Faisal Abbas

Riyadh, United Arab Emirates

Editor-in-Chief at Arab News

Editorial Board Member at Al Arabiya

Editor-in-Chief of @ArabNews | Vice Chairman of Saudi Journalist Association | Editorial Board @AlArabiya | #YGL18

Articles

Now is the time to recognize Palestine

4 days ago | arabnews.pk | Faisal Abbas

Now is the time to recognize Palestine Faisal J. Abbas June 02, 2025 22:07 Short Urlhttps://arab.news/6n7pv Israel’s blocking of an Arab delegation, preventing it from entering the West Bank at the weekend, is yet another reminder of the ugly, immoral nature of its ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands.
Lifting sanctions on Syria: a bet on a more prosperous future

1 week ago | arabnews.com | Faisal Abbas

Lifting sanctions on Syria: a bet on a more prosperous future Short Urlhttps://arab.news/ygru2 In a significant shift in US foreign policy, President Donald Trump has initiated the easing of long-standing sanctions on Syria, marking a pivotal moment for the war-torn nation and the broader Middle East. This decision comes in the wake of President Trump’s successful Gulf tour and discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Analysis: Trump’s Gulf visit was a strategic reset - not a bidding war

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Faisal Abbas

From the moment Air Force One landed in Riyadh to its departure from Abu Dhabi, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East tour was met with a chorus of skepticism from several Western critics. Accusations of a “bidding war” between Gulf nations and “pay-to-play” politics dominated headlines, casting the trip as little more than transactional diplomacy devoid of strategic depth.
How optimistic should we be about the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement?

2 weeks ago | arabnews.jp | Faisal Abbas

Much talk and analysis has been generated by last week’s surprise Chinese-brokered Saudi-Iranian pact, but pundits need to remember that the agreement to restore diplomatic ties and refrain from intervention in each other’s affairs is still in its early days. We cannot expect four decades of Iranian hostility and investment in undermining regional security to disappear overnight. Nevertheless, it would have been irresponsible and illogical for the Saudi leadership not to give peace a chance.
Decoding Trump’s historic Riyadh speech

3 weeks ago | arabnews.com | Faisal Abbas

Decoding Trump’s historic Riyadh speech Short Urlhttps://arab.news/69y5n The words “historic” and “groundbreaking” are probably used far too often by pundits. Sometimes, they are awfully misplaced, such as when used in contexts like that of former US President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech of 2009.
Analysis: High hopes for Trump’s Middle East trip

3 weeks ago | semafor.com | Faisal Abbas

As Air Force One prepares to touch down in Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, US President Donald Trump is once again sending a bold signal about his foreign policy priorities. Unlike previous administrations that favored Europe or North America, Trump is doubling down on the Middle East — a region where his legacy remains deeply intertwined with security, diplomacy, and economic ambitions. Skeptics may dismiss this as a transactional move, arguing that Trump is chasing deals with whoever pays the most.
Analysis: High hopes for Trump’s Middle East trip

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Faisal Abbas

Faisal’s viewAs Air Force One prepares to touch down in Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, US President Donald Trump is once again sending a bold signal about his foreign policy priorities. Unlike previous administrations that favored Europe or North America, Trump is doubling down on the Middle East — a region where his legacy remains deeply intertwined with security, diplomacy, and economic ambitions.
What Trump’s second coming signifies for Saudi-US relations

3 weeks ago | arabnews.com | Faisal Abbas

What Trump’s second coming signifies for Saudi-US relations Short Urlhttps://arab.news/5kddk As President Donald Trump prepares to return to Saudi Arabia for what is expected to be the first international stop in this new chapter of his political life, the significance of the visit cannot be overstated — nor could its timing be more crucial. The world today is in flux. The global order is being tested by war, economic uncertainty, rising extremism, and shifting alliances.
This Nowruz may be a ‘new day’ for the whole Middle East

1 month ago | arabnews.jp | Faisal Abbas

It was in the first week of March 2020, only a few days before the global coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic — with the consequent lockdown — that a handful of prominent Iranian singers performed in the first ever Persian Culture Night in the historic Saudi city of AlUla. In the weeks before the event, there was much ado about whether this cultural soirée should take place in the Kingdom.
Arab News at 50: A consistent voice in a constantly changing region

1 month ago | arabnews.com | Faisal Abbas

Arab News at 50: A consistent voice in a constantly changing region Short Urlhttps://arab.news/6ga8w RIYADH: Fifty years ago today, brothers Hisham and Mohammed Ali Hafiz, two legendary figures in Saudi Arabia’s media landscape, launched Arab News, Saudi Arabia’s first English-language daily newspaper, from a small garage in my hometown of Jeddah.