at least two phone conversations with the Saudi leader on Thursday and did not agree to the U.S. striking Houthis, the sources said. Washington told Riyadh that it would help with intelligence sharing and targeting, they added.”

Go Deeper: “Scoop: MBS urged Trump to strike Houthis amid Red Sea threat.” AXIOS, September 11, 2026.

• “Iraq Under Pressure After Drone Strikes Close Key Saudi Pipeline.” Bloomberg, September 12, 2026

“Iraq has been under pressure to try and rein in local Iran-backed militias from helping other proxy groups across the region, but has had little success and its territory has become a key base for Tehran’s retaliation across the Gulf.”

Go Deeper: “Iraq orders closure of Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran, two sources say.” Reuters, September 11, 2026.

• “Xi urges BRICS peace role in Middle East, courts Modi on India visit.” Reuters, September 12, 2026.

“Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the BRICS bloc to be a peacemaker in the Middle East conflict, in ​an address to a summit of member countries in New Delhi on ‌Saturday..”

“China will work with other BRICS members in that role, as the war ‘does not serve the common interests of the international community’, state-run CCTV quoted Xi as saying.”

• “Iran says will discuss Strait of Hormuz with Gulf states on Monday.” Al Jazeera, September 11, 2026.

“Iran is expected to meet with Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced..”

“In a statement on Friday, the ministry said the meeting is intended to ‘promote better understanding among the countries of the region and help strengthen shared regional security’.”

Go Deeper: “No signed Hormuz deal expected yet from Oman meeting on Monday, Iranian official says.” Reuters, September 12, 2026.

• “As Saudi tensions with Iran-backed Houthis escalate, mediator Pakistan faces pressure to choose a side.” Reuters, September 11, 2026.

“Pakistani officials worry the Houthi threat is more likely to draw Islamabad into a war than Iranian missile strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure were earlier this year. Pakistani soldiers are deployed near the Saudi border with Yemen, two Pakistani officials told Reuters in July, increasing their direct exposure.”

Go Deeper: “Houthi advance along Yemeni coast threatens Saudi oil exports.” Reuters, September 10, 2026.

• “Algeria to sever diplomatic ties with UAE.” BBC, September 11, 2026.

“Algeria is severing diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates after ‘provocative or hostile’ acts by the Gulf state, its foreign ministry said.”

• “Saudi Arabia could give UN nuclear watchdog greater inspection powers.” SEMAFOR, September 9, 2026.

“Saudi officials are negotiating a bilateral deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency that would include additional obligations for monitoring and verification. The Saudi-US deal would favor American firms over Chinese and Russian competitors, but is less restrictive in other areas. Saudi Arabia has not signed up to the “Additional Protocol” that grants IAEA inspectors sweeping access. Iran had implemented that protocol under its 2015 nuclear deal.”

Market & Economy

• “Iran war blows hole in Qatar budget.” SEMAFOR, September 9, 2026.

“Qatar posted its widest quarterly budget deficit since 2016 as the Iran war choked off most of its liquefied natural gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz. The 21.2 billion-riyal ($5.8 billion) second-quarter shortfall was almost double the previous quarter’s, and there are few signs that passage through the strait is easing. Still, several Qatari LNG tankers are heading toward the Gulf, which suggests there are expectations that shipments could resume soon, Bloomberg reported.”

Go Deeper: “Qatar State Budget 2026” Ministry of Finance, 2026.

• “UAE revises AI data center plan after Iranian attacks, sources say.” Reuters, September 11, 2026.

“The United Arab Emirates is quietly revising plans for a 5-gigawatt AI data center project – one of the biggest outside the U.S. – after the Iran ​war prompted a rethink of how and where critical infrastructure should be built, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters.”

Go Deeper: “Data Is Now the Front Line of Warfare.” CSIS, March 19, 2026.

• “Kuwait Oil Exports Recover as Tankers Find Ways Through Hormuz.” Bloomberg, September 8, 2026.

“Kuwait’s crude shipments have recovered to almost two-thirds of the 1.6 million barrels a day it exported on average last year as more tankers find ways to navigate Hormuz. Exports had slumped to multiyear lows after the Iran war began in late February.”

• “QatarEnergy seeks US LNG deals through to 2031, sources say.” Reuters, September 11, 2026.

“The contract talks are part of the company’s efforts to replace lost volumes from its Ras Laffan facility after two of its 14 LNG trains and a gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility were damaged by Iranian strikes ​in March, the sources said. The discussions also mark a shift from QatarEnergy’s purchases of dozens of U.S. spot ​LNG cargoes to help meet commitments to some of its Asian clients, suggesting it is now ⁠seeking longer-term solutions to cover the shortfall.”

• “Kuwait endorses improved public tenders law.” Zawya, September 10, 2026.

“They also include raising the financial limit for contracts under the jurisdiction of the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) to KWD 1 million ($3.3 million), with the possibility of increasing or decreasing this limit by the cabinet.”

Go Deeper: “Decree Law No. 67 of 2026: The Corporatization of Kuwait’s Oil Sector.” Mondaq, September 10, 2026.

• “UAE Pledges $46 Billion to Germany to Diversify From US.” Bloomberg, September 10, 2026.

“The UAE’s latest plans come on top of the €34 billion it has already invested in Germany. Elsewhere in Europe, the Gulf nation has pledged a similar amount to Italy and as much as €50 billion to France. The country, among Trump’s staunchest allies, has also committed $1.4 trillion to the US.”

• “Qatar’s Estithmar Holding unit bags $228mln deal for Saudi stadium hosting FIFA World Cup 2034” Zawya, September 11, 2026.

“Elegancia Arabia Trading, the contracting services unit of the Doha-listed Estithmar Holding, has secured an 829 million Qatari riyal ($228 million) contract for Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium, one of the sites that will host the FIFA World Cup 2034 matches.”

• “Dubai Aerospace Enterprise secures $2.1bln syndicated loan.” Zawya, September 11, 2026.

“In March, the aircraft lessor secured a $2.8 billion revolving credit facility for fleet expansion, replacing a previous $1.4 billion arrangement and increasing its revolver capacity to $4 billion.”

• “Saudis Weigh Merging EA With Savvy to Create Global Gaming Giant.” Bloomberg, September 10, 2026.

“Such a combination would represent a major shift in the structure of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund’s gaming strategy, potentially giving it a single vehicle through which to make acquisitions, develop games and exploit intellectual property across different parts of the $214 billion industry.”

• “Musk’s Boring Company raises $3bln in UAE-led round, valuing startup at $23bln.” Zawya, September 10, 2026.

“The Boring Company (TBC), founded by Elon Musk, has secured $3 billion in its Series D funding round, led by the United Arab Emirates and affiliated investment entities, valuing the tunnelling and infrastructure startup at $23 billion.”

• “Kuwait housing projects to deliver 4,750 homes under developer partnership model” Zawya, September 10, 2026.

“Last month, the authority had prequalified 22 consortiums comprising 41 Kuwaiti and international companies for the projects in East Saad Al-Abdullah City (ESA-1); Al-Mutlaa (M-3), and West Saad Al Abdullah City and Jaber Al Ahmad (WSA-1 and J-1)”

• “UAE-Based Consortium Leads $1 Billion Satellite Project.” Bloomberg, September 9, 2026.

“A consortium of companies, led by the UAE’s Marlan Space and US-French space startup Loft Orbital, plans to invest $1 billion as they add 40 satellites to an AI-infused constellation.”

• “Saudi PIF launches firm to develop tourism, residential area on Gulf coast.” Reuters, September 7, 2026.

“The project, spanning around 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq. miles) with a ​10-km waterfront, is expected to accommodate more than ​16,000 housing units alongside hotels and other commercial facilities.”

• “Anthropic flags UAE-linked misuse of AI targeting the Muslim Brotherhood.” Semafor, September 11, 2026.

“Anthropic said in a report that a UAE-linked influence operation used Claude AI to target the Muslim Brotherhood. The operation used around 300 fake social-media accounts, created a front NGO, ghost-wrote testimony to be used at the UN, and compiled files on European lawmakers, journalists, and UN officials. The company traced the campaign “with high confidence to UAE government officials.” The UAE Foreign Ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment.”

Go Deeper: “Detecting and countering misuse of AI: September 2026.” Anthropic, September 10, 2026. [PDF].

• “Saudi Red Sea destination begins operations with giant off-grid renewable energy system.” Arab News, September 6, 2026.

“The system was designed to meet the destination’s initial energy needs and can be expanded as future phases come online. It is capable of generating up to 760,000 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, helping avoid an estimated 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.”

• “Saudi soccer cuts spending.” SEMAFOR, September 8, 2026.

“Average fees have fallen by a third since 2023, while player sales hit a record $105 million. Saudi Arabia still ranked seventh globally for spending..”

Go Deeper: “Saudi soccer enters an era of prudent spending.” SEMAFOR, July 30, 2026.

Geopolitics

• “Qatar rejects Iran’s justification for attacks, says civilian impact is ‘well-documented’.” Khaleej Times, September 5, 2025.

