Saudi Arabia
Explainer
Sovereign wealth
Trillion-dollar piggy banks: Inside the world of sovereign wealth
Norway’s is famously huge. Qatar used its to buy Harrods. How do sovereign wealth funds work? And why isn’t ours as big as Norway’s?
- by Angus Holland
Latest
It’s not just Greg Norman: Saudis sign raft of Aussies in sport splurge
Pouring billions into golf, football and now the Olympics, the oil-rich Gulf state is pressing ahead with ambitious plans despite accusations of sportswashing.
- by Chris Barrett
Heat deaths in Mecca shine light on underworld pilgrim industry
More than 1000 deaths in Saudi Arabia have put a spotlight on an underworld of illicit tour operators who profit off people desperate to meet their religious duty.
- by Emad Mekay and Vivian Nereim
At least 550 people die from extreme heat during Muslim pilgrimage
Temperatures have reached as high as 51.8 degrees during the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage that millions of Muslims make to Mecca to perform religious rites.
- by Pesha Magid and Saleh Salem
Opinion
Oil
The oil mystery that has the world on edge
It is one of the world’s most important markets and powerbrokers are widely split on what its future looks like.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Saudi Arabia is eyeing a future beyond oil - but there is a problem
The kingdom is desperately trying to juggle its still-vital petroleum industry with the need to get ready for a cleaner future.
- by Stanley Reed
Climate is too serious to be obstructed by politics
Dutton seems interested only in creating conflict, even if it distances himself from the Coalition’s traditional friends in the business community who just want policy certainty to help their forward planning after a decade of climate obfuscation under the previous Coalition government.
Opinion
Oil
How the oil cartel’s grip on the world is getting weaker
The OPEC+ oil cartel’s power and influence is waning and it is being forced to make difficult choices as it grapples with a number of threats.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Five of the most awe-inspiring tours on Earth right now
Leave the logistics to the experts on these escorted adventures in exotic locations.
- by Belinda Jackson
Opinion
Federal budget
Coalition slams the billionaires’ budget as miners cheer
The likes of Andrew Forrest and Gina Rinehart’s companies will receive an indirect boost to mine and process critical minerals or develop green hydrogen.
- by Elizabeth Knight
This Australian uni is considering expanding into Saudi Arabia. It’s caused a stir back home
The institution was the first foreign university to be granted a licence to explore opening in the authoritarian kingdom.
- by Daniella White