Chinese tech giants like Huawei and Alibaba Cloud are quietly building the Middle East’s digital infrastructure, from data centers in Riyadh to AI-powered smart cities. Here’s what the $12.5 billion cloud race means for the region’s future.

After two decades of negotiations, China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stand on the brink of a historic economic milestone. With bilateral trade already hitting $101.8 billion in 2024—an astonishing 800-fold increase since diplomatic relations began in 1984—the stakes for finalizing their long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have never …

China’s Middle East role is evolving from trade partner to careful diplomatic balancer, using economic ties, non-interference and quiet mediation to protect stability across the region.