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Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Saudi Arabia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Riyadh

Head of State

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud

Taliban security personnel keep watch for air strikes in Khost province, Afghanistan on Friday following overnight cross-border fighting with Pakistan. Photo: AFP

China seeks to mediate after Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Afghanistan

Beijing calls on Islamabad and Kabul to stay calm and exercise restraint as relations between the neighbours plummet.

1 hour agovideocam

US presses Syria to shift from Chinese telecoms systems

27 Feb 2026 - 6:42AM

China-Middle East relations

Is China flexing its intelligence muscle by tracking US military moves near Iran?

5 hours agovideocam

Opinion | How Saudi diplomacy is thwarting Trump’s desire for war with Iran

China helped broker a detente between Riyadh and Tehran in 2023, which has no doubt factored into Saudi Arabia’s stance on US-Iran tensions.

25 Feb 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington on November 19, 2025. Photo: AFP

US ambassador says Israel has right to much of Middle East, sparking uproar

Mike Huckabee’s comments were condemned by Arab and Muslim nations as ‘extremist rhetoric’.

22 Feb 2026 - 10:19AM

US-China relations

PLA, Chinese firm release images showing US military build-up around Iran

Imagery of combat aircraft and support planes at bases in the region comes amid reports that Washington appears ready to strike Tehran.

20 Feb 2026 - 6:00PM

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China energy security

What would blocking the Strait of Hormuz mean for global oil and LNG shipments?

Tehran temporarily and partially closed the strategic waterway during a military drill, prompting speculation over an extended blockade.

20 Feb 2026 - 5:15PM

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launches a rocket during a military drill in the Strait of Hormuz in a photo released on Tuesday by the IRGC‘s official website. Photo: EPA/Sepah News

Israel-Gaza war

‘Plan B is war’: Gaza truce faces late April test despite Trump’s peace push

Observers say the unresolved question of Hamas’ disarmament leaves the fragile truce vulnerable to collapse.

20 Feb 2026 - 4:57PMvideocam

Iran fires missiles, Khamenei threatens to sink US warship amid nuclear talks

As the talks began, local media announced that Iran had fired live missiles towards the Strait of Hormuz.

17 Feb 2026 - 10:54PMvideocam

Malaysia seeks to seize Saudi prince’s overseas assets worth US$115 million

The 1MDB funds are held in several Swiss bank accounts belonging to Turki Abdullah Al Saud.

15 Feb 2026 - 3:44PM

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s office in Putrajaya. Photo: Shutterstock

UAE-Saudi rift over security threats push Arab mediators to act

Bahrain and Egypt are attempting to mend ties between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, after a public falling out in December.

14 Feb 2026 - 9:22PM

Demonstrators step on pictures of UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a protest against the UAE’s support for the RSF in Sudan, on the day of the two-year anniversary of the conflict, on April 15 last year. Photo: Reuters

Meituan warns of US$3.5 billion loss amid intense food delivery price war

Food delivery giant expects losses to continue into at least the first quarter of 2026 ‘due to ongoing competition’.

13 Feb 2026 - 10:15PM

China's military weapons

China’s Middle East arms edge overshadowed by Turkey and South Korea in Riyadh

Analysts note Chinese inroads in military UAV market but political challenges for its jet fighters at the World Defence Show.

12 Feb 2026 - 5:50PMvideocam

China's military weapons

China lifts veil on secretive underwater combat vehicle at Saudi defence show

Shipbuilding giant showcases new surface-to-subsurface wet submersible as Beijing eyes buyers in large Middle Eastern market.

10 Feb 2026 - 9:02PMvideocam

A small model of the SDV-01, a swimmer delivery vehicle made by state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, is displayed at the World Defence Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday. Photo: Amber Wang

China keen to realise ambitions for digital currency amid slow uptake

Despite record transactions last year, most users prefer alternatives – while Beijing likely to maintain gradual expansion, analysts say.

10 Feb 2026 - 4:08PM

A booth promoting the digital yuan in Beijing on September 2, 2022. Photo: AP

Jeffrey Epstein

UK king to ‘support’ police assessing Andrew’s Epstein communications

King Charles has ‘profound concern’ as British police assess if his brother passed sensitive reports to Jeffrey Epstein.

10 Feb 2026 - 4:29PM

Prince William visits Saudi Arabia as UK seeks deeper economic ties

The visit comes as daily revelations from the Jeffrey Epstein files continue to put pressure on King Charles III’s disgraced younger brother, the former Prince Andrew.

9 Feb 2026 - 6:01PM

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China's military weapons

Chinese drone for anti-submarine warfare among systems at Saudi defence show

Demand is growing in the Middle East for autonomous platforms and it is now one of the largest overseas markets for China’s military drones.

9 Feb 2026 - 6:00PM

China has one of the biggest pavilions at this week’s World Defence Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Amber Wang

Banking & finance

Will Hong Kong, Singapore capture Asia’s capital inflows? DBS CEO weighs in

The two financial hubs are best choices for global investors seeking to diversify their portfolios amid geopolitical risks, Tan Su Shan says.

9 Feb 2026 - 7:11AM

Saudi Arabia, Syria sign telecom and airline deals as sanctions lift

Saudi Arabia has been a major backer of Syria’s Islamist authorities who took power after toppling long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

8 Feb 2026 - 12:04AM

US-Iran nuclear talks set for Oman amid rising Middle East tensions

Planned talks moving from Turkey after a US jet downs an Iranian drone, though the role of regional Arab allies remains in limbo.

4 Feb 2026 - 10:11PM

A satellite image taken on February 1 shows a new roof over a previously destroyed building at Iran’s Isfahan nuclear site. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via Reuters

Iran plans nuclear talks with US as Trump warns of ‘bad things’

Facing threats of potential US military action, Tehran agrees to a Friday meeting in Istanbul on its nuclear programme.

3 Feb 2026 - 6:56PM

Protesters at an anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in support of the Iranian government, outside the US consulate in Istanbul on Sunday. Photo: AP

Saudi Arabia set to redraw economic road map as megaprojects scale down

A plunge in construction deals and the postponement of the 2029 Asian Winter Games have cast doubts on Riyadh’s Vision 2030.

1 Feb 2026 - 4:00PM

International Property

Chinese firms are scoping out overseas property. What is catching their eye?

With residential development on the wane, Chinese firms are investing in smart city, logistics and new energy projects, Knight Frank says.

1 Feb 2026 - 4:00PM

US approves US$16 billion arms sale to Israel, Saudi Arabia

The State Department says that none of the new sales will affect the military balance in the Middle East.

31 Jan 2026 - 10:25AMvideocam

A Palestinian man carries his shopping past Israeli security forces during in Kafr Aqab in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

Why Greenland’s rare earth riches cannot end US dependence on China’s minerals

Danish territory boasts vast critical mineral deposits – but mining and processing them extremely challenging, analyst says.

29 Jan 2026 - 1:06AM

Rare earths have become a point of contention in the US-China relationship, particularly after Beijing imposed export controls on the minerals following Washington launching its trade war in April. Photo: Reuters

As US carrier fleet sails near Iran, Trump faces ‘no easy levers’ against Tehran

Analysts evaluate the difficult options of a US air strike, killing of Iran’s top leaders, covert operations and counter-intelligence.

28 Jan 2026 - 7:42PM

SCMP Highlights

Okinawa loses longevity crown, Malaysian athlete threatened: 7 Asia highlights

From longevity in Japan’s Okinawa to proxy wars in Middle East, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

27 Jan 2026 - 3:27PM

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