Global Scans · Saudi Arabia · Weekly Summary

DRIVER: Saudi Arabia could see some tumultuous economic policy changes provoked by the lower oil price era and the emerging challenge from renewable energies. It also faces threats from Middle East turmoil.

• [New] Saudi Arabia has made waves in the eSports industry, hosting major tournaments including the eSports World Cup, and it will also host 2027's planned Olympic esports Games. BBC News
• [New] Saudi Arabia's fintech sector is transforming under Vision 2030 and Finnovex 2025's collaborative momentum, aiming to become a global innovation hub. Ainvest
• [New] Current Trends: The UAE and Saudi Arabia are showing the highest growth rates, driven by their focus on cutting-edge medical services and smart-city technologies that could incorporate BCI for smart home control. Verified Market Research
• [New] Saudi Arabia is going to play a major role by repurposing some of the technology it uses to drill and extract fuels from the ocean floor and land for orange hydrogen. Forbes
• [New] In the race to make electronics smaller, faster, and more efficient, scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia have achieved a breakthrough that could reshape the future of microchips. Interesting Engineering
• [New] Saudi Arabia is transforming its defence ties with the U.S. into a driver of industrial growth under Vision 2030, requiring 60% local content in major contracts and pushing American firms to establish joint ventures and maintenance hubs domestically. Middle East Space Monitor by AzurX
• In addition, 600 tons of clean energy a day will be produced by the world's largest clean hydrogen plant in NEOM by 2026 and 30% of Saudi Arabia's land and sea will be under protection by 2030, equal to the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf combined. Innovation Zero MENA Congress 2025
• The SGI's objectives of reducing carbon emissions by 278 mtpa by 2030, planting 10 billion trees over the coming decades equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares of land and protecting 30% of Saudi Arabia's land and sea by 2030 are ambitious targets but a good start has already been made. Innovation Zero MENA Congress 2025
• The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which manages $1 trillion, plans to issue its first euro-denominated green bond. Winssolutions
• Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other key members of the OPEC + alliance are likely to agree to raise crude output when they meet virtually on Sunday, with analysts divided over the size of the expected hike. Yahoo News
• Saudi Arabia's second national air carrier Riyadh Air is expected to launch in 2025, with plans to serve 100 destinations by 2030. United States Department of State
• Trusting historic patterns, assuming that Saudi Arabia's closeness with the U.S. will neutralize the risks, or relying on repeated assurances from Riyadh, is dangerous. EurAsian Times
• Saudi Arabia: Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. Middle East Briefing
• GDP growth is being supported by the revised Vision 2030's tourism targets (150 mn visitors annually by 2030), increase in non-religious tourism (though religious tourism still dominates demand) alongside a strong hotel development pipeline. / Saudi Arabia Nasser Saidi & Associates
• Smart elder care: Saudi Arabia's demographic population will see its seniors population increasingly supported by AI with ageing in place: remote health alerts, fall predictions, voice controlled medicine reminder and emergency alerting. Top Luxury Property
• The cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is to diversify its economy beyond oil by attracting $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment to fund massive gigaprojects like NEOM and Qiddiya. Arab Center Washington DC
• A new 'E3 / EU-G3 - GCC', platform with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could lead regional de-escalation efforts. European Union Institute for Security Studies
• IDCE 2025 represents the collective support of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE, and provides a premier platform to advance industry development and enable participation in $100 billion of investment opportunities in refining, petrochemicals, and sustainability. Kuwaittimes
• Turkey and Saudi Arabia, two of the most significant regional powers, will likely cooperate more closely. Foreign Affairs Magazine

Last updated: 20 October 2025