The Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
MBS’s U.S. Visit Highlights, South Korea–UAE AI Collaboration, and Kuwait Revamps Residency and Visa Fees.
Media Coverage
Geopolitics
“Takeaways from Trump’s White House meeting with Saudi crown prince: Deals and bromance.” AP News, November 19, 2025.
“Prince Mohammad told Trump that his country would be increasing its financial commitments to the U.S. from $600 billion, which was announced during the president’s trip to Riyadh in May, to $1 trillion. Details of those deals were not immediately clear but are expected to include investments in a variety of American businesses, including artificial Intelligence, as well as the purchase of jet engines and other equipment.”
Go Deeper: “What to know about the F-35 fighter jet that Trump is selling to Saudi Arabia.” NPR, November 19, 2025.
“Trump says US will work to end war in Sudan at Saudi’s request.” Reuters, November 19, 2025.
“Trump told the gathering, which was attended by bin Salman and his delegation, that his administration began working on the issue half an hour after the crown prince made the request during Tuesday’s meeting.”
“Trump designates Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally.” Axios, November 18, 2025.
“President Trump said Tuesday evening that he has formally designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, aiming to deepen military cooperation between the two nations.”
Go Deeper: “What does it mean for Saudi Arabia to be declared a major non-Nato ally?” The National, November 19, 2025
“Belgium to close embassy in Kuwait as part of global diplomatic restructuring.” Arab News, November 22, 2025.
“Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Belgium will shutter eight diplomatic missions between 2026 and 2027, calling the overhaul the country’s first comprehensive review of its global presence in more than a decade.”
Go Deeper: “Kuwait Muddles through Its Confusing Politics.” Arab Center, July 20, 2021.
Market & Economy
“US and Saudi Arabia reach deal for rare earths facility in Gulf kingdom.” Financial Times, November 19, 2025.
“Saudi Arabia has identified mining as one of the main sectors the country seeks to grow as part of wider plans to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond oil. The government also hopes that growth in mining would help provide materials for other industries they are trying to build, including electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing.”
“US Approval for Advanced Chips Boosts UAE, Saudi AI Ambitions.” Bloomberg, November 19, 2025.
“The US has approved sales of tens of thousands of advanced artificial intelligence semiconductors to the United Arab Emirates’ G42 and regional rival Humain of Saudi Arabia, a major boost for both Gulf nations’ efforts to become formidable players in the technology.”
“Saudi Arabia, Stellantis exploring local vehicle manufacturing.” Reuters, November 20, 2025.
“Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, the National Industrial Development Center (NIDC) and the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the potential for developing a manufacturing plant to localize both commercial and passenger vehicle production, the partners said in a joint statement on Thursday, without providing financial details.”
“South Korea agrees to join UAE’s Stargate AI data centre project.” Reuters, November 18, 2025.
“South Korea said it will help build computing power and energy infrastructure for the world’s largest set of AI data centres outside the United States, after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had a summit with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”
“Under directives of UAE President, Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed approves launch of $50 billion investment framework with Canada.” WAM, November 21, 2025.
“Under the terms of the agreement, the UAE will invest in energy, artificial intelligence, logistics, mining and other priority national and strategic industries in Canada, benefiting the peoples of both nations.”
Domestics
“Kuwait rolls out major hike in residency and visa fees.” Arab News, November 23, 2025.
“The ministry has also confirmed the minimum monthly salary of KD800 required to sponsor a spouse and children. Fees for sponsoring dependants outside the immediate family — such as parents or siblings — have risen to KD300 a year.”
Go Deeper: “Kuwait launches domestic worker visa inquiry service.” Arab News, September 20, 2025.
“Mass deportation in Saudi Arabia as security raids widen.” Arab News, November 23, 2025.
“According to the ministry, 22,094 people were arrested between November 13 and 19 during joint inspections carried out by security forces in coordination with other government agencies.”
“Oman Labor Market Compliance: New Rules for Foreign Companies and Expatriate Workers.” Middle East Briefing, November 11, 2025.
“These measures, one targeting foreign-owned companies and another enhancing expatriate worker protections, signal a dual approach to increasing job opportunities for Omani citizens while improving transparency and accountability in private sector employment.”
Go Deeper: “New labour law: Oman announces major reforms for domestic workers.” Arab News, October 12, 2025.
Gulf Opinions
This week, Gulf commentators focused on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s November 18 visit to Washington, examining its political significance and commercial-economic implications. Saudi writers in particular highlighted what they saw as the success and strategic weight of the visit. From an ideological standpoint, Saudi columnist Hamoud Abu Talib argued that the Crown Prince arrived in Washington “owning the state of power,” reinforced by advances in “the peaceful nuclear program, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, the strategic defense agreement, and the arms sales deal, most notably the F-35 fighter jets.” Abu Talib emphasized the visit’s unprecedented tone, asking: “Have you ever heard a leader say at the White House: ‘I did not come here to please America or its president, but to meet our needs and shared interests?’” Similarly, Saudi commentator Firas Traboulsi insisted that the visit produced “five strategic transformations”: a shift from a purely security partnership to a technological and industrial one; the elevation of Saudi Arabia’s regional role as a maker of stability; the consolidation of strategic parity; the Kingdom’s emergence as a global economic hub; and, finally, the formation of a new international framework linking the Gulf to major world powers.
