Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Announces Major Gold Discovery

As gold prices surge to historic highs, surpassing $2,300 an ounce amid mounting geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, Saudi Arabia announced a major gold discovery that could further cement its position in the global mining sector. Saudi Arabia’s state-owned mining company Ma’aden revealed the discovery of significant gold deposits ...

'Bombshell' OPEC+ Output Hike Hits Oil Price

Oil prices slumped on Monday after eight OPEC+ members announced a sharp increase in production, while Asian stocks treaded water in thin trade with major markets closed. The output increase of 411,000 barrels a day announced by Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other members of the oil cartel on Saturday added to concerns about over-supply. The ...

Trump to Visit the Gulf in Mid-May for Talks with GCC Leaders

US President Donald Trump is due to meet the heads of state of six Gulf countries while on a visit to Riyadh later this month, a source close to the Saudi government told AFP on Sunday. Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 16 will be the first foreign trip of his second term -- other than a brief visit ...

UAE to Lift Travel Ban on Lebanon Starting May 7

The United Arab Emirates will lift its travel ban on Lebanon starting Tuesday, May 7, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday. In a statement posted on its website, the Ministry said, “In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, and as part of ...

US Approves $3.5 bn Missile Sale to Saudis

The United States on Friday approved a $3.5 billion sale of missiles to Saudi Arabia, ahead of a visit to the kingdom by President Donald Trump. The State Department said it notified Congress of the deal that will include Saudi Arabia's purchase of 1,000 medium-range air-to-air missiles. The AIM-120 missiles, whose principal contractor is ...

Syria’s Path to Recovery: Can It Outpace Lebanon?

As the Lebanese endure rolling blackouts, relentless crises and a daily reality that often borders on the absurd, a piece of unexpected news has prompted a collective raised eyebrow – or two: Syria might well be rebuilt before Lebanon. Yes, you read that correctly. On Sunday, April 27, in a move as symbolic as it was strategic, Saudi Arabia ...

Saudi Arabia, Qatar to Settle Syria’s World Bank Debt

Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Sunday that they would settle Syria's debt to the World Bank totalling roughly $15 million, according to a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency. Both Gulf states have played a key role in the diplomatic outreach to Syria's new rulers since the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad in ...

US Roadmap for Lifting Sanctions on Syria Takes Center Stage

As Syria stands at a pivotal crossroads, the urgent question of lifting US and international sanctions takes center stage. These sanctions have profoundly impacted the nation's economy and governance since the outbreak of the civil war. With the Syrian interim government, now led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, striving to stabilize the country and ...

Trump: Saudi Normalization With Israel "Will Happen"

US President Donald Trump said he was confident Saudi Arabia will normalize ties with Israel, according to an interview published Friday by Time Magazine. "Saudi Arabia will go into the Abraham Accords," Trump said, referencing the historic agreement struck at the end of his first term in 2020, which saw Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates, ...

UAB Executive Committee Vows Support for Crisis-Hit Banking Sectors

The Executive Committee of the Union of Arab Banks (UAB) convened in Beirut on Thursday under the chairmanship of Dr. Joseph Torbey, with the participation of Secretary General Wissam Fattouh and representatives from seven Arab nations: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, Lebanon and Sudan. During the meeting, the committee reviewed a ...

Aramco and BYD unveil car technology alliance

Saudi Aramco and the Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD announced Monday an agreement to work together on what they called new-energy vehicle technologies. The Saudi oil giant is already a partner with Renault of France and the Chinese automaker Geely in a joint venture to produce thermal engines. Its subsidiary, Saudi Aramco Technologies ...

Indian PM Modi Visits Saudi Arabia to Bolster Ties

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on Tuesday for his third visit as premier to the oil-rich Gulf kingdom. The trip comes a day after Modi held high-level talks with US Vice President JD Vance in India, with New Delhi looking to seal a trade deal with Washington and stave off punishing tariffs. "India deeply ...