Before beginning this week’s issue, we at The Gulf Nashra would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Dr. Aziz Alghashian, the respected Saudi political analyst and researcher who passed away on October 18, 2026.
Dr. Alghashian was a prominent voice in Gulf affairs, particularly Saudi foreign policy and regional relations. His thoughtful analysis, intellectual openness, and contributions to understanding the region will be greatly missed by the research community.
Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends, and colleagues. May his pure soul rest in peace and his loved ones be granted patience and strength during this difficult time.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون.
Geopolitics
“Saudi Defence Minister leads Makkah pact delegation to Tehran in major diplomatic push.” The National, October 26, 2026.
“Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence Prince Khalid bin Salman made a surprise visit to Tehran on Monday in a major push for de-escalation in the Middle East amid intensifying Houthi attacks on Saudi cities and fears of a renewed full-scale war between Iran and the US.
Pakistan’s army chief of staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Ibrahim Kalin, the director of Turkey’s intelligence service, were also attending the meetings in the Iranian capital, said Rayed Krimly, Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“Saudi Aramco tells staff to evacuate Dhahran as clashes with Yemen’s Houthis continue.” Reuters, October 22, 2026.
“Saudi state oil company Aramco has told staff to evacuate its headquarters in Dhahran on the Gulf, six people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday, as fighting between the world’s largest crude exporter and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis intensifies.”
“UK fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi strikes.” Semafor, October 20, 2026.
“The UK said Tuesday it will send fighter jets to protect Saudi Arabia’s cities and critical infrastructure from escalating aerial attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis.”
“Egypt calls for Yemen talks as parliament weighs military support to Saudi Arabia.” Reuters, October 22, 2026.
“Any direct involvement of the Egyptian military, one of the region’s largest, would raise the stakes in the conflict between the kingdom and the Houthis, an increasingly destabilising front in the spreading US-Israeli war on Iran.”
“Turkey says it is waiting for sale contract from Qatar for Eurofighter Typhoon jet procurement.” Reuters, October 22, 2026.
“Turkey is waiting for Qatar to send it a sale contract and a draft training programme as part of its deal with Britain to procure Eurofighter Typhoon jets, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Thursday.”
Market & Economy
“IMF forecasts UAE economic growth of 7.7% in 2027.” Zawya, October 23, 2026.
“He noted that continued investment in AI could add approximately 0.5 percentage points to the UAE’s annual economic growth.”
“Saudi stock market loses $176bn in two months.” AGBI, October 23, 2026.
“Saudi Arabian stocks have fallen to their lowest level in more than five years as a deepening sell-off in banking, property and healthcare shares fuels concerns about further losses.”
“The sustained sell-off has wiped $176 billion off the bourse’s market capitalisation since the end of August, according to AGBI calculations.”
“Saudi Arabia postpones its ‘Davos in the Desert’ conference after attacks.” Reuters, October 19, 2026.
“The Future Investment Initiative, or FII, was planned for October 26 to 29, but will now take place in 2027, with a new date to be announced “very soon,” the organizers said.”
Go Deeper: “Saudi postpones FII in person after Wall Street lobbying.” Semafor, October 19, 2026.
“Gulf attracts finance firms controlling $5.8 trillion since war.” Semafor, October 22, 2026.
“Finance firms controlling over $5.8 trillion have established their first offices in the Gulf in the nearly eight months since the Iran war disrupted the region’s economies, a sign that money managers are still betting it will remain a source of new cash.”
“Aramco’s profit expected to rise 17% to $30bln in Q3 2026: AlJazira Capital.” Zawya, October 22, 2026.
“Saudi Aramco’s net profit after minority interest is expected to increase by 16.8% year-on-year (YoY) but fall 6.5% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to SAR 113.6 billion ($30.16 billion) in the third quarter of 2026, according to an AlJazira Capital report.”
“UAE pledges $17bn to expand investment in Greece.” AGBI, October 23, 2026.
“The UAE has pledged billions of dollars in new investments in Greece, targeting infrastructure, technology and hospitality as it seeks to expand its economic and investment partnership in Europe.”
“GCC investors back Bahrain while Western capital hesitates.” AGBI, October 23, 2026.
“Bahrain’s years-long shift from capital exporter to investment destination faces a new test as the US-Iran war delays foreign funding decisions and threatens recent momentum, according to senior officials at Bahrain’s Economic Development Board.”
Go Deeper: “Gulf faces economic contraction nearly as acute as COVID shock.” Semafor, October 23, 2026.
“Kuwait raises $3.25bn in int’l bond issuance.” Kuwait Times, October 20, 2026.
“Kuwait has raised $3.25 billion through a two-tranche international bond issuance dated Oct 19, the finance ministry said Tuesday, citing strong demand from global investors.”
“Investor demand was strong, with total orders peaking at $9.1 billion, approximately 2.8 times the size of the issuance.”
“Oman targets investments to boost digital economy.” AGBI, October 23, 2026.
“Oman plans to attract global investment to its technology sector, particularly artificial intelligence, in the second phase of its 2026-2030 digital economy plan.”
“It also aims to attract OMR300 million in technology investment and create 3,000 jobs a year in the sector.”
Environment and Climate Change
“Gulf water-sharing plans accelerated by Iran war.” AGBI, October 23, 2026.
“Rising consumption and security concerns are driving demand for pipelines, desalination capacity and stronger links between national networks.”
“Masdar prices $600mln blue bond; orders top $1.4bln.” Zawya, October 23, 2026.
“Abu Dhabi’s flagship renewable energy company Masdar, rated A1/AA-/AA-, has set the final pricing for its $600 million five-year blue bond at 115 basis points (bps) over the five-year US Treasury benchmark, tightening from initial price thoughts of around 130 bps.”
Domestics
“Sheikh Fahad: No return to ‘old chaos’ as 10,000 company files suspended over unpaid wages.” Kuwait Times, October 22, 2026.
“First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah said the files of 10,000 companies with five or more workers have been suspended for failing to pay salaries for between one year and a year and a half.”
“Speaking at a meeting with private sector company representatives, he said a strict automated system now suspends company files as soon as salary payments become irregular.”
“Bahrain and France to co-develop civil nuclear energy.” AGBI, October 23, 2026.
“Bahrain and France have signed a preliminary agreement to develop a civil nuclear energy programme as part of broader efforts to strengthen economic ties.”
“The interim deal was signed in Manama in the presence of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and French President Emmanuel Macron, state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.”
Go Deeper: “As Macron visits Gulf, can France forge its own energy-for-security future?” Al Jazeera, October 20, 2026.
“Women’s soccer goes from bans to stadiums in Saudi.” Semafor, October 23, 2026.
“Prize money has quadrupled since the Saudi Women’s Premier League launched in 2022, and Riyadh’s Al-Nassr club took home 2 million riyals ($531,000) for last season’s title.”
“Saudi football privatisation faces commercial reality check.” AGBI, October 23, 2026.
“Saudi football clubs face pressure to find new funding as the kingdom shifts ownership towards private investors, while high wages and limited broadcasting income make profits harder to achieve.”