About 90 Ships Cross the Strait of Hormuz Despite the War
Indian vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat state on March 17, 2026 after Iran allowed it to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by AFP)
About 90 Ships Cross the Strait of Hormuz Despite the War
Indian vessel 'Nanda Devi' carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrives at Vadinar Port in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat state on March 17, 2026 after Iran allowed it to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by AFP)
About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outset of the war with Iran and it is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when the waterway has been effectively closed, according to maritime and trade data platforms.
Many of the vessels that passed through the strait were so-called “dark” transits evading Western government sanctions and oversight that likely have ties to Iran, maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence said. More recently, vessels with ties to India and Pakistan have also successfully crossed the strait as governments stepped up negotiations.
As crude prices spiked above $100 a barrel, US President Donald Trump pressured allies and trade partners to send warships and reopen the strait, hoping to bring oil prices lower.
Most shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway for global oil and gas transport that supplies roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, has been halted since early March, after the war started. About 20 vessels have been attacked in the area.
However, Iran has still managed to export well above 16 million barrels of oil since the beginning of March, trade data and analytics platform Kpler estimated. Due to Western sanctions and associated risks, China has been the biggest buyer of Iranian oil.
There has been “continued resilience” in Iran's oil export volumes, said Kpler trade risk analyst Ana Subasic.
Iran has managed to profit from oil sales and also “preserve its own export artery” by using control over the chokepoint, said Kun Cao, client director at consulting firm Reddal.
Iran's oil export data estimates are largely aligned with maritime traffic data.
At least 89 ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz between March 1 and 15 – including 16 oil tankers, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, down from roughly 100 to 135 vessel passages per day before the war, The Associated Press reported. More than one-fifth of the 89 vessels were believed to be Iran-affiliated, while Chinese and Greece affiliated ships are among the rest, it said.
Other vessels also have been getting through.
The Pakistan-flagged crude oil tanker Karachi, controlled by the Pakistan National Shipping Corp., passed through the strait on Sunday, Lloyd’s List Intelligence said.
Shariq Amin, a spokesman at the Pakistan Port Trust, refused to confirm or deny which route the MT Karachi had used but he said the ship would soon safely reach Pakistan.
The India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, both owned by state-owned Shipping Corp. of India, also traveled through the strait around March 13 or 14, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. LPG is used as a primary cooking fuel by millions of Indian households.
India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, told the Financial Times the two vessels’ were able to pass following talks with Iran. Iraq was also in talks with Iran to allow Iraqi oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, its state-run news agency reported.
Vessels may be transiting “with at least some level of diplomatic intervention,” said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List. So, Iran may have “effectively created a safe corridor” with some ships passing close to the Iranian coast.
Some vessels near or in the strait were found to have declared themselves as China-linked or with all Chinese crew to reduce risks of being attacked, based on an earlier analysis on ship tracking platform MarineTraffic. Analysts believe they were taking advantage of China’s closer ties with Iran.
Oil prices have jumped more than 40% to above $100 per barrel since the Iran war began, and Iran has threatened it won't allow “even a single liter of oil” destined for the US, and Israel and their allies to pass through.
Riyadh Air Eyes Gradual Expansion as New Aircraft Arrivehttps://english.aawsat.com/business/5282309-riyadh-air-eyes-gradual-expansion-new-aircraft-arrive
Riyadh Air Eyes Gradual Expansion as New Aircraft Arrive
Riyadh Air’s new aircraft enters Saudi airspace (X)
Riyadh Air has completed its structural setup phase and has moved formally into operations, advancing a gradual, carefully planned expansion strategy built around rapid fleet growth and the approaching commercial launch of Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier.
The arrival of its third Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Riyadh, along with the official start of ticket sales for its first domestic and international destinations, marks a new stage for the airline as it prepares to build a growing network focused on expanding operating capacity and targeting high-demand global markets.
The steps put into practice the goals of Vision 2030, which seeks to turn Riyadh into a global logistics hub and a key link for air transport and luxury hospitality between continents.
Osamah Alnuaiser, senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications at Riyadh Air, said the arrival of the third aircraft was a “historic moment” for the company, coming days after it received its first two planes.
He said the milestone crowned more than three years of work since the signing of the first deals with Boeing, under a plan to build a fleet of more than 182 aircraft.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Alnuaiser said the new carrier had moved from establishment to actual operations. He said the company had started intensive operational tests, including daily nonstop flights between Riyadh and London, to assess service and product quality and test its operating model before the full commercial launch.
