Saudi Arabia

Is the Red Sea moving toward an ordered space governed by capable states or toward a grey zone edging toward disorder? Read our February cover story to find out.

In places like Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia, which all have long coastlines along key maritime routes, the authority of the state and its institutions needs to overcome the forces of disorder.

Building upon its exemplary energy leadership, Riyadh is also leading the way in waste management, using its know-how for the betterment of the planet

Riyadh wants to help Yemen's various southern factions come up with creative solutions. It wants a unified Yemen, but other parties have a different agenda, complicating efforts to hold a conference.

To the east of Riyadh, on a giant campus employing advanced simulators, young Saudis are learning the mechanics of the wells and rigs of the oil and gas industry.

Talks in Riyadh were aimed at generating forward momentum in Yemen, but there are still huge hurdles to overcome

Scrapping foreign ownership caps and qualifying criteria will bring in more capital, with markets reacting positively to the latest reforms that build towards a more open country

The UAE backs southern Yemenis who want secession, while Saudi Arabia wants a unified Yemen. Egypt also favours unity, but is close to both Gulf states, putting it in a difficult position.

Overcoming Yemen's fragmentation requires more support for the Riyadh-led path—one that rejects secession, all militias and institutionalises the state

From education and infrastructure to housing, culture, construction, creativity, technology, workforce participation, and innovation, the country is rapidly moving beyond oil