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
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