Five destinations
Alnuaiser said the company had officially started selling tickets to five destinations - Jeddah, Cairo, Dubai, Madrid and Manchester - calling the move the beginning of a route network that will expand gradually in the coming period.
He said Riyadh Air was preparing to receive more aircraft in sequence over the coming months, supporting plans to expand destinations and increase operating capacity. The company is currently operating four daily flights between Riyadh and Jeddah, he said, as part of a strategy to strengthen air links between the Saudi capital and major economic and tourism centers worldwide.
Alnuaiser said the company was constantly studying new domestic and international destinations. The goal, he said, was not merely to increase flights but to diversify destinations and connect Riyadh with major capitals and cities, in line with the aim of turning the capital into a global aviation hub.
Innovation
Alnuaiser said innovation and leadership were central pillars of Riyadh Air’s strategy, both in passenger services and in the digital and operational experience the airline is seeking to deliver.
Asked about the challenges facing the global aviation sector, Alnuaiser said geopolitical events and supply chain disruptions were common challenges for airlines. Riyadh Air, he said, was focused on seizing opportunities and selecting markets with strong demand and promising growth prospects.
He said the company expected to have more than 11 aircraft before the end of this year, with monthly deliveries of Boeing 787 aircraft continuing, along with the start of Airbus A321 deliveries at year’s end. That, he said, would strengthen fleet diversity and operational flexibility.
The expansion comes as Riyadh Air accelerates preparations to launch commercial operations, as part of Saudi Arabia’s plans to strengthen the aviation sector and increase international air connectivity, in line with Vision 2030 targets to make the Kingdom a global transport and logistics hub.
Aircraft delivery ceremony
Saudi Arabia’s new carrier celebrated the delivery of the new aircraft at a special ceremony in Riyadh attended by several ministers and officials.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund and chairman of Riyadh Air, said at the ceremony that the moment embodied Vision 2030’s goals of strengthening the Kingdom’s connection to the world and supporting economic diversification.
He said the new national carrier was moving to cement Saudi Arabia’s position as a global transport and logistics hub, while Riyadh Air continued to build a new model for air travel linking Riyadh with the world.
Al-Rumayyan and Douglas, along with other officials, are seen inside the cabin of the new plane (X)
Saudi Arabia as a global hub
As Riyadh Air approaches commercial operations, Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly, led by several national carriers. Saudia operates more than 530 flights a day to over 100 destinations worldwide, while flynas runs about 2,000 flights a week, or about 285 a day.
Riyadh Air has started trial operations with daily flights to London before expanding to other destinations, while flyadeal reaches 38 domestic and international destinations through a network of 159 air routes.
The origins of Riyadh Air
The Riyadh Air project grew out of a vision to establish a new national carrier that would support the goals of Vision 2030.
On March 12, 2023, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of Riyadh Air as a company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund. The airline is intended to connect the Saudi capital with more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030.
Raid Ismail, PIF’s head of direct investments for the Middle East and North Africa, said Riyadh Air had started where others had left off. He said the region had seen expansion in low-cost carriers over the past two decades, but had not seen the creation of a major integrated airline built on a modern model from the start.
According to available information, the company has focused since its establishment on technology, innovation and the customer experience, positioning itself as a key enabler of growth in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, stronger international air connectivity and higher visitor numbers.
Ismail said the new carrier aims to make Riyadh an attractive destination and a major transit point for travelers, helping connect the Saudi capital to global destinations and supporting access to major projects such as Qiddiya, Diriyah and Riyadh Season, as well as other tourism and development destinations across the Kingdom.
He said establishing a new company gave Riyadh Air greater flexibility to build a modern operating model based on digital technologies, sustainability and an improved passenger experience, which became one of the main foundations of the airline’s strategy from the project’s launch.
Riyadh Air has started trial operations with daily flights to London before expanding to other destinations (X)
Reviving the golden age of aviation
Riyadh Air’s strategy is to reshape the air travel experience by combining luxury services with modern digital technologies.
Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air Tony Douglas has said the new national carrier does not aim only to transport passengers, but to redefine the entire journey through digital innovation and seamless connectivity.
Douglas said the company pays close attention to the smallest details, drawing inspiration from the golden age of aviation, when air travel was part of a complete hospitality experience.
He said Riyadh Air aims to restore that concept by offering a refined, distinctive experience on the ground and in the air, thereby strengthening its position as a global player in luxury air travel.
According to officials, artificial intelligence will be a central part of the operating model, through digital services capable of personalizing the passenger experience, suggesting activities, events and suitable options during the journey, and providing a smooth digital experience that allows passengers to complete services easily and quickly.
