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  • In Iran, talk of capacity to build nukes sparks bipartisan backlash

    Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the US of attempting a Libya-style shutdown of Iran’s nuclear facilities. This comes as some Iranian officials have indicated that the Islamic Republic may turn to nuclear weapons if pushed into a corner. But rather than being welcomed amid tension with Israel, such remarks have sparked a cross-partisan backlash—with both media and pundits portraying such discourse as a pretext for the west to further sanction Iran.

  • The Urgent Need for Transparency Reform in Gulf Central Banks

    The currencies of Gulf Arab states are pegged to the dollar, limiting in significant ways the room for maneuver in central banks’ decision making, as their interest rates need to follow the decisions of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Transparency remains important nonetheless to these banks’ broader governance and accountability framework as well as to their independence from political interference. And conversely, lack of transparency can lead to uncertainty about the ability of Gulf monetary authorities to continue defending the peg, which may encourage speculation and eventually the collapse of the fixed exchange rate regime.

  • Saudi Arabia’s minister highlights $3 billion in Spanish real estate investments, announces upcoming development agreement

    The Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, discussed the significant growth in investments between Saudi Arabia and Spain. He stated that Spain’s investment in Saudi Arabia has exceeded $3 billion over the past 10 years, with 40 percent of these investments in the real estate sector.

  • Saudi Arabia and the UAE Spur a Gulf States Space Race

    The Gulf Cooperation Council states are on a transformative journey, tapping into sectors like renewable energies, sports, entertainment and tourism to diversify their traditionally hydrocarbon-dependent economies. This path has already led them to broaden their diplomatic horizons beyond their own territorial limits. Now, with space as their next grand venture, it is taking them beyond the very bounds of Earth itself. The GCC states’ ambitious space programs are driven by domestic economic ambitions and commercial interests, with key ongoing projects like the futuristic smart cities of Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates and NEOM in Saudi Arabia relying on space applications and AI technologies. But the emerging space race is also a matter of national pride. Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia aim to advance their space programs to enhance their global prestige and soft power. Both have made big moves in the space sector to complement their respective long-term visions, but also as part of a competitive rivalry.

  • The $164,000 space balloon flight preparing to rise from Saudi Arabia

    A balloon flight into space to see an awe-inspiring sunrise from high above the Earth will be tested in Saudi Arabia this summer.

    The uncrewed test is part of preparations to offer $164,000 passenger flights from 2026 – with Saudi Arabia pencilled in as one of four commercial launch sites.

    Passengers will take off before dawn for a luxury four-hour trip offering fine dining in the stratosphere and a gentle return to Earth.

  • Saudi Arabia’s air and space forces merger to happen this year: Sources

    Saudi Arabia plans to merge its air and space forces into a single organization sometime this year, three Saudi military officials told Breaking Defense, in part of what experts say is an ambitious but ultimately long-term plan for the Kingdom to develop robust space-based defense capabilities. While plans can always change, one of the Saudi Ministry of Defense officials — who like the others spoke with Breaking Defense on the condition of anonymity at the World Defense Show outside Riyadh earlier this year — said, “We need space for deterrence. In 2024, MoD will merge air and space forces to defend the assets it has.”

  • SPARK: Establishing Saudi Arabia as a global logistics powerhouse

    SPARK enjoys unparalleled connectivity, seamlessly integrated by land with major highways and the GCC railway, by air through the nearby King Fahad International Airport, and by sea via the King Abdul-Aziz Seaport. This positions it strategically at the heart of the energy market, in close proximity to the Saudi Aramco headquarters and near the abundant oil and gas reserves.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Upcoming National Space Strategy a Blueprint for Growth

    The Saudi space sector generated USD400 million in 2022. That figure is expected to reach USD2.2 billion by 2030. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, a national blueprint for diversifying and growing the country’s economy, highlights the space sector’s role in growing the economy. The Saudi Space Agency says there is a strong emphasis in the country on space research and innovation for peaceful purposes. There is also an eye on the commercial opportunities, including space tourism.

  • ‘Israeli’ attack on Damascus consulate sparks calls for action in Iran

    At least seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—including two commanders—have been killed in a suspected Israeli attack in Syria. Apart from the seniority of the targets, the incident is a major escalation as Iran’s diplomatic premises in Damascus were targeted. Notably, the bombing follows the killing of another IRGC officer in Syria in recent days, marking an uptick in suspected Israeli airstrikes in recent months.

  • Gaza hostage talks deadlock and spark U.S.-Israel blame game

    U.S. officials, together with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, pushed hard in recent days for a deal, stressing it is the only way to reach a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed.