Saudi Arabia
How Saudi Arabia is diversifying away from oil — and betting big on AI
President and CEO of Saudi’s Aramco, Amin H. Nasser, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 29, 2024. Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters Think of Saudi Arabia and the first thing that comes to mind might be its massive, oil-derived wealth. While oil continues to drive Saudi Arabia’s economy, the […]
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Saudi Arabia poised to become AI data center hub, says Groq CEO
Saudi Arabia is primed to become a hotspot for artificial intelligence infrastructure thanks to its surplus in energy, according to Groq CEO Jonathan Ross. The Middle Eastern country is known for its vast energy resources and that’s leading major technology firms to announce infrastructure deals in the region. It is also part of the kingdom’s […]
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Middle East gains ground with Chinese tourists during Golden Week
The Middle East has traditionally not ranked among the top destinations for Chinese travelers, but that appears to be changing fast. During this year’s extended Golden Week holiday — which runs Oct. 1–8 — Chinese travel reservations to Doha surged 441% from a year earlier, while bookings to Abu Dhabi rose 229%, according to Trip.com. The […]
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The global M&A engine is roaring, fueled by megadeals and rate-cut bets
Mergers-and-acquisitions activity globally is roaring back to life, with several megadeals in the third quarter building on momentum from earlier this year. When Donald Trump returned to the White House, markets expected a deregulatory wave and tax-friendly environment to spark a dealmaking surge. However, recession fears, geopolitical flashpoints and tariffs concerns kept boardrooms a bit […]
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EA’s $55 billion deal delivers a win for investors, but raises uncertainty for gamers
COLMA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Electronic Arts video games are displayed at a Target store on September 29, 2025 in Colma, California. Video game maker Electronic Arts is being acquired in a $55 billion deal with private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, Affinity Partners, and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF. The deal could become […]
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Saudi defense pact with Pakistan unlikely to disrupt oil flows to India, source says
An oil tanker delivers at the oil terminal in the harbor on Oct. 10, 2016, in Kochi, India. Kaveh Kazemi | Getty Images News | Getty Images Saudi Arabia’s new mutual defense pact with Pakistan is unlikely to alter Riyadh’s energy relationship with key consumer India, a source told CNBC. Asked whether India would continue […]
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Saudi Arabia wants to be world’s third-largest AI provider after the U.S. and China, Humain CEO says
Tareq Amin, CEO of Humain, and Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, attend the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 13, 2025. Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters Saudi Arabia is on the road to making data its new oil — if artificial intelligence and data center company Humain gets its way. The company, owned […]
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What’s behind the $8-billion hit to Saudi Arabia’s massive wealth fund
Digital render of NEOM’s The Line project in Saudi Arabia The Line, NEOM Saudi Arabia’s mammoth sovereign wealth fund saw a major decline in investments in its so-called “gigaprojects,” amounting to an $8 billion write-down at the end of 2024 — despite assets under management reaching nearly $1 trillion, according to its annual report. Gigaproject […]
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Why the U.S.-EU trade agreement is unlikely to derail Europe’s defense boom
Europe’s defense stocks wobbled at the start of the week, as investors pored over the details — still lacking in some areas — of the framework trade agreement struck by the U.S. and European Union on Sunday. An initial concern was that a commitment by the EU to increase its purchases of U.S. goods, in […]
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Saudi Arabia reckons with its costly megaprojects as $500 billion ‘The Line’ is reviewed
Digital render of NEOM’s The Line project in Saudi Arabia The Line, NEOM DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is reassessing its flagship $500 billion futuristic city called The Line. The public investment fund has tapped consulting firms to conduct a strategic review into the feasibility of the 105-mile linear city, […]
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