Energy analysts in Saudi Arabia amplified this tone of confidence. Petroleum engineer and energy economics researcher Sara Al Alqam wrote that Washington—“the city of global decision-making and the capital of political influence, a capital that does not flatter”—acknowledged that “Saudi Arabia is entering a new phase of leading the global energy scene.” For Al Alqam, the Kingdom’s influence on global decision-making now runs through its transformation into “a complete energy system,” led by the Crown Prince’s vision. Energy strategist Naif Aldandeni echoed this view, arguing that Saudi Arabia has “moved from being a traditional global oil producer to a geopolitical global leader,” noting that the visit’s massive investment agreements and Washington’s openness to a Saudi peaceful nuclear program prove that the Kingdom “is heading far beyond merely being an oil producer.”
Across the Gulf, the regional press offered similarly positive readings. In Oman’s Al Roya, Bahraini writer Abdulnabi Al Shoala wrote that Arabs and Muslims should take pride in the visit’s “highly significant political, diplomatic, and economic messages.” He argued that the trip marks a major shift—one that situates Saudi Arabia not just as a regional player but as a global strategic partner, driven by deepening U.S.–Saudi cooperation in technology, economics, and defense. It also reinforced Riyadh’s growing foreign-policy independence, from mediation roles in regional conflicts to expanding collaborative frameworks in AI, energy, and security. Saudi commentator Ahmed Ali Al Ghamdi offered a concluding assessment of the visit’s symbolism, noting: “The reception of the Crown Prince in the United States at such a high level of honor and attention is not merely a routine diplomatic event, but rather a confirmation of the Kingdom’s leading status, and evidence of its political and economic strength and its growing global respect.”
More Gulf Opinions
“In the Middle East, there are two major and important neighboring countries to the Gulf and Arab states that our governments and societies must know everything about in order to strengthen both popular and international engagement. They are the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkey, with whom we share history, religion, politics, and economics.”
“Learning all necessary information about these two neighboring states and building a relationship of trust and friendship with them is a priority, regardless of our agreement or disagreement with their political systems. This falls under the principle of knowing your neighbor and your partner in mutual interests, and understanding how to deal with them. There is no doubt that both countries are significant in the Middle East and closely linked to the Gulf and Arab states in everything that happens in the region.”
Taysir Abdulaziz Al Reshidan, Annahar, (Kuwait), November 23, 2025.
“Think tanks emerge as important tools for crafting wise, knowledge-based decision-making grounded in deep analysis. They contribute to anticipating the future and offering insights that help states confront challenges with awareness and preempt crises with well-studied alternatives. These centers serve as a bridge between scientific research and practical reality, making them a fundamental element in supporting development and good governance. The need for them today is greater than ever, for nations that invest in thought and research are the ones capable of shaping their future with confidence.”
Aref bin Khamis Al Fazari, Oman Daily, (Oman), November 22, 2025.
“The answer lies in the rise of active Gulf diplomacy, especially regarding the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution, which is gaining recognition in European capitals and even an implicit acknowledgment in Washington, where Western enthusiasm for unconditional American support for Israel has weakened.”
“The visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to Washington further increases the American administration’s understanding of the importance of resolving the core crises in the region. The recently approved resolution prohibits displacement and guarantees a unified Palestinian presence, among other provisions. The battle for a Palestinian state — which Arab diplomacy has placed on the international stage through the United Nations and the Security Council — has now become the central issue.”
Dr. Mohammed Al Rumaihi [Kuwait], Asharq Al-Awsat, (Saudi Arabia), November 22, 2025.
“Take the euro, for example: although it is strong, the European Union is currently experiencing deep political and ideological divisions and facing declines in economic growth and development in several of its countries. As for the Chinese yuan, despite China’s great economic weight, it is not widely used globally and lacks the diversified financial instruments and open markets needed for free capital movement; instead, it is constrained by strict regulations that limit the flow of money and investment channels. If we turn to alternatives like the ‘BRICS’ currencies, they too lack unified financial markets, a unified monetary policy, and independent central banks capable of making financial or investment decisions. Likewise, within the range of possible scenarios, ending the petrodollar system and switching oil and gas pricing away from the dollar suggests that Gulf states might use baskets of currencies or create a new energy exchange priced in new, non-dollar currencies. In such a situation, national oil and gas companies and other energy companies would need new pricing models, increasing the complexity of procedures and raising risks.”
Muhammad Al Bahzad, Al Raya, (Qatar), November 19, 2025.
