Saudi Arabia picks up the pieces
Saudi Arabia faces a variety of challenges emanating from the attacks on its oil installations
The kingdom remains in a state of shock. The unprecedented drone and missile attacks on the Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities in the early hours of 14 September, which halted about half of the country’s oil output, arguably represent a pivotal moment for the country. “Saudi Arabia today is not the place it was before the attacks,” says an economist in Riyadh, who asks not to be named. “Suddenly we feel vulnerable.” Saudi Arabia has three immediate goals: to replace the damaged oil installations and restore output capacity to its previous level; to beef up its defences to prevent another attack; and to assess the damage to the kingdom’s reputation in the context of the planned Saudi Aramco in
Also in this section
3 March 2026
The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in US–Israeli strikes marks the most serious escalation in the region in decades and a bigger potential threat to the oil market than the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis
2 March 2026
A potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalating US-Iran conflict risks disrupting Qatari LNG exports that underpin global gas markets, exposing Asia and other markets to sharp price spikes, cargo shortages and renewed reliance on dirtier fuels
2 March 2026
The South Asian consumer’s next move could tighten the Middle East oil market overnight
2 March 2026
Canadian independent’s evolving portfolio in Trinidad and Tobago gives it access to the Atlantic LNG market and a close-up view of developments in neighbouring Venezuela
