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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy

Gulf

Iran asserts victory over US in 14,390-word letter to Americans

Tehran is reportedly preparing a more forceful response if Washington resumes large-scale strikes.
A poster of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, Iran.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters

Pilot stabbing on flydubai flight scrambles Israeli elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s opponents drew parallels to the government’s pre-Oct. 7 security failures.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and FlyDubai passenger
Netanyahu and flydubai passenger. GPO/Handout via Reuters

AI firm AIQ pilots new tools for oil patch

Six months of war and AI fever have added urgency to the rollout of Genesis, an operating system AIQ is pitching to energy companies.
Oilfield in the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2018.
Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters

Israelis in Saudi after attempted hijacking spark normalization debate

A widely shared video showed a woman in a niqab tending to passengers, challenging stereotypes that conservative Muslims are innately hostile to Jews.
Passengers at Tabuk airport after a Flydubai aircraft that was bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates was diverted to Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals, in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Reuters

flydubai halts flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv after attempted hijacking

Emirati prosecutors opened an investigation after a co-pilot stabbed his captain mid-flight, asserting jurisdiction over the crime.
Collage
Israel Foreign Ministry/Ammar Awad/Reuters

Saudi Arabia sees deeper budget deficits ahead

Higher oil prices have largely offset lower export volumes, lifting revenue above prewar estimates, but spending is set to rise faster.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz
Saudi Press Agency/Reuters

Israel probes if FlyDubai pilot stabbing was attempted terror attack

The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after passengers helped avert a disaster.

Saudi introduces regulations for camel renters

Camels must be returned to their original owner’s registry when the rental agreement ends.

Saudi bundles up Hajj services on one platform

Some 1.7 million people made the trip in 2025, with spots rationed by country at roughly one per 1,000 Muslims.

UAE-Israel flight survives suspected hijacking

An altercation between the pilots led to the plane plunging more than 14,000 feet before climbing sharply.

Iran war mutes Gulf rivalries

The UAE Vice President’s meeting with Saudi’s Crown Prince is the most prominent effort to repair ties.

Singapore’s Temasek to open Gulf offices despite war uncertainty

Temasek will use Abu Dhabi and Riyadh as hubs for investing in the Middle East and bringing portfolio companies to the region

As US troops leave Iraq, withdrawal carries risks

Iraq’s government is facing pressure from the Trump administration to disarm militia groups.

Manchester City’s guilty verdict mars UAE soft power

Fans of rival soccer clubs have framed the verdict as proof Manchester City — and by extension the UAE — bought its way to the top.

MGX looks for data center assets in the Asia Pacific

The fund is an investor in the BlackRock-backed AI Infrastructure Partnership.

Saudi Aramco considers a gas spinoff

The plans are a sign of the pressure the company faces to raise cash for the government and draw foreign investment into the kingdom.

More IPOs won’t be enough to fix the Saudi market

Mazen Al-Sudairi is targeting liquidity and governance, but restoring trust in IPOs will be the harder test.

US-Iran talks continue as tensions rise

The US and Iran signaled a willingness to continue negotiating this week, even as the two sides appeared no closer to closing the stark gap between them.