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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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Semafor Gulf

Saudi wealth fund takes its capital pitch to Wall Street

PIF and some of its portfolio companies are courting investors including Blackstone and Carlyle this week to fill its funding gap.
A Wall Street logo, a PIF logo, and PIF Gov. Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters; Courtesy of PIF; Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Saudi soccer cuts spending

Saudi clubs spent the lowest amount since the 2023 buying spree that aimed to boost the kingdom’s international soccer cachet, according to FIFA’s transfer report.
Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after Angelo Gabriel scores their first goal.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Chinese carmaker ROX begins production in Abu Dhabi

The brand, which moved its global headquarters to the UAE last year, plans to have production capacity for 20,000 vehicles in 2027.
A Rox 01 SUV displayed at the Shanghai Auto show.
Go Nakamura/Reuters

Diplomacy in focus as Gulf leaders visit Berlin, Beijing

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed will arrive on a state visit to Germany tomorrow.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan greets Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz back in February 2026
Reuters

Leaving OPEC won’t give Venezuela its oil back

Caracas would sacrifice political leverage without a significant boost to production.
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in February 2026. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters.

HUMAIN prepares to go public

HUMAIN CEO posted on LinkedIn he was hiring a team to prepare the barely two-year-old company for an initial public offering.
A logo of HUMAIN at LEAP.
Hamad I Mohanmmed/Reuters

The ‘Switzerland’ of AI: Saudi Arabia’s big AI bet

HUMAIN CEO Tareq Amin says the Kingdom plans to transform its economy and become a global AI leader.

Saudi Arabian data center firm races to export compute from NEOM

DataVolt is aiming to slash development times for its $1 billion data center as it looks to make Saudi a global AI hub.

US and Iran trade attacks on oil tankers

The US and Iran traded attacks on oil tankers over the weekend, intensifying pressure on energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Emirates introduces first electrically powered premium economy seat

The seats, which rival many first-class options on domestic routes in Europe and the US, will debut on newly delivered Airbus A350s.

Gulf carriers bulk up their fleets

Saudia Cargo will double its fleet, adding four Boeing 777-200F jets over more than two years.

$300k falcons fly off the shelves in Abu Dhabi

Bred on the same American farm, an ultra-white gyrfalcon chick went for 1.1 million dirhams ($300,000) while a pure-white gyr fetched 1.5 million dirhams.

Chinese tech firms deepen ties in Saudi Arabia

Chinese AI, robotaxis, and factories are all coming to the kingdom (if they aren’t already there).

New museum reflects on Saudi’s post-oil future

As the kingdom plans for life after oil, crude has become a muse, with art spanning the eras before, during, and after it.

Dimon and Dalio RSVP to Saudi’s flagship investment summit

Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference has published its RSVPs nearly two months out.

Saudi’s $8.1B beauty market dominates Gulf

The boom is being driven by Saudi women’s rising disposable income.

Saudi AI firm HUMAIN to launch giant global VC fund this year

The kingdom’s AI champion is also “hardening” data center defenses as the Iran war threatens infrastructure.

OPEC’s new threat comes from within

Saudi Aramco’s widening oil discount suggests that Riyadh — which normally bears the cost of supporting prices — isn’t willing to surrender market share.