Riyadh Air says it is targeting an existing market with strong demand that still needs more services and options. Douglas said Saudi Arabia’s young population and wide use of digital technologies provide a favorable environment for the company’s growth.
He said the new carrier would play an important role in supporting the Kingdom’s tourism goals by making it easier for visitors to reach Riyadh and other Saudi destinations, and by strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position on the global travel map.
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Sign MoUs on Railway and Logistics Cooperation, Connecting Gulf with Europehttps://english.aawsat.com/business/5282307-saudi-arabia-t%C3%BCrkiye-sign-mous-railway-and-logistics-cooperation-connecting-gulf
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Sign MoUs on Railway and Logistics Cooperation, Connecting Gulf with Europe
Al-Jasser and Uraloglu shake hands after signing the MoUs. (X)
Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have taken a major step toward forming a new regional logistics corridor that could reshape trade flows between the Gulf and Europe.
Saudi Transport and Logistics Services Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser and Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu signed two major memorandums of understanding on railway and logistics cooperation.
The agreements, along with other deals, point to a potential shift in international trade routes through a seamless land corridor linking the Gulf directly to Europe.
Uraloglu said in an official post on X that the memorandums, marked the start of a new phase of cooperation. He said they would strengthen the exchange of expertise and technical cooperation across areas ranging from logistics centers to modern applications.
He said both countries wanted to build railway cooperation on stronger, more sustainable foundations, particularly in technology, infrastructure, training, and human resources development.
He hoped the steps would deepen regional connectivity and support trade and development.
Al-Jasser had earlier said joint studies on a regional rail link between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye through Jordan and Syria were expected to be completed before the end of this year.
The project builds on existing infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s national railway network already extends to the Jordanian border via the Al-Haditha crossing.
Route map
The latest push builds on routes that began to emerge after a previous agreement between the transport ministries of Türkiye, Syria, and Jordan. That agreement set a four- to five-year technical roadmap to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure.
The route would begin from Turkish networks connected to southern Europe, cross Syria for 350 km through routes in Aleppo and Damascus, reach Amman and the port of Aqaba, and then connect to Saudi Arabia’s network, which extends toward the rest of the Gulf and Oman on the Indian Ocean.
The plans are moving on two tracks.
The first is the quick activation of rail crossings between Ankara and Damascus to boost trade. The second is a long-term strategic link using fast freight trains to move containers directly from Gulf ports to the heart of Europe.
The route could cut commercial shipping time from 15 days to six days and lower costs by 20% to 30%. It would also provide supply chains with a secure land corridor that bypasses tense waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandab.
Damascus and Ankara
The wider strategy is moving in parallel with intensified activity along the Ankara Damascus line, aimed at securing the project’s northern corridors and preparing its infrastructure and banking systems before the launch of the continental link train.
Alongside the broader rail project, economic ties between Ankara and Damascus have entered a new phase.
Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat told the Anadolu City Economies Summit in the Turkish border city of Gaziantep that preparations had been completed to open the Islahiye railway crossing with Syria and that Türkiye was preparing to open the Nusaybin crossing.
He said work had also begun to study legislation that would allow Turkish banks and business institutions to open branches in Syrian cities.
Bolat outlined a plan to raise trade from $3 billion now to $5 billion in the near term and $10 billion by 2030.
Ankara’s top priority remained preserving the unity of the Syrian state and its national sovereignty, he stressed, adding that Türkiye had provided all possible diplomatic and economic support for stability in its neighbor.
Syrian Economy and Industry Minister Mohammad Nedal Alchaar presented the economic vision of what he called the “new Syria,” sending a direct message to Turkish investors and businesspeople.
He said they must target “long-term strategic partnerships aimed at building, not profit alone.”
Alchaar said Syria “today has a huge industrial opportunity that does not exist in many countries of the world, as an emerging country full of expertise and young talent.”
He said many Turkish companies had already begun operating on the ground, especially in Aleppo province, a historic industrial hub, while others were working to complete their licenses.
Alchaar said stronger economic growth in Damascus, as Ankara’s natural partner, would directly boost growth in both countries.
In the diplomatic framework shaping the emerging partnership, Turkish Ambassador to Damascus Nuh Yilmaz said the new phase rested entirely on a “win-win” principle.
He said lasting political stability in Syria would only come through renewed prosperity and economic recovery.
