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Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia
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
Robotic quadrupeds that Micbot has developed with Aramco are being prepared for delivery to Saudi Arabia later this year. Photo: handout
China trade

China’s Micbot trains robots to withstand the heat of Saudi Arabian oil industry

AI-powered quadrupeds, designed for extreme conditions and hazardous sites, are undergoing tests in China as Micbot awaits Aramco’s mass-procurement decision.

Science

Chinese scientists discover that trees are producing ozone smog in Beijing

US, Israel war on Iran

US starts returning staff to some Middle East missions after war evacuations

Middle East

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Middle East

Israel’s strikes push Syria towards joining Mecca defence pact

Air strikes intended to curb Turkish expansion risk triggering the very encirclement Israel fears, analysts say.

Yuan

How a China gold vault network could promote the yuan’s international reach

By anchoring yuan trades to gold through Hong Kong and new global vaults, Beijing will add convertibility to its currency, report says.

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US, Israel war on Iran

China vows to safeguard interests after ‘Economic D-Day’ sanctions over Iran ties

Washington warns Iran-linked entities face removal from US dollar system as Trump presses world leaders to cut financial ties.

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Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for China’s energy supplies. Photo: Reuters
Esports

Power-up: China’s Esports World Cup win a showcase for market potential

With the EWC being held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time, the US$4.3 billion industry looks to grow its market, including in China.

Middle East

Macron hosts Saudi’s crown prince for visit ranging from esports to Middle East

A French official said agreements, on health, transport and energy, will be signed on Monday alongside talks likely to focus on Iran.

Iran

Iran truce drives spike in China’s oil imports, but soaring Brent clouds demand

Purchases from the Gulf accounted for 27.6 per cent of China’s total crude imports in July, up over 10 percentage points from the month before.

Oil tanks are seen at a Sinopec oil and LNG storage base in Longkou, in eastern China's Shandong province, on August 2, 2026. Photo: CN-STR/AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Iran shifts to offensive as diplomacy with US stalls

Tehran is moving from retaliation to a more proactive strategy to break the deadlock and force US concessions over the naval blockade and energy trade.

A woman walks next to a wall painting depicting the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
SCMP Highlights

How monarchies stay relevant; Pakistan’s new defence pact: 7 Asia highlights

From Southeast Asia’s monarchies to a shoving incident in Singapore, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Middle East

Editorial | Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan pact a sign of a realigning global order

China may view the agreement as an opportunity to expand its own diplomatic and economic influence in the Middle East and South Asia.

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Israel-Gaza war

US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leader in push for Gaza road map

Israeli PM Netanyahu last week rejected the US-backed 15-point plan in a rare public show of defiance against the Trump administration.

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Jared Kushner in Washington in February. On Sunday, the US negotiator held a rare meeting with Hamas’ chief Khalil al-Hayya. Photo: Getty Images / TNS
Russia

Russia’s role in Middle East politics endures, shifts to being ‘secondary power’

Two Russian military bases will remain in Syria as the region continues to recalibrate its relations with major powers amid the Iran war.

A Syrian rebel fighter stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles before a Russian flag and Russian soldiers behind manning the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in Syria in 2024. Photo: TNS
Malaysia

Malaysian F1 fans vent fury over sales process, organisers cite ‘high traffic’

The Sepang International Circuit is hosting the race for the first time since 2017 as the Bahrain leg was cancelled due to the Iran war.

Middle East

Opinion | How Mecca defence pact changes China’s calculations in the Middle East

Defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan presents a complex strategic calculus for Beijing, demanding a masterclass in balance.

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China-Middle East relations

Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan Mecca pact ‘far from’ Nato-style defence alliance

Observers say diverging strategic interests and a weak mutual security capacity will be the main challenges facing the agreement.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left), Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Mecca on Friday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

In Focus | Singapore and South Korea eye science opportunity as US-China ties shatter

New research hubs are emerging in other countries in response to Washington’s restrictions – but there are likely to be few winners overall.

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Pakistan

Erdogan wants Turkey-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact to draw more countries

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Istanbul expects Egypt to join the pact ‘in the next stage’.

US, Israel war on Iran

US says it has fired on ship in Gulf of Oman to enforce Iranian ports blockade

A US Navy helicopter fired on and disabled the Panama-flagged ship after the crew ignored warnings from US forces, said US Central Command.

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The Panama-flagged container ship M/V Vela Nova. On Tuesday, the US Navy said it had fired on the ship after it attempted to break the US blockade of Iran’s ports. Photo: Vladimir Tonic / Handout via Reuters
India

‘Islamic Nato’? Why Pakistan’s new defence pact has India on edge

Analysts say the pact could evolve into a broader ideological military bloc that could extend its influence to the Indian Ocean region.

Pakistani people and students hold flags to celebrate the Pakistan-Saudi Arab-Turkish joint defence pact on Monday. Photo: EPA
India

Can India and China rally Brics to ease Strait of Hormuz tensions?

Analysts say a unified Brics could support Oman-led talks for a resolution and provide an alternative to US diplomacy.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Trump demands Iran pay compensation as hopes fade for Hormuz agreement

US president says the issue must be included in future negotiations after Tehran sought damages for US and Israeli strikes.

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China-Middle East relations

China, India and Pakistan’s dangerous nuclear triangle just got more complicated

New Delhi faces a strategic headache from its main rival’s defensive pact with Turkey and the Saudis – but it may be better news for Beijing.

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India has long-running border disputes with its two largest neighbours. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-Middle East relations

‘Islamic Nato’ may create China opening in Middle East

A new military alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey creates a potential gap with the US and the possibility of greater China influence in the region.

Fireworks explode over Islamabad as part of celebrations to mark the signing of a trilateral defence agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. Photo: AFP
Pakistan

Pakistan says ‘purely defensive’ Mecca accord is open to others

Egypt is likely to join the defence deal, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.

Middle East

Yemen’s Houthis attack Saudi refinery, testing new defence pact

Rebel strikes hit Jazan oil complex and kill seven in Mocha as Saudi Arabia seals security alliance with Turkey and Pakistan.

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