“Al Ansari said the document cited by Iran was a safety and security risk assessment prepared for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference. He stressed that it was neither a comprehensive factual record nor a legal assessment of the events.”

• “U.S. approves potential sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions-Extend Range to Saudi Arabia for $5 billion.” Reuters, September 4, 2026.

“The ​State Department ​also said it had approved ‌a ⁠possible sale of AGT-1500 engines to Saudi Arabia ​for an ​estimated $750 ⁠million. The principal contractor ​for sale of ​the ⁠engines is Honeywell, the department ⁠said.”

• “Saudi Nuclear Agreement Could Open a Path to 20% Enrichment.” WSJ, September 2, 2026.

“The text of the accord was shared with lawmakers last week along with a raft of related documents. It outlines a road map for how uranium might be enriched in the kingdom’s territory after further consultations, including at a level of nearly 20%.”

• “Saudi Grain Giant Shifts Away From Black Sea as War Roils Supply.” Bloomberg, September 4, 2026.

“The Russia-Ukraine conflict has intensified this summer, damaging grain terminals and sharply reducing exports from both countries. The disruption has pushed up a raft of commodity prices, with barley delivered to Saudi Arabia now as much as 25% more expensive than two months ago, according to Aldharrab.”

Market & Economy

• “Saudis Explore About $8 Billion in Loans as War Strains Finances.” Bloomberg, August 31, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the most active emerging-market borrowers, raising about $6 billion in domestic and international bonds this year, while Aramco has raised another $4 billion. Its sovereign wealth fund raised $7 billion in May, one of the first public-market deals since the Iran war began.”

• “Kuwait issues decree allowing government to borrow from wealth fund.” Zawya, September 3, 2026.

“Kuwait’s government issued a decree on Tuesday allowing it to borrow from its more than $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, ending a decades-old ban and helping support the state treasury as lower oil revenues and disruptions to shipping on the Strait of Hormuz weigh on public finances.”

• “Major UAE Oil Refinery Returns to Full Capacity After War Hit.” Bloomberg, August 31, 2026.

“Adnoc has been raising exports of oil products such as diesel and jet fuel from the Ruwais refinery, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. The company was able to run the facility, which has the capacity to process 922,000 barrels a day of crude, at its full potential about a month ago, one person said.”

• “Chinese tech firms deepen ties in Saudi Arabia.” Semafor, Sep 4, 2026.

“AWS, for one, is building $5.3 billion worth of data centers in the kingdom. And as part of a deal to secure export licenses for advanced chips from the US government, HUMAIN will not allow Chinese frontier AI models to be trained on its compute capacity. Instead, its CEO said the firm will offer access to Chinese open-source models on its Saudi data centers.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi AI firm HUMAIN to launch giant global VC fund this year.” Semafor, September 3, 2026.

• “UAE bank credit growth surges ahead of Gulf peers.” AGBI, September 4, 2026.

“Gross credit reached AED2.76 trillion ($752 billion) at the end of June, up 18 percent from a year earlier and 7 percent since December, the latest central bank data shows.”

• “Dubai launches AI property platform, cuts registration time by up to 80%.” Zawya, September 3, 2026.

“Dubai Land Department (DLD) has launched the ‘Initial Registration’ platform to streamline the developer journey and integrate project registration, real estate transaction registration and escrow account management. By deploying artificial intelligence, automating processes and delivering more efficient and transparent digital services, the platform supports the sector’s readiness for growth and reinforces Dubai’s position as a global destination for real estate investment.”

• “Kuwait boosts oil sector spending.” Zawya, September 1, 2026.

“KPC said in its annual report that capital spending swelled to nearly 2.3 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($7.5 billion) from around KWD 1.9 billion ($6.19 billion) in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, an increase of KWD 400 million year-on-year.”

• “Oil windfall cuts Oman budget gap but subsidy worries remain.” AGBI, September 4, 2026.

“The sultanate recorded a fiscal deficit of just OMR17 million ($44 million) in the first half of 2026, down from OMR259 million in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Finance.”

“Total public revenues rose 13 percent to OMR6.6 billion, as oil revenues rose 10 percent year on year and gas revenues increased 32 percent over the period.”

• “OPEC+ Sticks With Plan to Keep Oil Output Quotas Unchanged.” Bloomberg, September 6, 2026.

“Despite the reduced flows, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies continued to raise quotas during the war to nominally complete the reversal of output curbs made in 2023, and potentially give some members extra leeway to bolster output once the fighting subsides.”

Local Updates

• “Kuwait documents Iranian attacks in Grade 10 textbook, stresses national unity.” Khaleej Times, September 4, 2026.

“The textbook details attacks it attributes to Iran and Iranian-backed groups, carried out using missiles and drones against vital and government facilities as well as residential areas.”

• “Qatar still planning to host MotoGP and F1 races despite regional conflict.” Khaleej Times, September 1, 2026.

“‘Qatar has been safe for months now. Our airport is 100 per cent operational, including transit flights between Asia and Europe. If you visit Qatar, you will see we are back to normal life, so we’re really looking forward to hosting races again soon,’ Al Mannai said in a QA issued by the QMMF.”

Geopolitics

• “Trump Sends Nuclear Agreement With Saudi Arabia to Congress.” WSJ, August 25, 2026.

“Trump’s political requirement that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords has introduced a fresh obstacle for implementing the nuclear agreement. Trump announced that condition last month after the deal was negotiated and signed and is sticking by it.”

Go Deeper: “To Enrich or Not to Enrich? The Saudi-U.S. Nuclear Deal.” Australian Institute of International Affairs, Aug 27, 2026.

• “Qatar steps in to mediate as Trump says US not talking to Iran.” Reuters, August 26, 2026.

“Major combat operations have been paused for weeks but there has been little progress toward a wider peace agreement or reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route. Six months after U.S. and Israeli forces attacked Iran, killing its ​supreme leader and maiming his son and successor, the Iranian government is under economic siege, but it still holds power and has shown little urgency to negotiate.”

Go Deeper: Nayef Al-Naama “Qatar between Israel and Iran -and Beyond: Mediation, Diplomacy and the Double Standards of Applying International Law in the Attempt of War.” SSRN, July 29, 2026.

• “US Moves Against Egyptian Bank’s UAE Branches Over Iran Ties.” Bloomberg, August 28, 2026.

“The Treasury Department is moving to sever an Egyptian bank’s United Arab Emirates branches from the US financial system as part of efforts to pressure Iran into ending the war in the Middle East.”

Go Deeper: “Treasury moves to sanction UAE branch of Egyptian bank over Iran ties.” August 28, 2026.

• “Kuwaiti tanker hit in latest Hormuz shipping attack - UK maritime monitor.” Arab News, August 27, 2026.

“Al-Salam II was heading east through the waterway on Tuesday evening when it was hit by a projectile above the waterline, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported.”

Go Deeper: “The Gulf’s critical infrastructure presents a lasting vulnerability for Iran to exploit.” ACLED, August 4, 2026.

• “France, Saudi Arabia agree on €6 billion Dragon Ball Z theme park project near Paris.” Reuters, August 24, 2026.

“The project, inspired by the world of the hit Japanese manga ​and anime franchise Dragon Ball Z, will be built ​near Cergy-Pontoise, northwest of Paris, and is expected ⁠to create around 22,000 jobs, the Elysee said.”

• “Abu Dhabi provides $300m to support Jordan’s budget.” AGBI, August 28, 2026.

“The state-backed Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has signed an agreement with Jordan’s planning ministry to provide AED1.1 billion ($300 million) in support for the general budget, the fund said in a statement.”

• “UAE company begins wheat supplies to Egypt in $500m deal.” AGBI, August 26, 2026.

“The pact between Abu Dhabi’s Al Dahra Holding and Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities is valued at up to $500 million and will be supported by the Abu Dhabi Exports Office, the export-financing arm of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Emirati company said in a statement.”

Market & Economy

• “Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus surges 53% to SR155 billion in 1H 2026.” Saudi Gazette, August 26, 2026.

“The Saudi trade surplus surged by 53.17 percent year-on-year during the first half of 2026, with the value of foreign trade exceeding SR1 trillion. The increase coincided with a 7.3 percent rise in exports and a 2.7 percent decline in imports compared to the same period last year.”

• “UAE real estate sector records strong H1 2026 growth.” Zawya, August 27, 2026.

In Abu Dhabi, the total value of real estate transactions reached around AED117 billion during the first half, up 112 percent compared with the same period in 2025, while the number of transactions increased by 61.7 percent.

Sales transactions led activity, reaching AED86.1 billion through 16,838 transactions, up 163.7 percent, while mortgage transactions amounted to AED26.7 billion.

• “Bahrain’s non-oil economy grows 2.2% in Q1 despite regional headwinds.” Arab News, August 27, 2026.

“According to a quarterly report by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, real GDP fell 3.8 percent year on year, driven largely by a 37.2 percent contraction in oil activities, linked to restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and scheduled maintenance, the Bahrain News Agency reported.”

Go Deeper: “Bahrain Economic Quarterly Report.” Ministry of Finance and National Economy, August, 2026. [PDF].

