Chinese customs data for the first nine months of 2026 shows China's trade with 23 MENA nations fell 12% to $329.3 billion, largely driven by a 38.6% drop in crude oil imports. Despite overall regional import contractions, the UAE remained the leading global destination for Chinese electrified vehicles at $3.9 billion and purchased nearly half of all Chinese phone shipments to the region.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation has extended the suspension of flight operations at King Khalid International Airport. The move follows unconfirmed Houthi missile attack claims, with strict NOTAM restrictions remaining in place for all flights. Several international carriers have prolonged service suspensions into 2027.
Global sovereign wealth funds deployed $14.2 billion into mainland China and Hong Kong during the first nine months of the year, a 190 percent increase over full-year 2025 volumes. Four Gulf sovereign funds accounted for nearly 70 percent of the total, led by Saudi Arabia's PIF and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Allocations targeted high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence hardware, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and consumer brands.
Sovereign wealth funds deployed $14.2 billion into mainland China and Hong Kong in the first nine months of 2026, up roughly 190% from all of 2025. Gulf sovereign funds contributed nearly 70% of the total, with UAE funds ADIA and Mubadala deploying a combined $3.3 billion.
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