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  • Khoja Out as Information Minister, Replacement Named
     

    Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah relieved Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja of his post by royal decree and replaced him with Bandar bin Mohammed Asaad Hajjar, an economist and Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Minister.  Although an Arab News headline said that Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja “quit,” media outlets are speculating that the Khoja was actually […]

     
  • Energy Subsidies in the Gulf a Staggering $160 billion Annually, World Bank Says
     

    Gulf states are spending an average of 10% of GDP on energy subsidies each year, a total of $160 billion, an IMF official said according to Arab News. “The GCC and other MENA states must start cutting energy subsidies now otherwise problems associated with them will get worse,” said Shantayanan Devarajan, chief economist for the World Bank in Middle […]

     
  • First Global Entrepreneurship Forum Kicks off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as Kingdom Eyes SME Growth
     

    The first Global Business Entrepreneurship Forum (GEF) was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today to bring together top business and startup leaders to the Ritz Carlton Hotel near the Diplomatic Quarter in the Saudi capital.  Organized by the Centennial Fund, the GEF’s first event in Riyadh was a chance for entrepreneurs and others in the […]

     
  • The Best SPA Photos from October 2014
     

    In the September edition of the best photos from the Saudi Press Agency, a dazzling performance from Saudi security forces, infrastructure in the Kingdom, ancient woodworking and more.

     
  • Investing in Middle East Healthcare for both Financial and Social Returns
     

    It is no secret that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments are spending billions of dinars, riyals and dirhams on upgrading their healthcare infrastructure. Local and regional newspapers are filled with stories on newer, bigger and flashier hospital projects. Saudi Arabia’s 2013-2014 budget includes funds for 19 new hospitals in addition to the 102 hospitals currently […]

     
  • Video: Full Keynote Address by HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal at the 2014 AUSPC
     

    Prince Turki al-Faisal’s remarks to the 23nd Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, entitled, “Framing and Charting the Region’s Issues, Interests, Challenges, and Opportunities: Implications for Arab and U.S. Policies” Saudi Arabia’s Prince Turki al-Faisal is Chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and to […]

     
  • Al-Jubeir: ‘Every Time the U.S. and Saudi Arabia Have Come Together, We have Done Wonders for the Region’
     

    In his luncheon keynote remarks to the National Council on US-Arab Relation’s annual policymaker’s forum in Washington, D.C., Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir discussed the historical and current status of the Saudi-U.S. relationship and it’s track record of success when facing regional and global challenges. Full video of his remarks can […]

     
  • At Policymakers Event, Prince Turki al-Faisal Takes Aim at Allegations of Saudi Support of Terror
     

    Saudi Arabia’s Prince Turki al-Faisal, Chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and former Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and to the United States of America, delivered sharp criticism of those who put forth unsupported allegations of Saudi financing of extremism abroad, urging them to come forward with […]

     
  • #FocusKSA: Power Subsidies and Electricity Supply in Saudi Arabia
     

    A clip from SUSTG.com’s recent FocusKSA discussion with Dr. Fahad al-Turki of Jadwa Investment highlights some challenges and opportunities in powering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     Jadwa is a well-regarded, Shariah-compliant, investment firm based in Riyadh and Dr. Fahad spearheads a superb analysis team that publishes very informative reports such as it’s Chart […]

     
  • Is the Saudi Health Ministry Failing to Meet Targets?
     

    Saudi Arabia is in danger of failing to meet crucial targets set out in the Kingdom’s ninth development plan for 2010 to 2014, according to a post published in the Saudi Gazette, based on information from the Arabic-language Al-Eqtisadiah. “With only two months left until the end of 2014, the ministry is far from reaching […]

     

MUST-READS

  • Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports increase by 0.8 percent in January

    Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, recorded a 0.8 percent increase in January 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reported the General Authority for Statistics. Excluding re-exports, non-oil exports saw an 11.5 percent decline as re-exports rose by 42.6 percent in the same period. The authority also reported a decline in overall merchandise exports mainly due to the decline in oil exports following Saudi Arabia’s pledge of an additional oil output cut of 1 million barrels per day in July 2023.