• “Saudi intensifies $13.3 billion buildout of indoor entertainment centers.” Semafor, August 20, 2026,

“Even as some economic diversification projects are put on the back burner, Saudi Arabia is intensifying its $13.3 billion push to build indoor entertainment centers across the country.”

• “LNG WRAP: Asian LNG Above $23 as Qatar Extends Force Majeure.” Bloomberg, August 28, 2026.

“Spot prices rose to $23.388 per million British thermal units, according to traders. State-owned QatarEnergy this week notified Pakistani buyers that LNG cargo cancellations will continue into October, traders familiar with the matter said. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.”

• “Kuwait’s Al-Zour oil refinery partially restarted, IIR says.” Zawya, August 28, 2026.

“State-owned Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company had restarted all three crude units at its 615,000 barrel-per-day Al-Zour oil refinery at 60% capacity as of August 19, consultancy IIR said.”

“KIPIC shut down parts of the refinery on July 18 due to a power cut, having reduced processing ​rates earlier in the year during a round of attacks by Iran.”

• “Saudis Sell Oil from Gulf of Oman in Sign of More Hormuz Exits.” Bloomberg, August 28, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia has sold its heavier crude grades to Chinese refiners for a second time this month, a sign that flows through the Strait of Hormuz are likely to remain elevated.”

Go Deeper: “China Buys Saudi Crude in Rare Tender as Imports Stay Muted.” Bloomberg, August 20, 2026.

• “Kuwait and Qatar Add to Growing Oil Flows Getting Through Hormuz.” Bloomberg, August 27, 2026.

“The two countries, which exported a combined 2 million barrels a day of oil before the outbreak of the Iran war, have managed to get shipments back to 70% of pre-conflict levels, according to traders, who asked not to be named as they’re not allowed to speak to media.”

• “Axel Springer enters crowded Gulf media market.” Semafor, August 27, 2026.

“Axel Springer is the latest media company to plant a flag in the Gulf, with a new entity headquartered in Abu Dhabi that is on the hunt for “opportunities.” The move comes shortly after the publisher of Politico and Business Insider completed a deal to acquire The Telegraph newspaper from Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI; an investment in The Circuit, a regional digital publication, is also part of the expansion.”

• “Saudi Brothers Mint Billion-Dollar Fortune From AI Boom.” Bloomberg, August 26, 2026.

“Two Saudi brothers have amassed a fortune of about $1.4 billion as the technology company they control rides the kingdom’s multibillion-dollar push to build artificial intelligence infrastructure.”

• “RSGT, CMA CGM to invest $434mln in Jeddah port container terminal.” Zawya, August 25, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) and France’s CMA CGM Group have signed definitive agreements to jointly develop and operate Terminal 4 at Jeddah Islamic Port, with an investment of approximately $434 million (SAR1.6 billion), RSGT said in a statement.”

• “Saudi Capital Markets Shakeup Raises Liberalization Optimism.” Bloomberg, August 24, 2026.

“Morgan Stanley estimates that a partial relaxation of the limit to 75% could attract about $4.3 billion of passive inflows into Saudi equities, while a full removal could generate about $7.4 billion. Still, Nguyen said the window for implementing changes this year is narrowing, as any moves would need to take effect by late October to be reflected in MSCI’s November review of its global equity indexes.”

Climate, Renewable and Green Energy

• “Saudi’s Alfanar Group backs Indian wind turbine maker’s global expansion.” Zawya, August 26, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia-based Alfanar Group will inject $100 million in capital into Senvion, an Indian wind turbine manufacturer, to drive global and local expansion.”

“The first tranche of $34 million was received this month, while the remaining amount will be invested in a couple of weeks, Senvion said in a statement.”

• “Kuwait’s Action Energy to acquire Warah Environmental Consultants.” Zawya, August 26, 2026.

“Kuwait-listed Action Energy Company is set to acquire consultancy firm Warah Environmental Consultants.”

“Warah offers environmental and technical consultations, including environmental and social impact assessments, technical advisory and professional and specialised training services.”

Other

• “Kuwait continues to tighten citizenship rules.” Semafor, August 25, 2026.

“.. in May 2024 before embarking on a regulatory overhaul that has stripped at least 50,000 people of citizenship. Authorities say some of them held dual nationality, which is illegal for Kuwaitis, while others had obtained citizenship through fraud; rights groups say the government’s political opponents have also been targeted.”

• “Saudi Arabia real estate gigaproject developer replaces chief executive.” Zawya, August 28, 2026.

“New Murabba, owned by the country’s wealth fund PIF, has appointed Sabah Barakat as acting chief executive, according to the company’s website and was mentioned in that role in a company statement this week about an investment partnership. He replaces British manager Michael Dyke, chief executive since 2024.”

• “Saudi Arabia backs Infantino amid fallout from failed FIFA investment plan.” Arab News, August 27, 2026.

“In a statement, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) welcomed FIFA’s acknowledgement of mistakes, its apology and the decision to scrap the proposal, while calling for direct dialogue among football’s stakeholders to restore unity.”

• “Abu Dhabi to host first Euroleague Basketball SuperCup.” Arab News, August 25, 2026.

“The SuperCup is an exciting addition to Euroleague Basketball’s competition portfolio, creating an annual event featuring elite European club basketball while further expanding the league’s global footprint. Hosting the first competition in Abu Dhabi highlights the emirate’s growing involvement in international basketball.”

• “Formula One confirms Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to take place in December.” Arab News, August 23, 2026.

“President and CEO of Formula One Stefano Domenicali has confirmed the 2026 season will conclude as planned with the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.”

“Domenicali expects remaining tickets to be sold and said that preparations for the Dec. 3-6 event were nearing completion.”

Go Deeper: “From Shakira to F1: How Iran war is disrupting Gulf economy.” First Post, August 21, 2026.

• “2026 Saudi Toyota Championship Time Attack gets underway at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.” Arab News, August 27, 2026.

“The championship is being held under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, the owner of the competition, managed by Bakhashab Motorsport, and in partnership with Jameel Motorsport, the official partner.”

Go Deeper: “‘It’s come at the wrong time’: how Iran war has floored the Gulf as a sports hub.” The Guardian, March 21, 2026.

Geopolitics

• “MBS meets top US general for Middle East to discuss defense cooperation, reducing tensions.” Al Arabiya, August 14, 2026.

“United States Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper and MBS discussed defense cooperation and efforts to reduce regional tensions, according to the SPA.”

• “UAE accuses Iran of attacks on two ADNOC vessels in Strait of Hormuz.” Al Jazeera, August 14, 2026.

“The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) confirmed that ‘two of its vessels were attacked while transiting’ the waterway on Thursday evening, adding that the situation was “brought under control”, Emirati media reported.”

• “Prince Khalid meets Iraq’s top general to discuss Saudi-Iraqi defense ties.” Al Arabiya, August 13, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief, Khalid al-Hmeidan, visited Baghdad last week to discuss regional security developments with Iraq’s prime minister and conveyed a renewed invitation for him to visit Riyadh after an earlier trip was scrapped over attacks on the Kingdom emanating from Iraq.”

Go Deeper: “Iraq seeks Saudi, Syrian ties as it faces pressure to rein in Iran-backed militias - analysis.” The Jerusalem Post, August 14, 2026.

• “UAE Reportedly Released Iran’s Frozen Assets Worth Billions of Dollars, Bitcoin Rebounds.” Yahoo, August 13, 2026.

“Oil prices fell on Thursday after reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) released Iran’s frozen assets held in Emirati banks, including gold valued at roughly $200-283 million. As a result, Bitcoin and the broader crypto market witnessed a much-needed rebound.”

Go Deeper: “UAE to unlock billions of dollars for Iran, sources say.” Reuters, June 12, 2026.

• “Tanker Seen Loading at Key Saudi Hub for First Time in Weeks.” Bloomberg, August 12, 2026.

“A satellite image from the European Union’s Sentinel 2 orbiter, captured on Tuesday, shows a very large crude carrier, capable of loading about 2 million barrels of crude, moored at one of Ju’aymah’s single-point moorings, which form part of the giant Ras Tanura oil export complex. The last time a ship was seen there was in the middle of July, though satellite images aren’t available every day, so it’s possible vessels have called there since.”

• “UAE Shuttles Iraqi Oil Exports Through the Strait of Hormuz.” Bloomberg, August 12, 2026.

“The United Arab Emirates’ state oil company has been the most successful producer at getting its crude out of the Persian Gulf through the Hormuz. It has used so-called shuttling tactics, where vessels make short trips — often with their transponders turned off to avoid detection — before typically transferring their cargoes to other ships just outside the gulf.”

Market & Economy

• “Qatar National Bank Tests Investor Appetite for $2 Billion Loan.” Bloomberg, August 12, 2026.

“Qatar National Bank is seeking a $2 billion syndicated loan, according to people familiar with the matter, in a test of whether banks, particularly from Asia, are willing to lend in the region as the US war with Iran drags on.”

Go Deeper: “Abu Dhabi, Qatar Turn to Private Markets to Raise Billions.” Bloomberg, April 9, 2026.

