Saudi Arabia Announces Discoveries of Natural Gas in Eastern Province, Empty Quarter

Gas pipelines are seen in the Kingdom. Photo: Aramco website
Gas pipelines are seen in the Kingdom. Photo: Aramco website
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Saudi Arabia Announces Discoveries of Natural Gas in Eastern Province, Empty Quarter

Gas pipelines are seen in the Kingdom. Photo: Aramco website
Gas pipelines are seen in the Kingdom. Photo: Aramco website

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz announced that Saudi Aramco has discovered two natural gas fields in the Empty Quarter: Al-Hiran and Al-Mahakik natural gas fields.

The discovery of Al-Hiran natural gas field was confirmed after gas flowed from Hanifa reservoir in the Al-Hiran – 1 well, at a rate of 30 Million standard cubic feet (MMSCF), and 1,600 Barrel of Condensates daily (BCPD), and from the Al-’Arab – C reservoir in the same field at a rate of 3.1 MMSCFD.
On the other hand, the discovery of Al-Mahakik natural gas field was confirmed after gas flowed from the Al-Mahakik – 2 well, at a rate of 0.85 MMSCFD.
Furthermore, Natural gas was also discovered in five reservoirs in previously discovered fields. It was discovered in the Jallah reservoir in the ‘Usaikerak field in the Empty Quarter, after gas flowed at a rate of 46 MMSCFD, in addition to discovering an additional natural gas reservoir in Shadoun field, west of Haradh, after gas flowed from ‘Unayzah – A reservoir, at a rate of 15.5 MMSCFD, with about 460 BCPD.
Natural gas was also discovered in ‘Unayzah B/C reservoirs in Mazalij field, southwest of Dhahran, where gas flowed at a rate of 14 MMSCFD, with about 4,150 BCPD, and in Al-Sarah reservoir in Al-Wadhihi field and Al-Qusaibah reservoir in Awtad field, southwest of Hofuf city, where natural gas flowed at a rate of 11.7 MMSCFD and 5.1 MMSCFD, respectively, with about 57 BCPD.



Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd Resume Further Services Through Suez Canal

FILE PHOTO: Shipping containers sit on a Maersk vessel docked at the port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, US, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Brehman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Shipping containers sit on a Maersk vessel docked at the port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, US, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Brehman/File Photo
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Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd Resume Further Services Through Suez Canal

FILE PHOTO: Shipping containers sit on a Maersk vessel docked at the port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, US, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Brehman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Shipping containers sit on a Maersk vessel docked at the port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, US, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Brehman/File Photo

Shipping group Maersk said on Monday it will resume four further of its container services with Germany's Hapag-Lloyd through the Suez Canal, as they gradually ⁠return to using the ⁠shortcut between Asia and Europe.

The Asia-Europe trade corridor through the Suez Canal was abandoned ⁠by most shippers earlier this decade after attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis, forcing ships to take the much longer trip around Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

The two ⁠companies ⁠in early July and later again in August announced that they would resume some services connecting Asia, the Mediterranean and Europe through the Suez Canal.


Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Expect September Fed Hike as Inflation Lingers

Federal Reserve building in Washington (Reuters)
Federal Reserve building in Washington (Reuters)
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Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Expect September Fed Hike as Inflation Lingers

Federal Reserve building in Washington (Reuters)
Federal Reserve building in Washington (Reuters)

Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan now expect the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this week after a string of stronger-than-expected inflation readings challenged hopes that price pressures would continue to ease without additional policy tightening.

The Wall Street banks joined a growing number of forecasters turning more hawkish after data last week showed ‌US consumer ‌and producer prices rose more than expected in August, ‌while ⁠oil prices climbed ⁠above $100 a barrel due to renewed hostilities in the Middle East, reported Reuters.

In a note on Friday, Goldman Sachs abandoned its previous call for rates to remain unchanged and now expects a 25-basis-point increase at the US Fed's September 15-16 meeting. J.P. Morgan, meanwhile, forecasts quarter-point hikes in both September and December.

The latest data have revived concerns that progress toward the Fed's ⁠2% inflation target could stall after months of moderation.

"We ‌think that the FOMC will be ‌reluctant to surprise," Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle said.

J.P. Morgan struck a similarly ‌hawkish tone following the inflation reports.

"The week that saw rising ‌bond yields and energy prices and a firm enough set of inflation readings to make a rate hike at next week's FOMC meeting more likely than not," J.P. Morgan economists led by Michael Feroli said in a note.

The outlook ‌for further Fed tightening will be in focus this week as policymakers conclude their meeting on Wednesday, ⁠while investors ⁠also watch the Bank of Japan for policy signals.

J.P. Morgan said the latest inflation data cast doubt on a sustained disinflation trend, leading it to forecast another Fed rate hike this year and raise its estimate of the long-run policy rate to 3.25%.

Markets are pricing in an 87% chance of a quarter-point Fed rate hike this month, up from about 70% before the latest inflation data, with another increase expected in December, according to CME's FedWatch Tool.

In a separate note on Sunday, Goldman Sachs said it still expects two Fed rate cuts in 2027, though later than previously forecast, as it sees this week's expected hike as driven more by market pricing than inflation fundamentals.


Saudi Arabia’s Dammam Airports Signs Design Contract to Develop King Fahd Int'l Airport

Dammam Airports CEO Eng. Mohammed Al-Hassany and President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia Dean McGrail seen at the signing of the agreement on Sunday. (X)
Dammam Airports CEO Eng. Mohammed Al-Hassany and President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia Dean McGrail seen at the signing of the agreement on Sunday. (X)
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Saudi Arabia’s Dammam Airports Signs Design Contract to Develop King Fahd Int'l Airport

Dammam Airports CEO Eng. Mohammed Al-Hassany and President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia Dean McGrail seen at the signing of the agreement on Sunday. (X)
Dammam Airports CEO Eng. Mohammed Al-Hassany and President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia Dean McGrail seen at the signing of the agreement on Sunday. (X)

Dammam Airports CEO Eng. Mohammed Al-Hassany and President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia Dean McGrail signed on Sunday a design contract to develop the King Fahd International Airport in accordance with the airport's approved master plan.

Al-Hassany said signing the contract marks a significant milestone in the development of King Fahd International Airport.

Dammam Airports is committed to upgrading airport facilities, increasing capacity, and delivering a seamless, high-quality travel experience through modern design solutions and smart technologies that meet travelers' needs and accommodate future growth in passenger and air cargo traffic, he stressed.

This will reinforce the airport's status as an international gateway connecting Eastern Region to the world, he added..

The project scope includes designing the expansion of passenger terminals, upgrading facilities, and improving airport entrances and access roads. It also includes developing baggage handling systems, digital services, and terminal wayfinding systems to streamline travel procedures and enhance passenger comfort.

The master plan aims to serve more than 19.3 million passengers annually by 2030, with capacity to be increased in phases to 32 million passengers per year to meet future travel demand.

It targets increasing air cargo capacity to more than 600,000 tons annually and aircraft operational capacity to 77 movements per hour, supported by comprehensive expansions of infrastructure, runways, and general aviation facilities.

The contract is part of Dammam Airports' ongoing efforts to develop the airport ecosystem, boost operational efficiency, and contribute to achieving the objectives of the Aviation Program and Saudi Vision 2030.