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  • IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Saudi Arabia

    Oil production cuts led to an overall contraction in growth of 0.8 percent in 2023, albeit non-oil GDP grew by a robust 3.8 percent, driven mostly by private consumption and non-oil investment. The unemployment rate reached historic lows, with women labor force participation rates remaining comfortably above the 30 percent 2030 target. Geopolitical events have not had any major impact on the Saudi economy so far.

  • IMF Saudi Arabia 2024 Article IV Consultation: Press Release and Staff Report

    Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented economic transformation is progressing well. Strong domestic demand is keeping non-oil growth robust while unemployment is at record lows. Inflation is contained and the current account surplus is rapidly narrowing. The recalibration of the authorities’ investment plans would help reduce overheating risks and pressures on fiscal and external accounts.

  • How the Israeli intelligence community got its mojo back

    During these last several days of late August, however, the Israeli intelligence community hit a grand slam by obtaining such exquisite intelligence that it was highly predictive in nature—and not only that, it also likely staved off a wider war. As such, the Israeli intelligence community deserves extraordinary credit for this intelligence coup. According to media reports, the Israelis collected information that not only indicated that Hezbollah was about to launch a significant attack against northern and central Israel, but also the precise time—5:15 a.m. local time on August 25—when the launches would occur and the specific units that would conduct the attacks.

  • Algeria has never seen a smooth transfer of power. It won’t in this election, either.

    Tebboune was first elected in a controversial 2019 poll organized against the backdrop of the Hirak, a mass popular uprising demanding new leadership. The call for transition was a direct challenge to the country’s reigning political order—the shadowy cabal of military and political elites that Algerians refer to as “le pouvoir” (the power).

  • U.S. and Iraqi Commandos Targeted ISIS in Sprawling Operation

    The joint operation in Anbar province came even as Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Iraqi military commanders say they can keep the ISIS threat under control without U.S.-led assistance. Iraq and the United States are negotiating an agreement that would wind down the mission of the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq. There are about 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq and 900 in neighboring Syria.

  • A More Prominent Role for Global Auction Houses in the Gulf Art Scene: “It’s All Coming”

    In a global first, Christie’s auction house recently hosted a mid-career retrospective of Mater’s work: “Ahmed Mater: Chronicles,” nearly 20 years after the first presentation of the artist’s work at the British Museum in 2005. Curated by Ridha Moumni, chairman of Christie’s Middle East and Africa, the show reveals work in a variety of mediums –painting, photography, sculpture, video, and installation – that span Mater’s extensive career to date, from his first artistic experiments during his early years in Abha, Saudi Arabia to his latest projects.

  • Bridging the Gaps for an Orderly Energy Transition: The Role of Sustainable Finance in Saudi Arabia

    As governments and organisations across the ­Middle East work ­towards achieving their net-­zero agendas, sustainable finance plays a crucial role by raising capital for proj­ects essential to achieving ­these targets. Robust capital markets, supportive regulatory frameworks, and transparent sustainability reporting are some of the key ingredients for a well-­functioning sustainable finance practice, requiring cooperation from all relevant stakeholders, including governments, private companies, and regulators.

  • Measuring Green Jobs in Saudi Arabia: Saudis in Green Occupations

    This paper offers the first estimate of employment in Saudi Arabia that can be linked to the energy transition. Using a task-based taxonomy devised by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics applied to detailed administrative data on Saudi workers, it is estimated that in 2022 almost 30% of all Saudi workers in the private sector were employed in “green” occupations. 

  • Isabelle Werenfels: North Africa’s Relationship with Europe

    When it comes to security, I think NATO has added value. If we just take one example, most North African armies really noticed how well the Ukrainians did initially in February 2022, thanks to NATO training. These countries are very keen on that. It is a way to build ties and bring them closer to the alliance, which is the ultimate goal.

  • Saudi Red Sea Authority: More Than a Sea

    The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) has launched a campaign titled “More Than a Sea”, which revolves around four main pillars of SRSA’s roles: regulations, sustainability, attracting investments, and promoting tourism experiences in the Red Sea, to highlight its contributions toward building a thriving coastal tourism sector.