• “UAE banks face margin pressure despite strong H1 earnings.” Zawya, August 13, 2026.

“The notable exception among the UAE banks was First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s largest lender by market capitalisation. Its NIM rose to 1.99% in Q2 and by 14 bps YoY, thanks to a more favourable funding mix and better liability repricing. “As a result, we see less downside to FAB’s margin compared with banks that are seeing a faster migration from CASA into term deposits,” Singh said. “

• “Saudi PIF-backed Emaar Economic City posts $5.87mln net loss in Q2 2026.” Zawya, August 12, 2026.

“Revenue for the second quarter of 2026 reached SAR 127 million, up from SAR 118 million a year ago.”

“For the first six months of the year, total shareholders’ equity surged by nearly 80% to SAR 9.08 billion. Loss per share stood at -SAR 0.23, down from -SAR 0.41 in the first half of last year.”

• “Saudi data center capacity projected to boom, but financing a challenge.” Semafor, August 11, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia’s data center capacity is forecast to reach 1 gigawatt by 2030, making it the fastest-growing Gulf market in a sector awash in cash and FOMO. The pipeline of announced projects is larger still — PIF’s HUMAIN alone is targeting more than 6 GW in the coming decade. Financing even half of that will require up to $32 billion in debt, more than the kingdom’s banks are likely to be willing to assemble themselves, according to a report from consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal.”

Go Deeper: “Financing Saudi Arabia’s Data Center Build-Out.” Alvarez & Marsal, August 6, 2026. [PDF].

• “UAE, Qatari Firms Debut in Venezuela Through BP-Led Gas Deal.” Bloomberg, August 13, 2026.

“Arab Gulf companies are making their debut in Venezuela through an offshore natural gas project to be operated by BP Plc.”

Go Deeper: “Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc Is Said to Mull Investing in Venezuela Gas.” Bloomberg, January 15, 2026.

• “UAE extends corporate tax relief for small businesses until 2029.” Khaleej Times, August 7, 2026.

“Under the decision, the threshold prescribed under Ministerial Decision No. (73) of 2023 will continue to apply to tax periods commencing on or after June 1, 2023, and shall apply to subsequent tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029.”

Go Deeper: “Dubai enlists businesses to help secure hub status after Iran war shock.” Reuters, June 25, 2026.

• “Qatar: Significant increase in compliance as tax return filing rate reaches 90% for 2025.” Zawya, August 7, 2026.

“Continued enhancements to the Dhareeba Portal have made tax services faster, easier, and more accessible. Improvements to electronic services have also helped simplify tax return filing procedures and support taxpayers in meeting their obligations.”

Go Deeper: “What Are the Changes in Qatar’s Corporate Tax Rate for 2026?” SwissMENA, April 30, 2026.

• “Qatar LNG Loading Jumps Ahead of Potential Hormuz Reopening.” Bloomberg, August 11, 2026.

“The 10-day moving average for loadings from the giant Ras Laffan complex was about 80,000 tons, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. While 60% lower than this time last year, it is still the highest level since March, right after the war began and Iranian attacks on the facility forced Qatar to shut production.”

• “Riyadh Presses ahead with Housing Market Stabilization Through Real Estate Balance Measures.” Asharq Al-Awsat, August 12, 2026

“The RCRC aims to provide between 10,000 and 40,000 plots annually at prices not exceeding SAR1,500 per square meter, helping narrow the gap between supply and demand and support stability in Riyadh’s real estate market.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia Residential Real Estate Market Report 2026-2030” Yahoo, January 20, 2026.

• “Saudi inflation reaches 1.8% in July, driven by 4.2% rise in housing costs.” Saudi Gazette, August 13, 2026.

“Personal care, social protection and other goods and services prices rose 2.9 percent year-on-year, driven by an 11.1 percent increase in other personal effects, which was affected by a 12 percent rise in jewelry and watch prices.”

Go Deeper: “Inflation in Saudi Arabia reaches 1.8% in July 2026 compared to July 2025.” Maaal, August 13, 2026.

Climate, Renewable and Green Energy

• “Construction is ‘finished’ on world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia complex in Saudi Arabia.” Hydrogeninsight, August 11, 2026.

“The 2.2GW Neom green hydrogen and ammonia project in Saudi Arabia has completed construction and is currently being commissioned for a start of operations in 2027, according to one of its developers, Acwa.”

Go Deeper: Ali Q. Al-Shetwi “Energy transition for sustainable development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable energy growth and emission reduction” Next Energy, Volume 12, 2026.

• “Oman says the oil spill from a grounded tanker has reached its coastline.” AP, August 12, 2026

“Crude oil has been leaking from the tanker Caroline Bezengi — a sanctioned tanker believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — that was carrying nearly 1 million barrels of oil when it reported an explosion in June.”

Go Deeper: “Oman says massive oil spill reaches coastline: What damage could it do?” Al Jazeera, August 13, 2026.

• “Saudi Arabia raises ozone-depleting substance disposal rate to 69% in 2026.” FC, August 14, 2026.

“More than 8,000 metric tons of ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have been cleared since the start of the year under a national project regulating their import and circulation in line with environmental requirements and international commitments.”

• “EDF consortium achieves financial close for 120MW Oman wind project.” Zawya, August 11, 2026.

“The project supports Oman Vision 2040 and the sultanate’s objective of increasing the share of renewable energy in the national electricity mix to at least 30% by 2030, while advancing the country’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions.”

Go Deeper: Mohamed Amur Al-Shidhani, Maan Hayyan “Oman’s energy transition roadmap to net zero 2050” Energy Nexus, Volume 19, 2025.

Other

• “King orders Cabinet reshuffle under Crown Prince, retains current ministers.” Saudi Gazette, August 13, 2026.

“As per a third decree, the King appointed Mazen Al-Sudairi as chairman of the Capital Market Authority with the rank of a minister after relieving Mohammed Al-Quwaiz of his position as its chairman.”

Go Deeper: “Biography of new CMA Chairman Mazen Al-Sudairi.” Maaal, August 13, 2026.

• “Kuwait foils ISIS plot targeting ‘vital facility,’ arrests suspect.” Anadolu Agansi, August 12, 2026.

“Kuwaiti authorities said Wednesday that security forces foiled “a terrorist plot” targeting a vital facility and arrested a Kuwaiti national affiliated with the ISIS (Daesh) terror group before the plan could be carried out.”

• “Qatar, Morocco among six Arab federations backing FIFA’s Infantino.” Reuters, August 13, 2026.

“The full backing by the six national federations, many of them AFC members, shows that block voting is extremely unlikely, even if the confederations themselves have taken a clear position, ⁠with each ​national federation having one vote. The Confederation of African Football has also supported Infantino.”

Geopolitics

• “Saudi ⁠Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye sign defence deal amid regional turmoil.” Al Jazeera, August 7, 2026.

“Saudi ⁠Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a ⁠joint defence agreement, deepening ‌security cooperation amid heightened military tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.”

“Reporting from the Turkish capital, Ankara, Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar Atas said that while the deal was purely defensive, such agreements bring about cooperation in other sectors, too. ‘It’s all about the trust now,’ Serdar said. ‘There are expectations in Ankara that this will also boost economic ties with Riyadh and Islamabad.’”

Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia names commander for maritime defence coalition.” Al Jazeera, August 6, 2026.

• “Saudi expects imminent two-pronged attack from Iran’s allies, official says.” Reuters, August 6, 2026.

“The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said late on Thursday that intelligence reports from Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional countries indicated civilian and economic sites could be targeted, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports.”

• “Iran, Oman, US ‘close’ to Hormuz deal: What do they all want?” Al Jazeera, August 5, 2026.

“On Thursday, Tehran said it had agreed coordinates for new shipping routes through the strait with Oman.”

“Only eight vessels transited the strait on Monday, compared with roughly 130 ships per day before the US-Israel war on Iran erupted on February 28.”

Go Deeper: “Iran and Oman exchange proposals to manage Strait of Hormuz.” Al Jazeera, July 28, 2026.

• “Qatar Keeps Washington-Tehran Dialogue Channel Open as Mediators Push for Lasting Deal.” Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, August 4, 2026.

“Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed Tuesday that the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman and Pakistan have been bending constant efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States to bridge their viewpoints.”

“Dr. Al Ansari said the current priority is to contain the escalation and reopen the way for diplomatic efforts. He stressed the importance of returning to the negotiating table as the optimal off-ramp to address the ongoing disputes.”

Market & Economy

• “Saudi Crude Shipments to US Plunge to Zero as Oil Refiners Pivot.” Bloomberg, August 6, 2026.

“Venezuela has been a big winner in the pivot away from Saudi crude. American refiners imported around 600,000 barrels of the Latin American country’s crude in July, up from roughly 100,000 at the start of the year.”

• Aramco announces second quarter and half year 2026 results. Aramco, August 4, 2026.

