This picture shows a view of the Abu Dhabi skyline on May 14, 2025.
Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images
OpenAI and Nvidia among companies building Stargate AI infrastructure in UAE
President Donald Trump returns the pen to his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, after signing the guest book at Qasr Al-Watan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Trump and Abu Dhabi ink partnership to build massive AI data center complex in UAE
US President Donald Trump, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg attend a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar on May 14, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Boeing secures ‘largest-ever’ order from Qatar during Trump visit
US President Donald Trump (centre left) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (centre right) pose for a photo with business leaders at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center while attending a Saudi-US business investment forum on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
On Middle East tour, Trump touts US tech to power post-oil future
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Video A pregnancy craving turned this chocolate bar into a global sensation. Now it’s causing inflation 1:12
Project renderings for NEOM, in the window of the NEOM pop-up store on the closing day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Oil prices might not recover soon. Here’s what that means for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation plans
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Video Why tariff doesn’t mean what you think it does 1:08
People attend the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025.
Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters
Will ‘massive’ Gulf deals cement the US lead in the race for global AI dominance?
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Video $20M ultra-rare blue diamond heads to auction 2:43
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Video CEO says these are reasons for Middle East’s tourism boom 3:48
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy for the Kingdom of Bahrain
CNN
Bahrain Finance Minister: ‘Rising tide will lift all economies in the GCC’
Dr. Mamoun Taher, the founder and CEO of Graphmatech
Graphmatech AB
This oil capital wants to be a hub for climate tech
Solar panels double as shade for walkways at Masdar City on November 3, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Andrea DiCenzo for The Washington Post/Getty Images
Urban areas are getting hotter. A startup from one of the world’s hottest cities wants to help

Top 3 clicks from the Middle East

<p>Flying cars moved a step closer to reality in Oman, OceanQuest debuted at the UN Ocean Conference, and it was announced that Syria will soon reconnect to the Swift payment system.</p>
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Flying cars for Oman and Syria’s payment system recovery: This week’s business headlines from the Middle East 1:35
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Flying taxis and AI-powered drones: This week’s business headlines from the Middle East 2:01
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Top three clicks: Headlines from the Middle East this week 2:07
<p>Jordan has unveiled a state-of-the-art air cargo hub at Queen Alia International Airport, China’s WeRide has launched its first fully driverless Robotaxi trial in Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia’s PIF has announced a $170 billion investment push into Europe by 2030.</p>
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From Robotaxis to a high-tech cargo hub: This week’s business headlines from the Middle East 1:49
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Trump’s Gulf business deals 3:08
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Trump’s Gulf trip, Disney’s Abu Dhabi magic, and Maldives’ $9B financial bet 2:28
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A new Trump tower, stable-coin and a $4 billion deal: This week’s business headlines from the Middle East 2:28
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This week’s Middle East business news: From Trump’s Gulf tour to mega energy deals 1:55
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• Video 1:54
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Strategic turns in the Middle East: Trade realignments, US energy diplomacy, and Egypt’s Gulf-backing 1:54
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• Video 1:43
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Middle East faces economic storm as market slumps, oil dips and global tensions rise 1:43
<p>CNN looks at what's behind the UAE’s $1.5 trillion commitment to the US, Dubai’s digital property transformation and Turkey’s lira turmoil.</p>
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UAE’s $1.5 trillion investment, Dubai’s real estate innovation, and Turkey’s currency crisis 2:08
<p>This week has seen a deal to launch Abu Dhabi’s first sovereign cloud system, setting the stage for fully AI-powered government services, Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar mining jackpot and Egypt’s Suez Canal facing major losses.</p>
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AI-powered government, a mining boom, and the Suez Canal’s struggles 1:33
<p>From Trump’s tariffs pushing up aluminum prices, to MGX’s record $2 billion crypto investment in Binance, and Oman’s $4 billion New City Salalah project, it’s been a busy week for business news from the Middle East.</p>
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Crypto, tariffs, and mega projects in the Middle East 1:38
<p>From Al-Futtaim’s EV investment and a $60 billion chemicals mega-deal to Aramco’s profit plunge, the Middle East is making major power plays. Who’s winning and what’s next?</p>
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Middle East’s biggest business moves: EVs, oil and billions at stake 1:28

Watch the show

<p>Iraq's Kurdistan Region is tapping into its cultural and natural wealth to grow its tourism sector. CNN explores how it is marketing itself to international visitors and investors.</p>
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New investments land in Kurdistan 5:23
<p>CNN speaks to Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Region, to discuss how it is positioning itself as not just a gateway to Iraq but also a destination in its own right. </p>
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How Kurdistan is rebranding itself 4:55
<p>International arrivals to the Middle East have surpassed pre-pandemic levels.</p>
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How tourism in the Middle East made a comeback 4:19
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How the Middle East is future-proofing its tourism sector 5:45
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Trump’s tech ties with the Middle East 5:02
<p>CNN was at the World Government Summit in Dubai, to see how strategic investments and regional collaboration are driving change, from climate resilience to the Middle East’s rise as an innovation hub.</p>
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The future of global growth at the World Governments Summit 5:22
<p>After Donald Trump spoke at the Saudi-backed FII Priority Summit in Miami, CNN examines evolving relations between the US and Saudi Arabia.</p>
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US-Saudi relations reach a pivotal moment 4:56
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Trump’s oil agenda and the Gulf states’ energy transition 4:26
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Inside the UAE’s nuclear power plant simulator 5:51
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Why power is key in a future with AI 5:36
<p>From cybersecurity to smart cities, CNN's Eleni Giokos speaks to the telecoms companies bringing industry into the digital age.</p>
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Telecoms companies map out next phase of Middle East’s industrial revolution 5:35
<p>AI was the big topic at Saudi Arabia's Future Investment Initiative. As CNN's Eleni Giokos explains, not everyone is certain it will do good things for humanity.</p>
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World faces crucial choice over AI, says top economist 4:49
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AI is powering Saudi Arabia’s next wave of economic growth 5:47
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Abu Dhabi’s ports are driving the UAE’s post-oil transformation 4:01
<p>From hosting the first-ever Esports World Cup to announcing plans to build cutting-edge gaming arenas, Saudi Arabia is making big moves in the esports industry. With projections of a $13 billion boost to its economy, CNN’s Eleni Giokos takes a look at how this thriving sector is redefining entertainment and business in a country with a young, tech-savvy population.</p>
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Saudi Arabia’s game plan for a thriving esports economy 4:33
<p>Abu Dhabi is transforming into a fintech powerhouse, attracting top talent and harnessing the potential of its Hub71 tech ecosystem as part of its Falcon Economy strategy for sustainable growth.</p>
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Abu Dhabi’s fintech revolution is shaping its post-oil future 5:33
<p>With bold investments and a bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Saudi Arabia is aiming to become a dominant force in the global sports industry. CNN’s Eleni Giokos explores how these initiatives are transforming the Kingdom's sports sector and contributing to its broader economic diversification strategy. </p>
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Saudi Arabia is betting big on sports 5:58