Saudi Arabia

De-dollarization: Enduring Shift or Fleeting Illusion?

De-dollarization — whether an enduring trend or a fleeting declaration — reflects a growing determination among emerging powers to reduce global dependence on the US dollar, long the cornerstone of international trade and finance. The initiative seeks to rebalance a monetary system historically dominated by the greenback and move toward a more ...

Saudi de Facto Ruler to Meet Trump in Washington Next Month

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler will meet US President Donald Trump during a three-day visit to Washington next month, a source close to the government told AFP on Tuesday. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will arrive on November 17 and discuss political, economic, and security files with Trump the following day, the source said on condition of ...

Lebanon Still Charms, but Tourism Numbers Fall

In the 2010s, Lebanon ranked among the world’s top tourist destinations, celebrated for its festivals, crowded beaches, boutique hotels and award-winning cuisine. Tourism then accounted for nearly a fifth of GDP and was at the very heart of the economy. Today, that postcard-perfect image has faded. Two years after a brief recovery, the sector ...

Burning Issues in the Syrian Visit to Beirut

Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani is visiting Beirut this Friday for his first official trip since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Long postponed, the visit marks a symbolic step toward restoring ties between Lebanon and Syria after a decade of mistrust. It follows a series of technical missions by Syrian officials exploring ...

From Beirut to Mecca: Ali Wehbi, 50 Marathons for 50 Children

He has crossed deserts where the silence hits hard, tamed polar nights where the frost bites, and trained… in supermarket freezers to prepare his body for the Arctic. For 21 years, Ali Wehbi has pushed the boundaries of endurance. The “International Lebanese Desert Runner” has covered more than 18,000 kilometers across the globe, come close ...

Lebanon under Scrutiny: Weapons and Army Moves!

Countries concerned with the Lebanese situation are awaiting the army’s first report, expected in the coming days, on the implementation of the plan to ensure weapons are exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese state. The focus is both on timing: whether the report will be released before the 5th of this month or be delayed; and on content, ...

Saudi Envoy Honors May Chidiac with Embassy Medal

Saudi Ambassador Walid Bukhari awarded former Minister of State for Administrative Reform May Chidiac the Medal of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Lebanon on Tuesday. The distinction was presented at her residence in Dekwaneh, in recognition of her patriotic stances, steadfast commitment to national unity, and tireless efforts in ...

Bin Farhan Commends Lebanon’s Steps Toward Stability

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan opened his address at the United Nations General Assembly by praising Lebanon, saying, “We appreciate the Lebanese state's efforts to implement the Taif Agreement and restrict weapons.” He emphasized Riyadh’s support for Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty. Saudi Arabia maintains a firm ...

Saudi Arabia launches international fund for the Palestinian Authority

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced Thursday the launch of an international coalition to finance the Palestinian Authority, stressing that Saudi Arabia will contribute $90 million. At a press conference, he noted that the Kingdom is actively engaged with the United States to end the war in Gaza. The minister also said that Arab and ...

Lebanon Steps Up Against Captagon Trafficking Network

In 2025, Lebanon achieved a significant breakthrough in the fight against the manufacturing and trafficking of Captagon pills– inflicting losses of hundreds of millions of dollars on those behind these illicit operations. Lebanese security forces demonstrated their ability to confront this criminal cartel – a challenge of major local, regional ...

What Pakistan’s Nuclear Pact Means for Saudi Arabia’s Defense

Pakistan has extended its nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia in a surprise defense agreement that could reshape strategic alliances in both the Middle East and South Asia. Signed in Riyadh on September 17 between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the treaty commits both countries to mutual ...

The Deception of the Obstructionist Axis: Did You Say ‘Resistance’?

A textbook example of deceit and blatant bad faith — that’s how one could describe the speech delivered late last week by Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem. With a straight face, he called on Saudi Arabia to “open a new page in its relations with the resistance,” and he added, almost innocently, that “the weapons of the ...