“Commenting on the results, Aramco President & CEO Amin H. Nasser said: ‘Aramco’s first-half performance in 2026 has been defined by the remarkable resilience of our people and the agility of our business and operations to withstand and respond to rapidly changing market conditions. Despite the unprecedented supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz, we continued to demonstrate our ability to maintain business continuity by capitalizing on our diverse asset base and multi-decade planning, including strategic infrastructure such as the East-West Pipeline, storage capacity, and export terminals. That enabled us to sustain production and exports while advancing key projects, despite the challenging regional environment.’.”

Go Deeper: “2026 Aramco Second Quarter and Half-Year Interim Report.” Aramco, August 4, 2026. [PDF].

• “Gulf investors turn to Asia for AI opportunities.” Semafor, August 7, 2026.

“Qatari telecom Ooredoo is the lead investor in Zankore, a new AI compute platform in Indonesia, committing $800 million to support its launch. The company plans to deliver 200 megawatts of capacity next year, with Nvidia and Nokia as suppliers. Ooredoo, which has had a foothold in Indonesia for nearly two decades, sees data center demand more than tripling in Southeast Asia by 2030.”

• “UAE Fund Weighs $6.3 Billion for Japan AI Data Center.” Bloomberg, August 6, 2026.

“Total investment surrounding the project, including by suppliers and other companies looking to establish operations nearby, could reach as much as ¥2 trillion, the person said. A consortium of Japanese companies would likely handle construction and related infrastructure, they added.”

• “Kuwait Investment Authority Secures $4.25 Billion Loan.” Bloomberg, August 5, 2026.

“Kuwait has been targeted repeatedly by Tehran, with US bases, as well as Kuwaiti power and water plants, being damaged. Even so, the country managed to raise $6 billion from a bond sale last month, highlighting resilient demand for the OPEC member’s debt.”

Go Deeper: “Kuwait Sells $6 Billion of Bonds Despite Iran Strikes.” Bloomberg, July 22, 2026.

• “Saudi investments expand 5.1% in Q1 2026.” Zawya, August 6, 2026.

“Private and public-sector investments continued to pour into new fixed assets and infrastructure in Saudi Arabia amid ongoing economic expansion efforts.”

• “Saudi Arabia’s POS transactions surge 33% as education and freight spending lead the rally.” Arab News, August 07, 2026.

“Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions reached SR16.3 billion ($4.35 billion) in the week ending Aug. 1, a 33 percent jump from the previous week, according to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA.”

• “UAE’s Adnoc Buys $1.3 Billion of Tankers as Oil Exports Boom.” Bloomberg, August 7, 2026.

“The UAE has also been able to route oil through a cross-country pipeline skirting Hormuz. Since the pipeline can carry less than half of the roughly 3.6 million barrels a day of crude the UAE has exported over the past two months, tanker availability has proved key.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia sustains non-oil growth and Kuwait rebounds.” AGBI, August 2026.

• “Qatar’s transport infrastructure market to reach QR47.8bn in 2026.” The Peninsula, August 2, 2026.

“Qatar’s transportation infrastructure construction industry is entering a new phase of long-term, strategy-led growth, with the sector projected to expand to $13.12bn (QR47.82bn) this year from $12.48bn (QR45.48bn) in 2025, according to a recent market analysis by Mordor Intelligence.”

• Oman issues $949m in tenders as project awards reach $1.9bn. Arab News, August 2, 2026.

“Oman awarded projects worth 734 million Omani rials ($1.9 billion) and issued new tenders valued at 365 million rials in the first seven months of 2026, as the sultanate stepped up infrastructure and public service investment.”

Go Deeper: “Backers brush off conflict to pour FDI into Oman.” AGBI, August 3, 2026.

• “Dubai’s Emaar Properties Q2 profit rises 9% on strong demand.” Zwaya, August 7, 2026.

“Dubai-listed Emaar Properties reported a Q2 2026 net profit attributable to shareholders of AED 3.67 billion ($999 million), up 9% year-on-year, despite regional geopolitical tensions during the period.”

Green and Climate

• “Gulf renewable projects forecasted to grow despite wartime pressure.” Semafor, August 07, 2026.

“The Iran war has made financing Gulf solar and wind projects more difficult, but the economics still stack up firmly in their favor. The region is expected to add 12 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity this year and twice as much next year, according to a BloombergNEF report. While some delays can be expected, the recent delivery of turbines to Saudi Arabia and the commissioning of a 1.1 GW wind farm in the kingdom indicate the region has been able to access the equipment and material required to complete projects.”

• “UN’s Agricultural Development Fund aims to attract Saudi investors in sustainable bonds, says special envoy.” Arab News, August 07, 2026.

“Dina Saleh, IFAD’s special envoy for the Middle East, confirmed in an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah the fund’s focus on investing in Saudi Arabia’s rural sectors and supporting supply chains to boost coffee and mango production in Jazan.”

• “EAD, DMT strengthen collaboration on Abu Dhabi Waste Management Strategy initiatives.” Zawya, August 7, 2026.

“The initiative goes beyond removing waste from targeted sites. It adopts a systematic methodology that includes waste classification, weighing, and documentation within a structured field database under the Sahim – Citizen Science programme. This data is then analysed to identify the most prevalent waste types across terrestrial and marine environments, providing a clear picture of waste patterns and spatial distribution.”

• “More than 800 arrested in UAE-led operation to tackle environmental crime in Amazon basin.” The National, August 4, 2026.

“The UAE has led a major international operation against environmental crime in the Amazon basin, with 839 suspects arrested and assets valued at more than $280 million seized in 17 days.”

“The arrests were carried out under the UAE’s Law Enforcement for Climate programme, which was launched at the Cop28 summit in Dubai in partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.”

• “King Fahad Industrial Port receives largest wind energy shipment for Saudi projects.” Zawya, August 5, 2026.

“The components are designated for the Starah and Shaqra wind energy projects, which are part of the Kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Programme aimed at diversifying energy sources and increasing the contribution of renewable energy to electricity generation.”

• “Acwa granted exclusive mandate to export Saudi green hydrogen.” Arab News, July 7, 2026.

“At the heart of this mission lies Neom Green Hydrogen Co., through which the Kingdom aims to become a leading producer and exporter of green hydrogen. The company, a joint venture between Acwa, Neom and Air Products, is expected to produce up to 600 tonnes of carbon-free hydrogen per day by the end of 2026.”

• “Qatar, Saudi Arabia sign deal for cooperation in fields of nuclear safety and radiation protection.” Zawya, August 7, 2026.

“HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Engineer Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud affirmed that the MoU represents a significant addition to the cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it embodies the deep-rooted fraternal relations and historical ties that bind the two brotherly nations.”

Local (sports, culture, education)

• “Heritage villages transform Baha into cultural tourism hub.” Arab News, August 4, 2026.

“More than 72 heritage villages and historical sites are being restored and developed through partnerships between government authorities and local communities, preserving Saudi Arabia’s cultural identity while creating new economic opportunities for residents through tourism, hospitality and small businesses.”

• “Hopes high for spikers: Bahrain set to chase Arab youth volleyball gold on home court.” Gulf Daily News, August 3, 2026.

“Bahrain named yesterday their final 15-player line-up that will be going for gold at home in the second Arab Youth Volleyball Championship.”

“The under-17 tournament, organised by the Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) in coordination with the Arab Volleyball Association (AVA), gets underway on Sunday next week at Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa.”

Geopolitics

• “Trump pegs Saudi nuclear deal to Israel talks.” Semafor, July 23, 2026.

“Riyadh has long pegged normalization with Israel to the establishment of a Palestinian state, which Israel’s government opposes. But Iran’s attacks across the Middle East have placed the Gulf and Israel on the same side of the conflict, which could at least “make normalization easier,” Semafor’s Gulf editor wrote.”

Go Deeper: “Trump Adds New Israel Hurdle to Saudi Nuclear Deal.” WSJ, July 23, 2026.

• “Yemen’s Houthis to Impose Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia.” Bloomberg, July 20, 2026.

“The kingdom diverted its oil supplies to key Red Sea port of Yanbu following the outbreak of the war and Iran’s effective closure of Hormuz. Those exports, which rose to a record 4.19 million barrels a day last month, have helped limit the disruption to global supplies, but the route remains fragile as it exposes tankers to the Houthi militants who have previously attacked ships in the Red Sea.”

Go Deeper: “The Houthis just announced a blockade on Saudi Arabia. What does it mean for the global economy?” Atlantic Council, July 20, 2026.

• “Saudi, UAE officials use social media to signal unity after months of tension.” Reuters, July 22, 2026.

“The two Gulf heavyweights have seen their ​interests diverge for years on everything from oil quotas to geopolitics, with the disagreements coming into the open late last year over ​their support for opposing sides in the war in Yemen.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia, UAE Officials Signal Unity After Months of Tensions.” Bloomberg, July 22, 2026.

• “Brent Hits $100 Again as Houthi Attacks Threaten Further Supply Squeeze.” WSJ, July 23, 2026.

“The global oil benchmark soared 7.2% to $100.82 a barrel on Thursday, its highest level since the end of May, while West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 5.8% to $91.83 a barrel. The contracts have gained more than 19% and 16%, respectively, this week.”

