Real Estate Saudi home ownership fund hands out $257m in March Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate Development Fund provided another SR963 million ($257 million) in housing support in March. This takes the total given since 2017 to increase home ownership in the kingdom to $15 billion, the Saudi government said. The government is trying to raise home ownership among nationals to 70 percent of the population by […] March 25, 2024
Economy US-China tensions among risks facing Middle East The divide between China and the US is one of the top five global risks facing businesses in the coming year, according to consultancy Control Risks. But commentators said the Middle East would continue to engage economically and politically with both superpowers, with little negative impact on trade flows. Control Risks’ annual “RiskMap” forecast highlights […] November 20, 2023
Opinion Trade Meanwhile, on the G20 sidelines, history in the making The proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor could become a 'green and digital bridge across continents and civilisations' September 11, 2023
Opinion Economy Opec+’s cuts will be viewed dimly by the US The cuts are here to stay, and the global economy will need to adjust April 7, 2023
Opinion Energy Blame White House and Wall Street for global energy crunch The influence of radical environmentalism on the US Democrat administration and Wall Street bankers is damaging the global energy industry December 12, 2022
Opinion Energy Opec+ decides to wait and see on global oil markets Sunday’s virtual Opec+ meeting did the sensible thing: it held output, but made clear it was ready and willing to intervene should the circumstances warrant it December 5, 2022
Analysis Energy Emerging ‘consequences’ of the US-Gulf fallout over OPEC’s cuts OPEC+’s announcement last week of a two million barrel per day (bpd) production cut from November has rocked already fragile US-Gulf relations. Joe Biden pledged that “there will be consequences” for Saudi Arabia in the same week that the UAE president flew to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin. In response to Biden’s threat of retaliation, […] October 13, 2022
Energy OPEC+ cuts: the media’s verdict Major stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trading on Thursday, joining the rise in oil prices following the announcement late on Wednesday October 5 that the oil alliance OPEC+ had agreed to cut production by about two million barrels per day, the largest reduction since 2020. OPEC+ agrees deep oil production cuts, Biden […] October 6, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East UAE reforms seen as magnet for further US investment A series of new economic and social reforms, known as the Projects of the 50, will make the UAE an even more attractive environment for American businesses. According to Danny E Sebright, president of the US-UAE Business Council, the UAE is already widely recognised by American businesses for these strengths. “Another important strength of the […] September 26, 2022
Biden Middle East US special envoy for Yemen travels to the Middle East The US special envoy for Yemen will visit Saudi and Jordan this week, as part of diplomatic efforts in support of the United Nations-mediated truce in Yemen. The US State Department reported on Monday. Tim Lenderking’s “engagements will focus on expanding, extending, and renewing the current truce agreement that will further the tangible benefits already […] July 26, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East ‘Could do better’: the experts’ verdict on Biden in Middle East Did the US president achieve his objectives on his tour of the Middle East? AGBI asked seven analysts to give Biden marks out of 10 President Joe Biden hoped to usher in a new era in Washington’s relationship with the Middle East during his whistlestop tour last week – seeking to reinforce America’s commitment to […] July 19, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden boosts relations but fails to move the dial The president hoped to reset Washington’s relationship with the Middle East last weekend. In this in-depth analysis, AGBI explores how he performed on Israel, Iran, human rights and oil President Joe Biden’s whirlwind tour of the Middle East sought to reinforce America’s commitment to the region after several years of disengagement. In a speech to […] July 19, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East The road from Jeddah: US and Saudi set out their 19 priorities Clean energy, investment deals and space exploration are at the heart of the Jeddah communiqué – the partnership agreement issued by the US and Saudi governments after President Joe Biden’s meeting with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Among the agreements reached during the president’s visit on July 15 and 16 was a […] July 18, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Biden missed the chance to make food security his biggest draw The spectre of hunger stalks many Arab states as grain supplies run thin July 18, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Against the odds, Biden achieved a low key US-Gulf reset The US president did enough to restore relations with Saudi Arabia to what they were a decade ago but what comes next is paramount July 18, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden tells Arab leaders that US is committed to region President Joe Biden told an Arab summit today that the United States would remain firmly committed to its allies in the Middle East and was “not going anywhere” as he lobbied for a regional security alliance that would integrate Israel. Biden, who began his first trip to the Middle East as president with a visit to Israel, […] July 16, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden confronts MbS over Khashoggi before talking oil US president Joe Biden said he told Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman he held him responsible for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, shortly after exchanging a fist bump with the kingdom’s de facto ruler. On a trip to reset relations with a country he had called a pariah after Khashoggi’s killing in […] July 16, 2022
Energy Biden starts sensitive Saudi visit, no immediate oil pledge expected President Joe Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday to discuss energy supply, human rights, and security cooperation on a trip designed to reset the US relationship with a country he once pledged to make a “pariah” on the world stage. Energy and security interests prompted the president and his aides to decide not to […] July 15, 2022
Analysis People & Lifestyle Biden’s first win: Saudi Arabia opens airspace to Israel Saudi Arabia has announced it will open its airspace to all air carriers, including Israeli flights – marking a stepchange for the kingdom which has a historical stance of not officially recognising Israel. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued a statement on Thursday saying that the country’s airspace was now open to all […] July 15, 2022 In association with
Opinion Biden Middle East Sink or swim? Biden’s tour puts US reputation on the line The President has a delicate balancing act as he courts favour with America's Middle East allies July 15, 2022
Biden Middle East What the papers say: Day two of Biden’s Middle East trip A round up of the opinion and views published by regional and international media on US president Biden’s trip to the Middle East. LOCAL PAPERS: Saudi Arabia’s Arab News: Saudi Arabia, US have chance to reenergise their relationship Arab News ran an opinion piece authored by Dr Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, the GCC assistant secretary-general for […] July 15, 2022
Tourism Saudi Arabia to open airspace to all airlines, including from Israel Saudi Arabia said it would open its airspace to all air carriers, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel, in a decision welcomed by US President Joe Biden who is due to visit the kingdom on Friday. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the country’s airspace was now open […] July 15, 2022
