Saudi Arabia has publicly accused the United Arab Emirates – a fellow Gulf Arab state and former partner in the Yemen war – of undermining its national security, an unusually blunt charge that exposes a rift long kept behind closed doors.

Saudi Arabia is starting 2026 with a benchmark-sized dollar bond, as it continues its rapid pace of international borrowing to help fund huge projects meant to diversify the economy from oil.

Saudi Arabia has a contract to host the event until 2029, but the Gulf nation is hosting next year's Asian Cup in January.

While the Spanish Super Cup carries value as both a trophy and a commercial product, its importance to supporters is widely seen as secondary to La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and European competitions. This perception is reinforced by the tournament's location in Saudi Arabia, which many fans feel creates a disconnect.

The Line is one of the planned futuristic venues that the kingdom hopes will bring millions of new residents to Saudi Arabia and revolutionize living and technology. Plans revealed in a video in 2022 outlined how the site in Tabuk province would stretch 110 miles across desert valleys and mountains and toward the Red Sea.

The Spanish Super Cup once again will be played in Saudi Arabia this Janaury and this week, the two semifinals will be played. The matches will be played at the Alinma Bank Stadium in King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The four teams involved this year are FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, and Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona booked their place in Sunday’s Spanish Supercup final, having dismantled Athletic Club at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, with goals from Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez, Roony

The discussions come as Pakistan grapples with severe financial pressure, while Saudi Arabia is recalibrating its security partnerships amid uncertainty over long-term US commitments in the Middle Eas