Go Deeper: “Oil Prices Waver as Gulf Ship Traffic Falls to Lowest Level in Months.” New York Times, July 24, 2026.

• “US approves $41bn of arms sales to GCC in six months.” AGBI, July 24, 2026.

“Agreements announced by the State Department from January until the end of June reached $41 billion, compared with $9 billion for all of last year. The total is higher still when expansions to previously announced deals are included.”

Go Deeper: “The Gulf States Need Better Defense Integration, Not More Weapons.” Gulf International Forum, Jun 2, 2026.

Market, Economy, and Local News

• “Kuwait Sells $6 Billion of Bonds Despite Iran Strikes.” Bloomberg, July 22, 2026.

“Investor orders for the Gulf Arab country’s three-part dollar deal reached about $14.8 billion at final terms, allowing it to tighten spreads by 25 basis points across all tranches from the initial price talk, according to a person familiar with the matter.”

Go Deeper: “Kuwait: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report.” IMF, Feb 24, 2026.

• “UAE Doubles Down on $1.4 Trillion US Pledge, Faults EU on Trade.” Bloomberg, July 23, 2026.

“The United Arab Emirates says it’s ahead of schedule with a plan to invest $1.4 trillion in the US over the next decade, and criticized the European Union for stalling trade talks.”

Go Deeper: “Staff warned of major security risks from giving UAE new tech access. The White House went ahead anyway.” Politico, July 22, 2026.

• “Buyers to press Qatar, UAE for cheaper, more flexible LNG deals after Hormuz shock.” Reuters, July 23, 2026.

“Qatar’s vast reserves helped the country become the dominant force in the global gas market. It and the neighbouring UAE, where production volumes are ​increasing, account for around one-fifth of global LNG export capacity - all of which relies on the strait to reach global ⁠markets.”

Go Deeper: “Price volatility: A double-edged sword for the LNG industry.” IEEFA, July 21, 2026.

• “Abu Dhabi National Oil Company invests in $6.2B domestic gas project,” Semafor, July 21, 2026.

“The project is expected to produce more than 600 million cubic feet of gas a day from 2030, equivalent to almost 10% of the UAE’s current daily consumption.”

Go Deeper: “Abu Dhabi’s national oil company is committing $6.2 billion to a massive offshore gas field.” Quartz, July 21, 2026.

• “DP World plans two ports in booming Fujairah.” July 23, 2026.

“The war has been a windfall for Fujairah, which has favorable access to the Indian Ocean outside Gulf waters — the UAE’s six other emirates largely sit within the Strait of Hormuz. An overground logistics network will link DP World’s flagship terminal in Dubai with the new ports in Fujairah, the company said, emphasizing the emirate’s growing importance as a maritime gateway.”

Go Deeper: “Dubai’s DP World to Build Two New Terminals on U.A.E. East Coast, Bypassing Hormuz.” WSJ, July 23, 2026.

• “Blackstone plans Dubai office as it eyes further Gulf expansion, sources say.” Reuters, July 24, 2026.

“Since the beginning of the conflict, Blackstone has announced a deal with ​Dubai’s DAE for a joint ​aircraft leasing investment programme ⁠and has invested $250 million in a UAE-based payments and data intelligence technology platform.”

Go Deeper: “Lessons from business leaders in Dubai: How to continue operating during a conflict.” World Economic Forum, May 1, 2026.

• “Iran war costs squeeze Gulf’s protein boom.” Semafor, July 24, 2026.

“Gulf consumers have long embraced the global protein craze, but the Iran conflict is squeezing the margins of food companies seeking to profit from the trend. Riyadh-based National Agricultural Development Co., better known for its dairy brand Nadec, doubled sales in its protein segment, helping lift second-quarter revenue by 5.5%. But profit for the period fell 44% as higher feed and shipping costs erased those gains.”

• “King Salman appoints new ministers, reshuffles cabinet.” Al Arabiya, July 11, 2026.

“King Salman appointed Ihsan bin Abbas bin Hamza Bafaqih Secretary of Jeddah Governorate, Abdullah al-Dahim as Deputy Governor of the Saudi Central Bank for Executive Affairs, and Talal al-Hamoud as Deputy Governor of the Saudi Central Bank for Technical Affairs.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia adds industry, mineral resources portfolio to Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz’s role.” Reuters, July 11, 2026.

• “Middle East Green Initiative targets 35.4 billion trees, 99.4 million hectares of land restoration.” Saudi Gazette, July 23, 2026.

“Member states of the Middle East Green Initiative aim to plant 35.4 billion trees and rehabilitate 99.4 million hectares of degraded land, the initiative’s Executive Committee said during its 20th meeting.”

Go Deeper: Adel M. Ghanem, Yosef A. Alamri “The impact of the green Middle East initiative on sustainable development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, Volume 22, Issue 1, 2023.

• “DEWA expands power grid with $2.7bln transmission investment.” Zawya, July 23, 2026.

“Announcing this, Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said Dewa commissioned eight 132-kilovolt (kV) transmission substations in the first half of 2026 with a combined conversion capacity of 1,200 megavolt-amperes (MVA). The projects included 20 km of transmission cables, worth AED970 million.”

Go Deeper: “Gulf Energy Transition Through Renewable Energy Development.” Baker Institute, February 26, 2026.

• “Malaysia May Again Host Formula One Racing With Bahrain in Doubt.” Bloomberg, July 24, 2026.

“The Bahrain Grand Prix was supposed to be held in April this year, but the contest was one of two Middle East races indefinitely postponed due to the the ongoing war between the US and Iran. Bahrain has sought to reschedule the race for early October, ESPN reported on Thursday, citing unidentified sources, but uncertainty persists due to fresh escalation of the conflict this month.”

• “Kuwaitis cut down AC use in peak summer to save electricity as Iran hits power grid.” Khaleej Times, July 21, 2026.

“Kuwaiti authorities have called on the public to consume less energy so that they can maintain round-the-clock electricity as the grid comes under Iranian attack. Nasser Al Dhafiri, a civil servant in his forties, described “immense psychological pressure” on ordinary people as the attacks sparked fears of electricity outages.”

Geopolitics

• “Iran attacks Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait after deadly U.S. strikes.” CNBC, July 9, 2026.

“Iran says it has attacked U.S. forces in Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait after the U.S. bombed Iranian cities for a second consecutive night. CNBC’s Emma Graham reports from Abu Dhabi.”

Go Deeper: “Iran Update Special Report, July 9, 2026.” ISW, July 9, 2026.

• “Canada’s Carney defends his visit to Saudi Arabia and slams criticism from afar.” AP, July 9, 2026.

“Carney has been seeking to expand his country’s economic ties beyond its heavy reliance on the United States, and diversify trade and attract investments against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.”

Go Deeper: “Canada wants broader Saudi ties, won’t lecture from ‘afar’: Carney.” Al-Monitor, July 9, 2026.

• “Saudi Arabia considers expansion of oil pipeline to Red Sea, sources say.” Reuters, July 7, 2026.

“The kingdom is in preliminary talks with ⁠some of its neighbours about the potential expansion of the pipeline’s capacity by up to 2 million bpd, the sources said..”

“It was unclear if Aramco’s ​planned capacity increase would involve upgrades to existing infrastructure or construction of a new pipeline. One of the sources said the increase would include a ​smaller second pipe for oil products.”

Go Deeper: “New Middle East corridors are about more than just bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.” Allison Minor, Atlantic Council, July 6, 2026.

• “Saudi Arabia explores IMEC route through Syria, sidestepping Israel, sources tell ‘Post’.” The Jerusalem Post, July 9, 2026.

“The initiative envisioned a network of railways, ports, and shipping lanes, connecting India to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Greece. It would provide a faster alternative to traditional maritime routes while strengthening economic integration across the region.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia,Turkey: Battle Over IMEC,What It Means for Haifa, Piraeus and Eilat.” The Times of Israel, June 13, 2026.

• “Saudis Slash Main Oil Price to Rare Discount as Market Dives.” Bloomberg, July 6, 2026.

“State producer Saudi Aramco will lower Arab Light oil for next month by $11 a barrel to $1.50 below the regional benchmark, according to a price list published Monday. The last two times it sold the grade at a discount were during price wars in 2020 and 2015, while it marks the largest monthly reduction in official selling prices since at least 2000.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi oil price cut unlikely to convince sated Asia buyers, traders say.” Reuters, July 7, 2026.

• “UAE president arrives in Kuwait for talks with emir.” Arab News, July 09, 2026.

“It affirmed the UAE’s full support for the two Gulf Cooperation Council member countries and all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability, the Emirates News Agency reported.”

Go Deeper: “The UAE Woos Kuwait… In Confrontation with Saudi Arabia?” Al Hurra, Feb 3, 2026.

Economy, Markets and Domestics

• “Saudi Arabia, Canada launch investment pact talks, deepen mining partnership.” Saudi Gazette, July 10, 2026.

“The two countries also pledged to deepen cooperation in defense, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and combating transnational organized crime, while expanding collaboration in healthcare, biotechnology, digital health, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, research and workforce development.”

