Hala Saghbini

Hala Saghbini
Business Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Harvard University economics professor Pol Antràs said Saudi Arabia represents an exceptional model in the shifting global trade landscape, differing…

Hala Saghbini (AlUla )
Business Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, speaks during one of the conference sessions last year (Asharq Al-Awsat)

IMF Reaffirms Confidence in Emerging Markets ahead of AlUla Conference

The International Monetary Fund said emerging economies are showing exceptional resilience in the face of global volatility, as it cast the upcoming AlUla…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and US President Donald Trump stand for a photo with other participants at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center on November 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP

Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Trip Signals Future-Focused Strategic Shift

Over an intensive 48 hours, Washington became the stage for launching a new phase in the strategic alliance between Saudi Arabia and the United States, an…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business 18 November 2025, US, Washington: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington. Photo: -/SPA/dpa

Minerals on Agenda at Saudi-US Washington Talks

Saudi Arabia is cementing its position as a rising global power in the market for critical minerals, declaring the sector the “third pillar” of its national…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the US president’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2025 (Bandar Al-Galoud)

US-Saudi Business Council Chief: Crown Prince’s Visit to Washington Will Accelerate Strategic Partnership

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the United States comes at a pivotal moment, as US-Saudi relations gain renewed momentum driven by the…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business The Saudi energy minister participating in the Future Investment Initiative conference (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

IEA Steps Back as Saudi Vision Prevails on Oil Realities

After four years of debate, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued a pivotal retreat from its hardline projections on “peak oil,” effectively…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business Public Investment Fund (PIF) Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan speaks during his opening address at the conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

As FII Ends, Riyadh Emerges as Global Lab Steering the Economy

The 2025 Future Investment Initiative (FII) wrapped up in Riyadh with a global consensus taking shape: Saudi Arabia has moved beyond the role of host to become…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)
Business A view of the audience during one of the sessions at the eighth edition of the Future Investment Initiative conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 

Future Investment Initiative: From ‘Davos in the Desert’ to a Platform for Untangling Global Crises

The annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) is evolving from an investment forum into a powerful geoeconomic and diplomatic platform. In the midst of…

Hala Saghbini (Riyadh)