Samuel Wendel

Samuel Wendel is a senior market research analyst with Al-Monitor covering essential economic, tech and business trends across the Middle East and North Africa region. Alongside past experience as an open source researcher focused on the region, he has previously worked as a journalist with Forbes Middle East, Wamda and other publications, where he reported on key industry developments and companies spanning a range of sectors. On Twitter: @sam_wendel

Saudi Arabia | Jul 6, 2024

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's soccer dreams tested as Vision 2030 goal posts move

2023 saw Saudi Arabia take the world of soccer by storm with record-breaking spending on new stars, but those hoping for a repeat performance in 2024 have so far been left disappointed.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 4: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the 2nd goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al Wehda at Al Awwal Park on May 4, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia | Jun 9, 2024

How Saudiwood’s power play is reshaping Middle East film industry

While the country's first entry at Cannes didn’t win, its inclusion in the festival was another step toward Saudi ambitions to become a film industry powerhouse.

(From L) Saudi actor Yaqoub Alfarhan, Saudi actress Maria Bahrawi and Saudi director and screenwriter Tawfik Alzaidi pose during a photocall for the film "Norah" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 24, 2024.

Saudi Arabia | May 17, 2024

ALM Special

AI pioneer Schmidhuber bets on Saudi Arabia for trillion-dollar breakthrough

Juergen Schmidhuber, a pioneering AI researcher told Al-Monitor that Gulf players have opportunities to take on traditional tech powerhouses in this high stakes AI race.

Juergen Schmidhuber in an undated photo. @SchmidhuberAI

Egypt | Apr 8, 2024

ALM Special

Al-Monitor/Premise poll finds Biden's unpopularity in Mideast makes room for China, Russia to outshine US

Washington’s influence remains potent despite its perceived disengagement from the Middle East, but Russia and China are eagerly finding gaps to fill.

(L-R) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi wave hands during the group photo session, a head of the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries, on the sideline of the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen, southeastern China's Fujian Province on Sept. 5, 2017.

Saudi Arabia | Apr 1, 2024

Could Saudi Arabia spark tech startup IPO boom in Middle East?

With startups outside the Gulf focused on survival amid a funding drought, the Saudi pipeline could boost investor interest in companies typically seen as too risky.

A man monitors the board at Tadawul, the Saudi stock exchange, Riyadh, Dec. 12, 2019.

Gulf | Feb 19, 2024

Oman’s privatization plan poised to pump out more IPOs

Muscat has planned an IPO listing spree and divestment drive for 2024 with the goal of moving from frontier to emerging market status.

An aerial view shows the Central Business District (Ruwi) in the Omani capital Muscat on April 9, 2021.

Gulf | Feb 1, 2024

Analysis

Saudi Arabia’s soccer spending spree slows

Saudi Arabia's splashy spending on big-name foreign players has slowed considerably as Saudi Pro League attendance sags and rumors are swirling that top stars want out of the kingdom.

Iran | Jan 26, 2024

Analysis

Iran says it won’t interfere in Lebanon-Israel border talks

Tehran will still need to sign off on deal if it happens; Iran and Sudan; Netanyahu is a prisoner of hostage talks; US rethinks its force posture in Syria and Iraq; and a US envoy says Israel must be ‘absolutely sure’ in Gaza military operations.

Gulf | Dec 26, 2023

ALM Special

2023 in review: Gaza war tests Gulf economic overhauls at pivotal moment

Amid a year of headlines and hype in Gulf dealmaking, the eruption of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7 complicates the GCC's economic overhauls.

Jared Kushner (R), adviser to former US president Donald Trump, and Italy's former prime minister Matteo Renzi (L) participate in a panel at the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on Oct. 25, 2023.

Jordan | Nov 24, 2023

Analysis

How detrimental is Gaza war to Jordan-Israel climate cooperation, water security? 

Responding to domestic pressure, Jordan has called off a deal to exchange its solar energy for desalinated water from Israel, but it has no good solutions for its own water crisis.