Gulf leaders now need a decisive US outcome, not a war they wanted — analysis of regional stance on Iran conflict
- Council on Foreign Relations analysis argues Gulf states did not seek this war but now prefer a US‑led decisive outcome to restore regional stability.
- Paper assesses implications for Gulf security guarantees, long‑term defence posture, and economic exposure to prolonged conflict.
- Recommendations stress balancing deterrence, diplomacy, and resilience of critical infrastructure (energy, ports, data centres).
Council on Foreign Relations · 2026-03-26
FII priority opens in Miami as Iran war casts shadow over global investment outlook
- FII PRIORITY Miami (March 25-27) opened amid heightened regional tensions; organisers and Saudi delegates acknowledged the Iran‑Israel escalation is dominating investor sentiment.
- Yasir Al Rumayyan reiterated Saudi commitments — PIF signals continuity of its global investment agenda despite security risks.
- Event attendance and deal pipeline are being monitored for disruption; panels are addressing capital flows, geopolitical risk and resilience.
The National · 2026-03-26
SDAIA issues Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026 guidelines to unify national efforts
- SDAIA released comprehensive guidelines to coordinate Year of AI 2026 initiatives across government and the private sector; document published by SPA.
- Guidelines emphasise prioritisation of high‑impact programs, national governance frameworks, and capacity building to scale AI adoption.
- SDAIA frames the Year of AI as a unifying platform to showcase Saudi leadership in advanced technologies and to align public sector modernization.
وكالة الأنباء السعودية · 2026-03-26
Who owns America’s tech future? Analysis warns on foreign investment and supply‑chain security
- CEPA analysis highlights risks arising from foreign investment into critical US tech firms and the implications for supply‑chain resilience.
- Paper suggests increased scrutiny of deals that could create dependencies in semiconductors, AI infrastructure and cloud services.
- Recommendations include tighter investment screening, industrial policy to onshore critical capabilities, and allied coordination.
Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) · 2026-03-26
Saudi Wealth Fund (PIF) says it will continue global investments despite Iran war
- PIF governor Yasir Al Rumayyan told delegates at FII that the fund remains committed to its global investment strategy despite security and market headwinds.
- Statement aims to reassure partners and limit risk‑off sentiment among sovereign and private investors attending FII PRIORITY.
- No immediate announcement of new large ticket commitments was published alongside the remarks.
Bloomberg.com · 2026-03-26