“One does not need much scrutiny to realize that the attacks on the UAE on social media platforms are no longer an expression of opinion, but have become a reflection of others’ crises more than any mistake we have committed. States are not attacked because they are weak, but because they are strong; they are not targeted because they are struggling, but because they have overcome all obstacles and become a model that disturbs those who cannot bear to see a cohesive Arab success unrelated to them. For this very reason, the UAE has become at the center of its rivals’ arrows: it is the exception that confused them.”
“Why the UAE specifically? The answer lies in the fact that the UAE was the first Arab state to confront the project of the Muslim Brotherhood without hesitation and refused to become a space for occupying minds in the name of religion.”
Abdullah Alhashmi, Al Etihad, (UAE), November 19, 2025.
“Mamdani’s victory is a form of supporting the oppressed and establishing justice in a non-Islamic country, a universal Qur’anic value that is not restricted by geography or affiliation. The highest legal objective is to remove injustice wherever it exists, achieve public benefit, and demonstrate the justice of Islam. Mamdani represents a model of what jurists call ‘fulfilling the objectives of Sharia in the realm of advocacy and balancing,’ as he defends the oppressed through legitimate peaceful means and confronts global arrogance with reason and justice, not with weapons. Here, support is not confined to a narrow religious dimension; rather, it is purely human, rooted in the values and justice of Islam.”
Dr. Abdulhamid Al Shaiji, Al Qabas, (Kuwait), November 19, 2025.
“The most common classification of the war in Sudan is that it is a civil war — an internal, non-international armed conflict that began as a struggle for power between two military factions, and then evolved into a complex conflict in which geopolitical, economic, ethnic, regional, and international factors became intertwined, leading to a devastating humanitarian catastrophe.”
“Certain regional or international powers may prefer the existence of smaller and weaker entities that are easier to control and whose influence and resources can be inherited, rather than a large state that is difficult to manage and may become a potential competitor. Just as this concept has applied to what has happened in the Arab region over the past three decades, it applies today to the war in Sudan — to Darfur, rich in gold and agricultural resources, and to Sudan’s strategic Red Sea coast — all of which have made Sudan a ‘cake’ that some may prefer to see divided.”
Samira Rajab, Akhbar Alkhaleej, (Bahrain), November 15, 2025.
Picks
Analysis: “The F-35 Test: A New Era for the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Partnership.” Abdullah Alrebh, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, November 17, 2025.
Analysis: “The Ties That Bind: The U.S.-Saudi Trade and Investment Relationship.” Tim Callen, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, November 14, 2025.
Analysis: “Israel, the UAE, and Yemen’s South: The Politics of Unlikely Alliances.” Giorgio Cafiero, Arab Center in Washington DC, November 14, 2025.
Analysis: “MBS Returns to Washington: Re-Assessing US-Saudi Relations.” Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Arab Center in Washington DC, November 18, 2025.
Analysis: “Saudi Crown Prince in Washington: The Return of Realpolitik.” Arab Center in Washington Doha, November 6, 2025.
Analysis: “Iran Looms Over Saudi Visit to Washington.” Ali Alfoneh, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, November 18, 2025.
Analysis: “Murky Waters: Could Undersea Cable Vulnerabilities Cloud the Gulf’s AI Vision?” Ali Alfoneh, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, November 19, 2025.
Analysis: “Exploring the stagnant workforce participation among Saudi women.” Meshal Alkhowaiter, Saudi Labor, November 9, 2025.
Analysis: “The UAE’s next attraction: gambling.” Chloe Cornish, Financial Times, November 21, 2025.
Analysis: “Saudi Arabia leads attempts to block climate deal, UN chief warns in closed-door talks.” Kenza Bryan, Attracta Mooney and Alice Hancock, Financial Times, November 21, 2025.
Analysis: “Saudi Arabia’s Prince Has Big Plans, but His Giant Fund Is Low on Cash.” The New York Times, November 19, 2025.
Analysis: “Will Volatile Oil Prices affect Saudi’s investment into Sports?” James Mortimer, The Black Book, November 14, 2025.
Analysis: “MENA Energy Recap, Q3-2025: Gulf Giants Abroad, Fragile Deals at Home.” Colby Connelly, Middle East Institute, November 19, 2025.
Analysis: “Crown Prince Mohammed’s Visit and U.S.-Saudi-Israeli Engagement.” Kamran Bokhari, The Newlines Institute, November 20, 2025.
Analysis: “Saudi Arabia’s next horizon: Building human capital beyond Vision 2030.” Khalid Azim, The Atlantic, November 20, 2025.
Analysis: “Unpacking the China File in U.S.-Saudi Relations.” Grant Rumley, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, November 18, 2025.
Podcast: “Saudi Arabia’s Role as a Global Swing State.” hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj with Gregory Gause, Middle East Institute, November 17, 2025.
Podcast: “Global Hotspots: Trump Meets with Saudi Crown Prince to Sign New Bilateral Deal.” Miloš Maggiore and Andrew Loftesnes, The Newlines Institute, November 21, 2025.