The region's youth see themselves as active participants in developing their own countries. They want their voices heard and their talents recognised globally.

The drive for shared prosperity is dependent on security, which is why the Trump administration has made this the main focus of ties

A string of deals ranging from defence to technology were signed in Riyadh worth at least $300bn, including the "largest military sales contract in history"

A high-powered delegation will accompany him on his first official foreign trip of his second term as US president, reflecting a diverse agenda, spanning trade, defence and geopolitics

Sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare have the potential to continue growing as a share of the Gulf states' overall revenue and to provide employment for the future

A tour of the latest releases from Arabic publishing houses on topics covering fiction, philosophy, science, history, and politics.

Ambitious targets are largely being met, with several areas exceeding expectations, but with foreign direct investment still less-than-hoped, there is still work to be done.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is investing heavily in the US, but its domestic spending is set to reach $70bn in the next five years, which means it will have to carefully weigh its priorities

Nonetheless, it is crucial to think strategically about how to improve SWF performance, especially as oil revenues are expected to decline

Featuring a production market, workshops, discussions, and international collaborations, this year's festival shows that the event has evolved into a space that shapes films before they are made.