Go Deeper: “Carney’s Saudi Arabia trip a ‘high-water mark’ for relations: Business leader.” Kyle Duggan, Canada National Observer, July 9, 2026

• “Canada tells UAE it is not ready for its C$70bn investment.” Financial Times, July 7, 2026.

“The reason was a lack of projects at a stage where they could deploy the money. Former Quebec premier Jean Charest..”

Go Deeper: “Canada tells UAE it has no projects ready for billions in pledged investment - report.” I24 News, July 7, 2026.

• “Qatar Pauses Push to Ramp Up LNG After Hormuz Tanker Attack.” Bloomberg, July 9, 2026.

“The pause is one of the most high-profile fallouts of the heightened tensions this week with attacks on a number of ships near Hormuz and the US striking Iran for two consecutive days. President Donald Trump on Wednesday even raised the prospect of a return to all-out war, a worst-case scenario for energy producers in the region who were gradually recovering from the impact of the conflict.”

Go Deeper: “Qatar LNG under constraint: capacity loss and export dislocation.” Irina Mironova, Cedigaz, April 23, 2026.

• “UAE tops Arab region in FDI inflows in 2025 with $48.2 billion.” Arab News, July 08, 2026.

“According to UNCTAD estimates cited in Dhaman’s annual report, FDI inflows to Arab countries fell 10 percent to US$119.3 billion in 2025. More than 80 percent of total inflows were concentrated in three Arab countries, while the region’s share of global FDI declined to 7.3 percent and its share of FDI to developing economies fell to 13.3 percent.”

Go Deeper: “UAE Foreign Direct Investment, report 2025.” [UAE] Ministry of Investment, 2025. [PDF].

• “Businesses report blocked payments from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, raising fears of worsening ties.” Middle East Eye, July 08, 2026.

“Several sources told the Financial Times that payments from Saudi banks to UAE-based accounts belonging to companies and individuals in Dubai had been returned or held up since May, often without explanation.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi-UAE tensions hit money flows.” Yahoo, July 8, 2026.

• “Al-Hogail launches SR1.67 billion municipal, housing projects in Al-Baha.” Saudi Gazette, July 10, 2026.

“Municipal projects included completed developments worth SR464 million and new projects valued at SR873.5 million, covering roads, sidewalks, street lighting, flood mitigation, parks, public facilities and other infrastructure aimed at improving services for residents and visitors.”

Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia’s Residential Property Market Analysis 2026.” Global Property Guide, Mar 1, 2026.

• “Abu Dhabi’s e& exits Vodafone investment in $5.95bln deal.” Zawya, July 10, 2026.

“The sale covers 3.94 billion Vodafone shares at 112.5 GB pence ($1.51) per share, comprising about 110.5 pence in cash and a 2.02 pence FY26 dividend, payable on July 30, 2026..”

“The shares will initially be transferred through off-market block trades to three financial institutions who will hold them until Vega completes the regulatory requirements.”

• “United Solar completes $1.6bln funding for Oman polysilicon plant with IFC investment.” Zawya, July 6, 2026.

“In a separate statement that month, United Solar had announced that it secured $480 million in term debt financing from IFC and partner banks and more than $400 million in term debt and working capital facilities from local commercial banks led by Sohar International for the project.”

Go Deeper: “The Gulf could turn extreme heat to its advantage.” AGBI, July 8, 2026.

• “Abu Dhabi’s ADNEC reports record $2.5 bln economic contribution in 2025.” Zawya, July 6, 2026.

“In 2025, ADNEC Group generated AED9.2 billion in economic impact, an 8% increase from AED8.5 billion in 2024. Through its business and leisure tourism activities, the group generated 2.17 million hotel room nights, reflecting its growing role in driving economic growth and supporting the UAE’s strategic objective of building a diversified, knowledge‑based economy.”

• “Kuwait renewable energy firm plans equity raise to expand across MENA.” Zawya, July 8, 2026.

“AEP had recently secured several competitive solar projects in Kuwait and Oman, further validating the strength of its pipeline, commercial competitiveness, and ability to convert opportunities into awarded projects.”

• “Exclusive / Microsoft deepens AI ties with UAE to automate government work.” Semafor, July 8, 2026.

“Microsoft’s ties to the emirates are already significant: It has committed $15.2 billion to the country by 2030 and taken a stake in G42. Microsoft President Brad Smith previously told Semafor the company has broad ambitions for the UAE, seeing it as a gateway for computing power and data storage across the wider region.”

Go Deeper: “Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Family Office Is a Global Dealmaking Force.” Bloomberg, July 6, 2026.

• “ADNOC spends $1B on gas stations in South Africa.” Semafor, July 7, 2026.

“The Abu Dhabi state oil company’s retail arm, ADNOC Distribution, has bought Shell’s downstream business in South Africa for $1 billion, adding to a string of foreign acquisitions in recent months. The deal hands ADNOC 580 gas stations and a 10% market share in Africa’s largest economy.”

• “Qatar: Mortgage transactions reach $3.56bln in Q1.” Zawya, July 10, 2026.

“The volume of mortgage transactions achieved during Q1 2025 reached 434 transactions, with a total amount of QR10.037bn where Doha Municipality registered the highest number of mortgage transactions with 164 equivalent to 37.8 percent, followed by Al Rayyan Municipality with 117 transactions equivalent to 27 percent, then Al Daayen Municipality with 50 transactions equivalent to 11.5 percent of the total number of mortgaged properties.”

• “Acwa Power sets new dividend policy until 2030.” AGBI, July 8, 2026.

“The board also recommended a dividend payment of SAR353 million ($96 million), or SAR0.46 per share, for 2025 subject to shareholders’ approval.”

“Acwa Power reported a 19 percent year-on-year drop in net profit to SAR345 million in the first quarter of 2026 despite a 3 percent annual increase in revenue to SAR2 billion.”

• “Kuwait Investment Company’s German subsidiary secures €23mln loan.” Zawya, July 8, 2026.

“Wisaly is a real estate entity operated by the publicly listed KIC, one of Kuwait’s oldest investment firms that is 62.04% owned by the country’s wealth fund, the Kuwait Investment Authority, according to LSEG data.”

In today’s issue, we shed some light on the public debate around the question of trusting the Iranian regime, both on the short- and long-term. Views from various perspectives are highlighted, and the debate is concluded with selected opinions on other topics.

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Public Debates

Can Iran Be Trusted? Gulf Commentators Debate the Prospects of a New Regional Understanding

Amid preparations for a potential understanding between the United States, Iran, and the Gulf states, Gulf commentators have increasingly focused on a broader strategic question: Can Iran be trusted to uphold a new regional agreement? Reports of parallel Gulf-Iranian discussions, renewed diplomatic outreach, and disagreements surrounding the future of the Strait of Hormuz have generated a lively debate across the Gulf. While one camp argues that Iran’s past conduct leaves little room for confidence without fundamental changes in its behavior, another contends that diplomacy remains the only realistic path toward long-term regional stability.

The debate is best introduced by Saad bin Tiflah, the Kuwaiti former Minister of Information, whose article frames the discussion by outlining the two competing perspectives emerging across the Gulf. Rather than immediately taking sides, Bin Tiflah explains that Gulf societies are divided between those who believe engagement with Iran could create a new environment of stability and those who believe that genuine trust cannot exist without a fundamental change in the behavior of the Iranian regime. As he writes:

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Today, we highlight the public debate around a crucial topic: the US-Iran agreement. We include both optimistic and skeptical voices, and conclude with selected opinions on other topics.

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Beyond the Memorandum: Gulf Commentators Debate the US-Iran Agreement

The signing of the US-Iran Memorandum has generated an intense debate across Gulf commentary. While the agreement halted a costly confrontation and launched a sixty-day negotiating process, commentators remain deeply divided over its implications. For some, the memorandum risks restoring Iranian influence and repeating the mistakes of previous U.S. engagement with Tehran. Others argue that judgment should be postponed until the agreement’s implementation becomes clearer. A third group shifts the discussion away from immediate winners and losers, arguing that the real issues concern Gulf security, the Strait of Hormuz, regional geography, and the narratives surrounding the conflict itself.

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The public debate highlighted in this issue is all about the recent Saudi-Turkey railway deal that links Turkey to Saudi Arabia through Syria and Jordan, and could eventually connect to the GCC railway network. After that, we highlight other topics, and lastly share several selected pieces in the Nashra Picks.

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Public Debates

Railway of Integration or Railway of Empire? Gulf Commentators Debate the Saudi-Turkey Corridor

The June 9 signing of a Saudi-Turkish memorandum of understanding on railway cooperation has revived discussion of one of the most ambitious connectivity projects proposed in the modern Middle East. The planned corridor would link Turkey to Saudi Arabia through Syria and Jordan and could eventually connect to the GCC railway network, creating an overland route stretching from the Gulf to Europe. Supporters see the project as a transformative economic corridor capable of reshaping regional trade, strengthening supply chains, and reducing dependence on vulnerable maritime routes. Critics, however, argue that the initiative cannot be separated from its historical roots and warn that the revival of the old Hejaz Railway route may reflect a broader Turkish geopolitical vision rather than a purely economic undertaking.

