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  • Commentary: Saudi Arabia’s rise signals decline of Europe’s geopolitical centrality This article was published in thejakartapost.com with the title “”. Click to read: https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2025/03/03/saudi-arabias-rise-signals-decline-of-europes-geopolitical-centrality

    It signals a shift away from Europe’s centrality in diplomacy and fits well with Trump’s broader policy of bilateral, pragmatic diplomacy that prioritizes economic and geopolitical gains. The US-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia also indicate Trump’s strategic use of Saudi Arabia to secure swift diplomatic wins, furthering his domestic and international standing. Trump’s choice of Riyadh for the Ukraine peace talks also shows that Saudi Arabia has strategically positioned itself as a neutral intermediary, leveraging its strong relations with global powers including the US, Russia, China and European nations.

  • US Air Force Partners with Saudi Arabia to Train Chiefs

    A mobile training team of U.S. Airmen assigned to Air Forces Central (AFCENT) led the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) in completing its inaugural Chief Leadership Course (CLC) Jan. 23, 2025 at a training center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). “This course is one of many efforts placing emphasis on the professional development of their enlisted force,” said Chief Master Sgt. Joshua Wiener, AFCENT command chief. The 17-day course was led by a team of two U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant instructors with support from 9th Air Force. The curriculum was modeled after the USAF’s own CLC, and incorporated lessons from the First Sergeants’ Academy and Noncommissioned Officer Academies. The material was then tailored to meet RSAF needs.

  • Syria’s rebuilding is bringing US partners Turkey and Saudi Arabia closer together

    Since Turkey ended a period of sharp tensions with several Gulf countries in 2021, Ankara has improved relations with all the countries in the region, and ties between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in particular have significantly improved. Ankara and Riyadh have put aside their past disputes and deepened their strategic relations. Now, the rebuilding of post-Assad Syria offers an opportunity for Turkey and Saudi Arabia to deepen their relations further. After becoming Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa visited Saudi Arabia and Turkey for his first two visits abroad. This is a testament to the important role both countries are expected to play in the new Syria. Sharaa is likely attempting to show the new Syrian leadership’s intent to distance itself from Iran and attract the Saudi financial investment that Syria desperately needs.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Residences draw early buyers at $1.5mn starting price

    Red Sea Global has sold more than 12 per cent of its ultra-luxury homes on Saudi Arabia’s western coast before the official market launch, with prices starting from SAR5.5 million ($1.47 million) for a one-bedroom property, as the developer taps into growing regional demand for premium coastal real estate. The pre-sales success of the multi-billion riyal development on Shura Island signals a strong appetite from wealthy Gulf investors for Saudi Arabia’s emerging luxury tourism destinations, with the developer primarily targeting buyers from the kingdom and neighbouring Gulf countries.

  • Al-Falih: Nearly 600 global companies choose Saudi Arabia as regional headquarters

    Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih announced that the number of global companies establishing their regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia has risen to nearly 600. Al-Falih announced this while attending a panel discussion titled “Ministerial perspective on the role of the government to enable the private sector,” held as part of the third edition of the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh on Wednesday. The minister noted that the number of registered investment licenses surged from 4,000 in 2018 and 2019 to 40,000 currently, while total investments have doubled to SR1.2 trillion, accounting for 30 percent of the Saudi economy. "Seventy-two percent of investments came from the private sector, while the Public Investment Fund's (PIF) portfolio and companies account for only 13 percent. This underscores Saudi Arabia's position as a strong global investment destination, thanks to its attractive economic environment and diverse investment opportunities across various sectors,” he said.

  • Records set for Arab artists at Sotheby’s debut Saudi Arabia auction

    Sotheby’s inaugural auction in Saudi Arabia — and the country’s first major international art and luxury auction — took place in Diriyah on Saturday with works by regional artists selling particularly well. Sotheby’s reported a full house for the “Origins” sale, which was held in a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater and featured participants from 45 countries. The sale totaled $17.28m with a sell-through rate of 67% by lot and 74% by value. Almost a third of the buyers were from Saudi Arabia.

  • Chinese EV startup Rox Motor expands into Saudi Arabia

    Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup Rox Motor has expanded into the Saudi market as it focuses its resources overseas. The company announced its official entry into the Saudi market with its all-terrain SUV (sport utility vehicle) Rox 01 at the LEAP 2025 event, which kicked off on February 9, according to a press release today. Rox Motor has secured more than 200 orders in Saudi Arabia and sales are ongoing, it said. The brand's flagship Saudi showroom on Khurais Road will open later this month.

  • Records set for Arab artists at Sotheby’s debut Saudi Arabia auction

    Sotheby’s reported a full house for the “Origins” sale, which was held in a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater and featured participants from 45 countries. The sale totaled $17.28m with a sell-through rate of 67% by lot and 74% by value. Almost a third of the buyers were from Saudi Arabia. The auction offered an eclectic mix of around 120 objects. Approximately half were works of art and a quarter watches and jewelry, while there were also 17 designer handbags and several items of sports memorabilia.

  • AI chip startup Groq secures $1.5 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia

    The startup has an existing agreement with Aramco Digital, the technology subsidiary of oil major Aramco, through which the companies built a critical AI hub in the region in December. Groq told Reuters it will receive funds over the course of this year to expand its existing data center in Dammam. The company's chips, which specialize in fast responses from chatbots and other large language models, are subject to U.S. export controls, but Groq said it has obtained the licenses it needs to ship them to Dammam.

  • Saudi Arabia removes restrictions on foreign on-demand charter flights

    The move builds on impressive growth in Saudi’s private aviation market with 23, 612 business jet flights recorded in 2024, an increase of more than 4,600 flights on 2923 figures. Domestic flights accounted to 9,206 (+26% on 2023) movements last year. In line with Saudi Arabia’s aviation strategy as part of Vision 2030, GACA’s General Aviation Roadmap was launched in May 2024 to establish the country as a general aviation hub in the region. There is currently an unprecedented infrastructure programme underway to establish new private airports and terminals across the Kingdom. GACA’s roadmap will deliver six dedicated business aviation airports and a further nine dedicated business aviation hubs. It will also increase the FBO and MRO capacity for business jets.