The escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran is already hitting the Middle East travel and tourism sector hard, with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimating losses of at least $600 million per day in international visitor spending.
An evacuation flight operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) carrying Azerbaijani citizens from Saudi Arabia has landed in Baku after widespread travel disruptions triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East, AnewZ's Ilknur Seydamirova reported from Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones resulting in a limited fire and some material damage, the kingdom's defence ministry said in a post on X on Tuesday, citing an initial assessment.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
Comments by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee suggesting that Israel had a biblical right to much of the Middle East drew condemnation over the weekend from countries across the region, which described the remarks as “dangerous and inflammatory”.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Saudi Arabia and Syria have signed agreements worth about $5.3bn aimed at boosting cooperation across aviation, telecommunications and water infrastructure, marking one of the largest economic initiatives since Syria’s leadership change.
Armed boats tried to intercept a vessel north of Oman on Tuesday in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, where heightened military activity and U.S.–Iran tensions are fuelling maritime security concerns.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has begun a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, seeking to deepen political and economic cooperation as regional tensions over Gaza, Iran and wider Middle East stability dominate the agenda.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a phone call to discuss the situation surrounding Iran and rising regional tensions, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the 90-year-old king of Saudi Arabia, is undergoing medical tests at a hospital in Riyadh, state media says.
Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any military action against Tehran, according to two sources close to the kingdom’s government cited by AFP.
Türkiye is reportedly in discussions to join the defence alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a strategic move that could reshape security dynamics in the Middle East and South Asia.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has accused UAE-backed southern separatists of restricting access to the port city of Aden, warning it would take “all necessary measures” as tensions persist despite renewed talk of dialogue.
The head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has ordered all forces linked to the United Arab Emirates to leave Yemen within 24 hours.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has launched a five-day joint anti-terrorism exercise codenamed Sahand-2025 in Iran’s northwest province of East Azarbaijan under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
U.S. President Donald Trump announced $270 billion in deals signed between U.S. and Saudi companies at the Washington investment conference.
Donald Trump defended Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman during talks at the White House, offering a different view from U.S. intelligence assessments on the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi as the Saudi leader made his first Washington visit in more than seven years.
China’s Vice President Han Zheng met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia have strengthened their strategic economic partnership with new projects in the capital’s development plan, including the construction of the ‘Riyadh Quarter’ in New Tashkent and the launch of a new international airport.
Saudi Arabia has cemented its position as a major player in the global gaming industry with the $55 billion acquisition of Sims and Battlefield-maker Electronic Arts, marking its biggest step yet toward Vision 2030’s digital diversification goals.
Saudi Arabia is discussing a defence deal with the United States which it hopes to seal when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the White House next month, the Financial Times reported.
On the shores of the Red Sea, a bold architectural vision is taking shape. The Jeddah Tower, once called the Kingdom Tower, is set to become the world’s tallest building, with developers saying it's a structure that doesn’t just redefine skylines, but reimagines what cities of the future could be.
Video game giant Electronic Arts (EA), the studio behind titles like Madden NFL, Battlefield and The Sims, is set to be acquired for $52.5 billion in what would be the largest-ever private equity buyout.
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