  • Saudi Arabia lands latest major IP with announcement of world-first Dragon Ball theme park

    Saudi Arabia continues to utilise major IPs in its ongoing tourism push, with the latest announcement seeing the world’s only Dragon Ball-themed park making its way to Qiddiya. Saudi Arabia has been making major investments into its tourism sector in recent years, with a host of IPs such as Transformers, WWE and Warner Bros Discovery all making their way to the kingdom for major attractions projects. Now the iconic Dragon Ball series will join the fray, with fans of the anime franchise able to take in an entire theme park experience for the first time.

  • Number of bank branches in Saudi Arabia falls to 1,901 in 2023

    The number of bank branches in Saudi Arabia reached 1,901 by the end of 2023, down 26 branches, from 1,927 a year earlier.   This is the lowest number of Saudi bank branches in almost nine years, since November 2014, when it reached 1,891.   A total of 39 new branches opened last year, while 65 were closed, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

  • Saudi Arabia limits human resources jobs to citizens

    Saudi Arabia has said that human resources jobs in the kingdom are restricted to Saudi nationals as the kingdom is seeking to provide more work for its citizens.
    The confirmation was made by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in response to a query from a citizen who said he had been interviewed by a foreigner working as a human resources specialist at a medical centre.

  • Manga Productions Chief Essam Bukhary on Saudi Arabia’s Manga Craze

    Saudi Arabia, where popular anime characters such as “Captain Tsubasa” and “Dragon Ball” protagonist Son Goku have been engrained in the culture for decades, is taking its love affair with Japanese manga content to the next level. In late March, just a few weeks after the death of “Dragon Ball” creator Akira Toriyama, it was announced that the world’s first theme park dedicated to the megahit Japanese manga and animation franchise will be built in Qiddiya, the massive entertainment and tourism project outside the Saudi capital of Riyadh through a joint venture between Qiddiya and Japan’s Toei Animation.

  • Saudi Arabia real estate enters ‘golden era’ as Vision 2030 takes off, new report finds

    Construction and real estate are entering a golden era of growth in Riyadh and across Saudi Arabia as the ambitious reforms of Vision 2030 take effect and fundamentally transform the economy. An in-depth report set to be released next month and published by Quality Media Press will examine the housing boom, mega-projects like NEOM, and how the sector is benefiting from billions in government investment.

  • Saudi Arabia denounces Israeli decision to confiscate West Bank land

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned an Israel decision to confiscate 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank.

    The Kingdom “strongly condemns the Israeli occupation’s announcement,” emphasizing “that such actions violate international laws and relevant resolutions,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) cited the ministry as saying.

  • Al-Khateeb: Saudi Arabia pumps SR375 million annually to support skills of Saudis in tourism sector

    Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that Saudi Arabia pumps SR375 million annually to support enhancing the skills of Saudis in the tourism sector. “This contributed to raising their rates to 40 percent and we are targeting 50 percent. We are also working to facilitate the issuance of licenses instantly instead of the current duration of five days,” he said while addressing the Manafea Forum in Madinah.

  • Cliff divers conquer Saudi Arabia’s rare fresh water supplies

    Catalin Preda from Romania and America’s David Colturi have become the first people to dive into the wadis of Saudi Arabia in a hike and dive experience through the rough and rugged natural landscape of Jazan province.
    Set against the unique backdrop of the Wadis Lajab and Al-Rough in the kingdom’s Jazan province, the Romanian American duo explored the canyons, deep valleys, waterfalls and freshwater ponds deep enough to host fish and some incredible cliff dives.

  • Germany Blocked A Eurofighter Sale To Saudi Arabia, Then Lifted It. Will Berlin Do The Same With Turkey?

    Turkey wants to buy 40 Eurofighters and was revealed in late 2023 to be in talks on a deal with the United Kingdom and Spain. While London and Madrid would happily sell Ankara Typhoons, they can only do so with German approval since Germany is a member of the consortium that developed and built the Eurofighter. Germany is reluctant to approve any deal given its opposition to numerous Turkish government policies, including Ankara’s condemnation of Israel, attacks against Syrian Kurds, acquisition of advanced Russian missiles, and natural gas drilling in the East Mediterranean.