Capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia; regional hub on the Najd plateau
Ottolenghi Edinburgh has opened at 92 George Street, transforming a former Ragu site. The launch featured Yotam Ottolenghi and Neil Campbell, a renovated space, and a private events area. Guests included Ian Rankin and Kirsty Wark as the restaurant showcases a global-to-Mediterranean menu and a vibrant crowd in a transformed venue.
Maritime trackers have reported that Middle East crude exports have largely recovered to near pre‑war volumes in late September. Ship‑to‑ship transfers, US naval escorts and pipeline bypasses — led by Saudi Arabia's East‑West line and UAE links to Fujairah — have restored large flows, while refined products and Iranian exports remain constrained. Oil prices have stayed elevated.
Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani chiefs of staff have met in Riyadh to begin turning the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement into operational cooperation after a recent surge in Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory and shipping. Officials have agreed to deepen military and intelligence ties and to integrate defensive capabilities under the pact.
Saudi authorities have said they have intercepted a Houthi-launched drone south of Mecca and have called the attempt a "red line" because it targeted Islam's holiest sites. Regional capitals and Muslim organisations have condemned the strikes on Saudi cities and infrastructure, and analysts warn the attacks will raise pressure on shipping routes and global energy supplies.
Oil prices have fallen after data showed Asia is set to import its highest monthly crude volume since the US–Iran war began, while traders continue to monitor UN‑level diplomacy and regional tensions. Brent has slipped near $102 a barrel and U.S. crude is trading in the low $90s as markets weigh rising Asian flows against Middle East risks.
Saudi Arabia has faced an intensified campaign of drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis since July, and the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed in August has prompted Pakistan and Turkiye to discuss defensive support. Britain has approved time-limited refuelling for Saudi jets and the three allies are meeting to decide collective steps as attacks continue.
The Houthis have expanded their attacks on Saudi targets, claiming to strike a sensitive site in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu. Saudi intercepts six missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu as fighting intensifies along Yemen’s coast and in border areas. The conflict threatens regional oil routes and global supply chains.
Yemen’s government forces and allied militias are intensifying operations against Houthi positions across Taiz and along the Bab al-Mandeb coast. The coalition says it is targeting Houthi sites with air cover, while the Houthis have sought to extend their grip on western Yemen. Civilians remain displaced as fighting tightens its grip on strategic routes and coastal corridors.
France has decided to send military assets, including soldiers and radar systems, to protect key Red Sea sites in Yanbu after Houthis attacks disrupted oil shipments. The move follows a gulf-france ministerial meeting and stresses international cooperation to secure shipping routes amid tensions with Iran.
Mediators are pushing a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease sanctions. Iran has proposed a seven-day timeline tied to U.S. concessions, while the United States has signaled cautious engagement amid ongoing negotiations through Qatar and other mediators.
Arab News reports on Khasher Mountain Peak in Jazan’s Al-Dayer, a highland area offering scenic views, terraced farms, and heritage sites. The journey to Raydah Peak rises to 1,660 meters, with villages and farms weaving through mountain roads and viewpoints that become part of the visitor experience.
Iran and the United States are in renewed talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran maintaining strict conditions and Washington signaling continued engagement. Trump has tied negotiations to broader regional dynamics as oil markets react.
The Red Sea conflict has intensified as Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi air power, press to retake Sanaa and secure Bab al-Mandeb. The Houthis have escalated missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, while the U.S. supports allies with intelligence and targeting data but is not yet engaging in kinetic strikes.
Arab warnings from Egypt and the UAE are now corroborated by multiple outlets, including The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal. The reports describe Israeli leaders receiving cautions about Gaza's volatility in the weeks before the October 7, 2023 assault, with Egypt’s Abbas Kamel and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly warning of imminent danger.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are strengthening high-level ties amid regional tensions, inviting Gulf allies to the GCC-EU Summit and coordinating on issues including Yemen and security. Multiple meetings signal a thaw and shared interests as Riyadh hosts the event.
Temasek is expanding with new offices in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to engage Gulf institutions and pursue long-term infrastructure and private-market opportunities, aligning with regional transformation and existing partnerships.
Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability as Gulf security ties deepen. Leaders cite de-escalation efforts and a trilateral defense framework with Turkiye and Pakistan, while warning that attacks by Yemen's Houthis will be met with decisive responses. The king and crown prince are outlining continued military and diplomatic measures amid recent confrontations in the Red Sea and border areas.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a co‑pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane. The injured captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, has been taken to hospital in Tabuk. Passengers and on‑duty crew have overpowered and restrained the attacker; all passengers have returned to Tel Aviv.
Yemen's Houthi forces have intensified missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. Saudi air defences have intercepted drones and ballistic missiles toward Riyadh, Khamis Mushayt and other targets. Yemen's armed forces say they are stepping up strikes to restore state authority amid regional security concerns.
Passengers and crew have subdued an attacker on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, preventing a potential crash as the aircraft plummeted and then leveled out. An Israeli passenger and off-duty pilots helped regain control; Trump has praised an ‘Israeli plumber’ whose actions are cited by multiple outlets.
Yemen's internationally recognised government has announced a nationwide military offensive to retake territory from the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The move follows Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast, the cutting of Taiz's main supply road and Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco sites. Saudi-led air strikes are supporting the counteroffensive.
Yemeni ground forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have expanded operations along the Red Sea coast, retaking key districts as heavy air support continues. Houthi missiles and drones have targeted sites in Saudi Arabia and Aden, raising fears of a broader regional disruption to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea corridor.
President Donald Trump has suggested at a Nebraska rally that higher fuel prices from the US‑Israel war with Iran are "a small price to pay," saying "they can take out a city — let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego." California leaders have called the comments "deranged" and "dangerous," while the White House has labelled the reaction a "media freakout."
Gaza remains under strain as displacement, injuries, and psychological trauma persist for millions. UN and NGO assessments highlight vast needs, with hundreds of thousands of children affected by violence, loss, and disrupted services amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.
The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed new strikes against Saudi Arabia, targeting airports and military sites as fighting in Yemen widens. Saudi forces say they are intercepting missiles north of Riyadh, while ground and air operations on Yemen’s western coast intensify. The conflict risks disrupting regional shipping routes amid a broader regional confrontation.
Missiles and drones targeted Aden International Airport as fighting intensifies along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The attack forced a flight from Cairo to divert to Jeddah, prompting international concern as displaced people face mounting humanitarian needs amid a widening confrontation.
The Saudi civil aviation authority has reported attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha airport, with Houthi forces claiming responsibility. Casualties include a Sudanese national and multiple injuries; authorities warn of ongoing security checks and passenger protections. The attacks follow a broader Yemen-linked escalation and involve regional security responses.
Saudi civil aviation authorities have said Abha and Riyadh’s King Khalid airports have been struck by missiles and drones on 6–7 October, killing at least three foreign residents and injuring dozens. Houthi forces have claimed responsibility and Saudi-led coalition spokesmen have said they intercepted missiles and launched strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.