Yilmaz described Türkiye as “the main and safe gateway for Syrian products to global markets and Europe.” In return, he said, Syria is “the strategic and vital logistics corridor for Türkiye toward Middle Eastern markets and the depth of the Gulf.”
Saudi Industry Ministry Qualifies 24 Local, International Bidders for Round 10 Exploration Licenseshttps://english.aawsat.com/business/5282186-saudi-industry-ministry-qualifies-24-local-international-bidders-round-10
The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the qualification of 24 local and international bidders to participate in Round 10 of the Kingdom’s exploration license competitions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Industry Ministry Qualifies 24 Local, International Bidders for Round 10 Exploration Licenses
The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the qualification of 24 local and international bidders to participate in Round 10 of the Kingdom’s exploration license competitions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Tuesday the qualification of 24 local and international bidders, including companies and consortiums, to participate in Round 10 of the Kingdom’s exploration license competitions, marking the start of the bidding phase following the completion of technical and financial evaluations.
In a statement, it said the announcement reflects the ministry’s continued efforts to accelerate mineral exploration, unlock its estimated $2.5 trillion mineral wealth while strengthening the Kingdom’s position as an attractive destination for mining investment.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Jarrah Aljarrah said that the mineralized belts offered in this round cover a total area of 13,000 km2 across five regions: Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, and Hail, and include new exploration sites extending from belts offered in the Round 9.
These include the Nabithah/Ad Duwayhi (Dahlat Shabeb) Belt, home to the Ad Duwayhi Mine, which produces around 180,000 ounces of gold annually; the Sukhaybarat/Al-Safra Belt, a highly prospective zone for gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel, hosting advanced projects such as the Sukhaybarat and Bulghah mines; and the Al-Nuqrah Belt, known for its significant gold deposits and copper- and zinc-rich volcanic massive sulfide (VMS) mineralization.
Of the 24 qualified bidders, 17 were previously pre-qualified under Round 9, while seven additional companies and consortia completed the Round 10 pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ). The continued participation of previously qualified bidders highlights growing investor confidence in Saudi Arabia’s mining opportunities and reinforces the credibility and transparency of its licensing process.
The ministry noted that, under the exploration licensing competition guidelines, pre-qualification remains valid for one calendar year. This allows eligible bidders to participate in subsequent licensing rounds during the validity period and enables greater participation in the Kingdom’s expanding pipeline of exploration opportunities.
The seven pre-qualified bidders include: Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden); PT ANTAM Tbk; Power Metallic Mines Inc.; Wildsky Resources Inc.; consortium comprising Danakali Limited and Masadar Al-Zamarda for Mining; consortium between Anaam Al Qarat for Trading and Sahara Mining Co. Ltd.; and Thurb Al-Hayya for Trading Company.
The list of bidders previously pre-qualified under Round 9 includes: Vedanta Limited; Midana Exploration Pty Ltd; Jacaranda Minerals Pty Ltd; Sierra Nevada Gold; Royal Road Arabia; The Distinguished Consortium Mining Company; Sun Peak Metals; Eqleed-Indotan Mining Company; DesertEx Pty Ltd; Helderberg Limited; Al Tasnim Enterprises LLC; Branch of China National Geological and Mining Corporation; Aurum Global Group; Batin Al Ard for Gold Company; Almasar Minerals Holding Limited; Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR); and Al Ghazal Al Arabi Mining Company.
Saudi Arabia’s exploration license competitions are conducted through a three-stage process designed to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and equal opportunity.
The process begins with a pre-qualification phase, during which applicants are assessed based on technical and financial capabilities. This is followed by the competition and site selection phase, where qualified bidders gain access to competition guidelines and relevant technical documentation and select sites through the ministry’s digital mining platform, Taadeen.
Where multiple bidders compete for the same site, the process advances to a public multi-round bidding process, with awards determined based on competitive exploration expenditure commitments and transparent evaluation criteria.
The next phase of Round 10 will see qualified bidders select available exploration sites through the Taadeen platform, in accordance with clear criteria designed to ensure fair competition and allow companies to pursue opportunities best aligned with their technical strengths and investment strategies.
Aljarrah, the ministry’s spokesperson, said the growing participation in exploration licensing rounds reflects rising confidence in the Kingdom’s mining investment environment, supported by regulatory reform, enhanced geological data, transparent licensing mechanisms, and an expanding portfolio of high-potential exploration opportunities across Saudi Arabia.
These results reflect the impact of the Kingdom’s ongoing regulatory and legislative reforms, which continue to strengthen investor confidence and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a transparent, competitive, and globally attractive mining destination aligned with the objectives of Vision 2030.
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