Second Edition of Saudi-US Investment Forum Kicks off in Washington

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump pose for a family picture during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Washington, DC, US, November 19, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump pose for a family picture during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Washington, DC, US, November 19, 2025. (Reuters)
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Second Edition of Saudi-US Investment Forum Kicks off in Washington

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump pose for a family picture during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Washington, DC, US, November 19, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump pose for a family picture during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Washington, DC, US, November 19, 2025. (Reuters)

The second edition of the Saudi-US Investment Forum kicked off in Washington on Wednesday with senior government officials, decision-makers, and chief executives from both countries scheduled to take part, alongside prominent investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and representatives of the public and private sectors.

The event is being held on the sidelines of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States.

Held under the theme “Leadership for Growth: Strengthening the Saudi-US Economic Partnership,” the forum is part of an investment partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US that is built on a strong record of understandings and renewed cooperation.

Organized by the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the forum aims to expand prospects for economic cooperation between the two sides, promote knowledge transfer and technology localization, build promising industries, and create jobs in both countries by aligning Saudi investment ambitions with American innovation.

The CEOs from Chevron, Qualcomm, Cisco, General Dynamics and Pfizer are attending the forum at the Kennedy Center in Washington, as well as senior executives from IBM, Alphabet's Google, Salesforce, Andreessen Horowitz, Boeing, Halliburton, Adobe, Aramco, State Street and Parsons Corp. 

The forum features panel discussions focusing on key strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, energy, the financial sector, healthcare, defense and space, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took part in a discussion on advances in AI. 

The forum comes at a time when relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States are on an upward trajectory, underpinned by a strategic partnership and ongoing coordination on political, economic, and security issues. The two countries also play influential roles in regional and international affairs and on issues of common concern, in ways that support security, stability, and prosperity for both nations, the region, and the wider world.



Kuwait Ports Authority Says Drones Struck Shuwaikh Port

Smoke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack in Kuwait City on March 8, 2026. (AFP/file photo)
Smoke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack in Kuwait City on March 8, 2026. (AFP/file photo)
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Kuwait Ports Authority Says Drones Struck Shuwaikh Port

Smoke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack in Kuwait City on March 8, 2026. (AFP/file photo)
Smoke rises from a high-rise building following a drone attack in Kuwait City on March 8, 2026. (AFP/file photo)

The Kuwait Ports Authority said on Friday that its main commercial Shuwaikh Port was targeted in a drone attack, resulting in material damage but no human casualties.

The authority added in a statement that it had activated the emergency procedures in place for such situations, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Iran pressed on with its assaults in the Gulf in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.


Saudi Arabia Urges Its Nationals in Lebanon to Leave Immediately

Saudi Embassy in Beirut (Reuters)
Saudi Embassy in Beirut (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Urges Its Nationals in Lebanon to Leave Immediately

Saudi Embassy in Beirut (Reuters)
Saudi Embassy in Beirut (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia on Friday renewed calls on Saudi nationals currently present in Lebanon to leave the country immediately because of the security situation there.

In a statement on its social media platform X, the Saudi Embassy in Beirut urged its citizens to comply with the travel ban to Lebanon and called on all nationals currently present in the country to leave immediately citing the security developments.

The embassy emphasized the need to contact it in case of any emergency, wishing safety and security for all.


Kuwait Dismantles Iranian Cell, Bahrain Refers Collaborators to Judiciary

An Iranian rocket is intercepted over Abu Dhabi. (AFP)
An Iranian rocket is intercepted over Abu Dhabi. (AFP)
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Kuwait Dismantles Iranian Cell, Bahrain Refers Collaborators to Judiciary

An Iranian rocket is intercepted over Abu Dhabi. (AFP)
An Iranian rocket is intercepted over Abu Dhabi. (AFP)

Kuwait announced on Thursday that it busted a cell associated with Iran, while Bahrain referred collaborators with Tehran to the judiciary, reflecting the readiness of Gulf countries to deal with threats to their stability and security and to protect their higher interests.

Kuwaiti authorities said they thwarted a terrorist plot to carry out assassinations of state figures and leaders.

They detained a cell that includes a number of Kuwaitis working for Hezbollah, they added.

The cell was also tasked with recruiting people to carry out their attacks with the aim of harming higher national interests.

Kuwait had busted a similar cell just days ago.

Kuwait’s defenses also shot down on Thursday hostile rockets and drones that had breached its airspace.

In Bahrain, authorities arrested a cell accused of collaborating with Iran. It referred to the judiciary 14 people for contacting the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC).

The detainees received assistance and funds to support operations against Kuwait, saying the IRGC had tasked them with sending photos and information.

One of the detainees took photos and sent coordinates of vital installations to the Guards, said Manama. The IRGC had used the information received from the cell to carry out attacks against Bahrain.

On March 12, the interior ministry announced that it had arrested four citizens for collaborating with the IRGC. Two days prior, it arrested six people for sharing photos of damage caused by Iranian attacks and voicing sympathy with Tehran and its hostile activities.

On Thursday, Bahrain’s defenses downed a rocket and 19 drones. Authorities said they will continue to confront Iran’s heinous terrorist attacks.

Bahrain has so far destroyed 154 rockets and 350 drones since the hostilities began.

In the UAE, authorities said a person was killed and three wounded from falling shrapnel from a downed ballistic missile in Abu Dhabi. Several vehicles were also damaged in the incident.

Emirati defenses downed 15 ballistic missiles and 11 drones fired from Iran in recent hours.

Since the eruption of the conflict, defenses downed 372 ballistic missiles and 1,826 drones from Iran. Two members of the armed forces were killed while performing their national duties.