Rather than pursuing the next iconic tower or artificial island, the UAE’s urban development model is shifting toward systems that are less visible but more essential.
Newly announced joint ventures to build rare earth refineries in Saudi Arabia are part of a larger strategy to capitalize on Western markets’ need for rare earth elements.
NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield helped secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, but diplomatic fractures and naval constraints mean its success is unlikely to be repeated in the Strait of Hormuz.
As the UAE navigates a more volatile regional environment, the next phase of its space effort will hinge on how quickly it can scale its commercial ecosystem and deepen international integration.
The Saudi budget recorded a large deficit in the first quarter of 2026 as spending surged, but higher oil revenue during the rest of the year should limit the size of the annual fiscal deficit.
Business conditions in the Gulf generally improved in April, but they remained weaker than before the Iran war. There are signs that price pressures are increasing as the conflict impedes trade.
