Saudi Arabia intends to open Red Sea islands to Israeli tourists

Although two islands were purchased from Egypt in 2016, Saudi Arabia is planning to build a bridge linking the islands to Egypt

Israel approves transfer of strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia

Under the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty, Egypt took control of Tiran and Sanafir as the sides agreed to demilitarize the islands

Turkiye threatens Greece over Aegean Sea dispute

President Erdogan has previously affirmed that Ankara will not refrain from defending its interests against Greece

Turkey summons Greek envoy over armed presence on disputed Aegean islands

Ankara insists these islands must remain demilitarized in line with international law

Turkey claims Greek Coast Guard fired on cargo ship

Greece's PM says he does not believe an armed conflict with Turkey is in the cards; however, he says that if it happens, 'Turkey would receive an absolutely devastating response'

New undeclared flight from Israel lands in Saudi Arabia

Normalization efforts between Riyadh and Tel Aviv have intensified ahead of the visit by US president to the region next month

Israeli businessmen participate in Saudi investment conference: Report

The Israeli website, Globes, quoted a Saudi source as saying last week that Israeli businessmen arrive in the kingdom on a daily basis

Ansarallah condemns Biden visit to Israel, West Bank, and Saudi Arabia

The Ansarallah statement also called on all Arabs and Muslims to condemn the US push for normalization with Israel

Saudi Arabia prepares to allow commercial flights to and from Israel: Report

The kingdom has permitted Israeli flights over its airspace, as well as Muslim pilgrims from Israel to travel to Mecca

Israel signed $3bln in arms deals since signing of Abraham Accords: Defense minister

On the same day and during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, MbZ called for expanding the Abraham Accords to include other Arab countries

Israeli officials may visit Saudi Arabia during Joe Biden’s upcoming visit

Tel Aviv believes the Arab Summit will serve as an opportunity to secure 'small to medium normalization measures' with the Gulf kingdom

Biden’s upcoming visit to West Asia to facilitate deals between Israel, KSA: Reports

One report from Israeli media suggests that Israel will agree to the transfer of two Red Sea islands from Egypt to Saudi Arabia

What prompted the urgent, secretive summit in Abu Dhabi?

Key Arab heads of state convened this week for an emergency meeting that excluded the Saudis and Kuwaitis. The likely hot topics under discussion were Egypt's economic collapse and Israel's aggressive escalations.

France investigates paramour of Lebanon’s central bank chief for money laundering

Riad Salameh has avoided detention throughout the past year thanks to the protection afforded to him by high officials and by the US ambassador to Lebanon

The Gray Wolf returns to Central Asia: Turkey’s ambitions for the region

As a proponent of Pan-Turkism, Ankara is keen on expanding its influence across Central Asia, yet this foreign policy shift is likely to be checked by much bigger regional powers like China, Russia, and Iran.

Turkish-Greek relations flare over alleged airspace violation

The majority of the more than 2,000 island in the Aegean Sea are part of the Greek territory

Oman refuses to open airspace to Israeli flights

Oman has previously stated that it will not join its Gulf allies who normalized ties with Israel

Saudi Arabia and Egypt sign agreements valued at $7.7 billion

Riyadh provided billions of dollars in financial support to Cairo during its economic recession, which was exacerbated due to the Russia-Ukraine war

Israeli businesspeople headed to Saudi Arabia as part of normalization push

The kingdom has reportedly lifted a ban on Israeli passport holders and will allow entrepreneurs to enter the country with a special visa

Tel Aviv openly pursuing normalization with Saudi Arabia: Israeli FM

Dozens of top Israeli officials have reportedly made secret trips to the kingdom over recent years as part of a US-sponsored normalization push

US officials discuss energy, possible normalization with Israel on secret KSA trip

US advisors and Saudi officials reportedly discussed the signing of a potential land deal involving Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia

US secretly negotiating deal to transfer island from Egypt to Saudi Arabia: Report

The negotiations would require Israeli involvement, as the island shares a maritime border with Tel Aviv

NATO vs Russia: what happens next

In Davos and beyond, NATO's upbeat narrative plays like a broken record, while on the ground, Russia is stacking up wins that could sink the Atlantic order.

Iraqi Kurdistan president linked to money laundering scheme in the US: Report

Last year, the Pandora Papers showed that the US is second only to the Cayman Islands in facilitating money laundering and tax evasion

Marib, the last fort in a dirty tug-of-war 

As the Houthis consolidate their Marib gains, foreign aggressors reposition their Yemeni assets and ambitions

The UAE clock is ticking in Yemen

MbZ needed Yemen's southern ports and waterways to underpin his 'Maritime Empire' and extend his security realm. But now the Yemeni resistance is set to blow a hole in those plans.

Why Marib’s liberation will break the Saudis and shake West Asia

If Ansarallah controls Marib, it will control all of Yemen and some of the world's most strategic waterways. No wonder its adversaries are shaken.

Tension with Riyadh and tea in Tel Aviv – what is MbZ’s real goal in the region?

Who is MbZ, why is he punching above his weight, and what are his global aspirations? We take a deep dive into the calculations of this enigmatic Gulf emir.