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In today’s issue, we highlight the public debate around the Abraham Accords, particularly after a recent renewed push by president Donald Trump’s. Other topics are highlighted afterward. Lastly, selected pieces are presented in the Nashra Picks.

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Public Debates

Beyond the Abraham Accords: How Gulf Commentators View Normalization, Palestine, and the Emerging Regional Order

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The crucial debate in this issue revolves around Oman’s current position with regards to the Strait of Hormuz. Then, other topics are raised by multiple thought influencers. Lastly, selected pieces are presented in the Nashra Picks.

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Public Debates

Oman, Hormuz, and Gulf Autonomy: Should Muscat Defend Its Independent Course or Distance Itself from Tehran?

President Donald Trump’s threat against Oman sparked one of the Gulf’s most consequential debates this week. While most commentators rejected the language used against Muscat, they disagreed over the underlying question: is Oman being punished for its independent diplomacy, or paying the price for failing to distance itself clearly from Tehran’s claims regarding the Strait of Hormuz?

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Today, we shed light on the discussions on the question of Iraq and its relation with the GCC countries vs. Iran, and the future of such relation, followed with selected opinions on other issues, after which comes the Nashra Picks with special pieces.

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Public Debates

Would Iraq Return to the Gulf Sphere, or Has It Become Structurally Part of the Iranian Sphere?

The recent drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and the UAE — allegedly launched from Iraqi territory — have revived one of the Gulf’s central strategic questions: can Iraq still function as an independent Arab state connected to its Gulf environment, or has it become structurally embedded within Iran’s regional security architecture? The controversy intensified after Gulf states accused Iranian-backed Iraqi militias of carrying out attacks from inside Iraq, while Baghdad simultaneously denied the existence of conclusive evidence and promised investigations.

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The Weekly Digest by The Gulf Nashra is a weekly series highlighting the most significant public debates and opinions from the region, featuring curated picks such as books, analytical papers, academic research, podcasts, interviews, webinars, and more.

This week, we highlight the discussions around Turki Al Faisal’s article regarding Saudi’s policy toward the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, then share selected opinions on other issues, and lastly end with the thought-provoking Nashra Picks.

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Public Debates

Is This the Gulf’s War? The Debate After Prince Turki Al Faisal’s Article

The recent article by former Saudi intelligence chief and senior Saudi royal Turki Al Faisal, titled “Thus Succeeded MBS” has triggered a major debate across Gulf political and intellectual circles. At the center of the controversy was his argument that the ongoing confrontation with Iran is not fundamentally a Saudi or Gulf war, but rather a conflict Israel seeks to expand into a broader regional confrontation that would ultimately weaken everyone except itself.

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The Weekly Digest by The Gulf Nashra is a weekly series highlighting the most significant public debates and opinions from the region, featuring curated picks such as books, analytical papers, academic research, podcasts, interviews, webinars, and more. In this issue, we examine notable discussions on America’s “Freedom Project.” We bring Saudi and Emirati voices and highlight how the perspectives diverge, followed by selected opinions on other issues, after which we end with the thought-provoking Nashra Picks. If you find some value in our publication, we invite you to subscribe and share.

Public Debates

Saudi–Emirati Divergence over the American “Freedom Project”

The American “Freedom Project,” announced by President Donald Trump to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of paralysis, exposed a notable divergence between Saudi and Emirati strategic discourse. While Saudi Arabia refused participation in military escalation and emphasized de-escalation, many Emirati commentators framed the project as a strategic necessity to deter Iran and restore maritime security. The result was a rare public intellectual divide between two Gulf partners over how regional order should be preserved.

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The Weekly Digest by The Gulf Nashra is a weekly series highlighting the most significant public debates and opinions from the region, featuring curated picks such as books, analytical papers, academic research, podcasts, interviews, webinars, and more. In this issue, we explore the debate surrounding the UAE’s exit from OPEC and OPEC+. We highlight influential voices commenting on what motivated it, what the consequences are, and what it means for the Gulf, followed by stimulating Nashra Picks. If you find it valuable, we invite you to subscribe and share.

Public Debates

“OPEC has grown increasingly rigid and aged, while the UAE has transformed—its economy more diversified beyond oil, emerging as a rising power with geoeconomic and geopolitical priorities that differ from those of the 20th-century UAE.”

Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, X, United Arab Emirates

The UAE exit from OPEC has triggered a sharp Gulf debate, not simply over policy, but over the logic of oil market governance itself. Saudi voices largely frame the issue as structural: stability requires coordination, regardless of institutional form. Emirati voices, by contrast, frame the move as a rational recalibration of national strategy, rooted in capacity, diversification, and long-term positioning.

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Nashra Picks

Geopolitics

• Analysis: “MBS hosts Sudan’s Burhan in Jeddah as $1.5B Saudi-backed arms deal stalls.” Rosaleen Carroll, Al-Monitor, April 20, 2026.

• Analysis: “Pakistan’s quiet fighter jet deployment to Saudi Arabia signals Gulf anxiety.” Sabena Siddiqui, Al-Monitor, April 19, 2026.

• Analysis: “In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia pursues quiet diplomacy as Trump pushes Israel normalization.” Beatrice Farhat, Al-Monitor, April 24, 2026.

• Analysis: “The Hollow Promise of Arab Solidarity.” Tareq Alotaiba, AGSI, April 24, 2026.

• Analysis: “Egypt and the Gulf: A Relationship under Pressure.” Imad K. Harb, Arab Center, April 21, 2026.

• Analysis: “The Iran War Is a Stress Test for Gulf States.” Frederic Wehrey and Charles Johnson,Carnegie, April 23, 2026.

• Analysis: “The Iran war has forced the US-Gulf alliance out of the shadows.” Eric Alter, Atlantic Council, April 20, 2026.

• Analysis: “‘They have been exposed’: The Iran war upends Gulf states’ security and business model.” Stefanie Hausheer Ali, Atlantic Council, April 20, 2026.

• Analysis: “The Gulf’s Iran Problem Isn’t Solved.” John Calabrese, AGSI, April 23, 2026.

• Analysis: “Gulf Security Strategies After the Iran War.” Jean-Loup Samaan, AGSI, April 23, 2026.

• Analysis: “Can Qatar Still Mediate After Becoming a Target?” Faisal Al-Hanzab, AGSI, April 22, 2026.

Economics

• Analysis: “Six weeks into the conflict, which of the small Arabian Gulf economies are still seeing less activity?” Meshal Alkhowaiter, Saudi Labor Pulse, April 21, 2026.

• Analysis: “Geoeconomic Rebalancing after the Gulf Crisis.” Akram Zaoui, ORF, April 21, 2026.

• Analysis: “why asia cannot replace gulf crude easily.” Parul Bakshi and Samriddhi Vij, ORF, April 22, 2026.

• Analysis: “Catalysing the GCC’s Waste-to-Energy Prospects for Agriculture.” Leigh Mante, ORF, April 20, 2026.

• Analysis: “Yielding to Shortage: Gulf Crisis Prompts Fertilizer and Food Shocks.” Héla Miniaoui, AGSI, April 20, 2026.

• Analysis: “Why did the Met Opera lose its Saudi funding deal?” Jack Dutton, Al-Monitor, April 24, 2026.

• Analysis: “What LIV Golf’s woes suggest about Saudi Arabia’s economic headwinds.” Adam Lucente, Al-Monitor, April 19, 2026.

Podcasts

• Podcast: “Untold Facts About Saudi Cinema.” Fouad Al-Khatib, The Cinema Bulletin, April 23, 2026. [Eng Subtitle].

• Podcast: “Matthias Jaissle on His Career-Ending Injury to Coaching Success.” MO Show, April 18, 2026.

• Podcast: “How Is the Defense System Managed in the UAE?” Abdul Nasser Al-Hamidi, Arab Cast, April 16, 2026. [Eng Subtitle].

• Podcast: “The Beijing Agreement Has Collapsed, and Iran Drinks the ‘Poisoned Chalice’ Again,” Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, Al-Kalam Khaliji. April 21, 2026. [Eng Subtitle].

• Webinar: “Mending the Rift: Iran and the UAE’s Post-War Ties.” MEI, April 22, 2026. [Eng].

• Webinar: “Transformations in Epistemic Consciousness: From Classical Orientalism to Contemporary Extraction,” Abdullah Habib, Middle East Council, April 21, 2026. [Eng].

Public Debates

Iran’s expansionist project after the recent war: retreat, adaptation, or entrenchment?

The war that swept across the region has left behind a question no ceasefire could resolve: whether the Iranian axis—its militias, proxies, and transnational networks stretching from Beirut to Baghdad—has been fundamentally weakened or merely recalibrated. Across commentary from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, a broad consensus emerges: the axis has not collapsed. It has adapted. The central analytical divide is not over whether Iran incurred significant costs—it clearly did—but whether those costs translate into structural retreat or simply a tactical pause within a longer-term project of regional entrenchment.

On Iraq, Ayman Al-Tamimi, writing from Saudi Arabia, argues that Iran has successfully reproduced the Lebanese model within Baghdad.

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