How Foreign Companies Can Own Real Estate in Saudi Arabia in 2026
Saudi Arabia’s 2026 Investor Guide sets out a registration route for non-Saudi companies that want to own property without conducting another economic activity in…
Countries
Country and regional coverage across the Gulf and wider Middle East.
Saudi Digital Economy Reaches 16% of GDP, Raising the Stakes for Skills and Productivity
Saudi Arabia’s digital economy accounted for 16% of GDP in 2024, according to GASTAT, showing the scale of digital adoption while shifting attention toward…
What Falling Oil Prices Mean for Gulf Markets if a US–Iran Deal Holds
Brent crude fell sharply as expectations of a US–Iran agreement increased. For Gulf markets, lower geopolitical risk is positive, but cheaper oil also changes…
How Saudi Arabia’s 2026 Foreign-Investor Rules Change Access to Tadawul
Saudi Arabia has replaced the qualified-foreign-investor framework with a broader regime allowing non-resident investors to access listed securities directly, but operational, ownership and disclosure…
UAE Investment Policy Enters a New Phase as OECD Calls for Stronger Coordination and Skills Links
The UAE has built one of the region’s strongest investment platforms, but a new OECD review argues that the next gains will depend on…
Saudi Economy Grows 3% in Q1 as Oil and Non-Oil Activity Move Together
Saudi real GDP expanded by 3% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, with oil and non-oil activity both rising 2.9%, although…
Qatari LNG Tankers Make Limited Hormuz Transits as Gulf Energy Flows Remain Constrained
A small number of Qatar-linked LNG carriers have cleared the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic remains far below normal and the movements should not…
UAE–US Investment Partnership Moves Deeper Into AI and Advanced Industry
The UAE–US economic relationship is evolving from conventional capital investment into a strategic industrial partnership spanning AI infrastructure, chips, energy, critical minerals and manufacturing.
Saudi Arabia Reopens Its Market to Lebanese Imports After Nearly Five Years
Saudi Arabia has ended its nearly five-year restriction on Lebanese imports, offering producers renewed access to a major Gulf market while placing continued emphasis…
Riyadh Air’s London Launch Marks a New Phase in Saudi Aviation
Riyadh Air’s new Boeing 787 flight to London Heathrow marks the transition from operational preparation to international expansion as Saudi Arabia builds Riyadh into…