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  • Islamic funds seek socially responsible roadmap
     

    The Islamic investment sector can widen its customer base by adopting a socially responsible model, according to industry experts, but distribution channels, a sophisticated investor base and incentive schemes need to be enhanced first. The links between Islamic finance and socially responsible investments (SRI) are not new, but the former needs a similar transformation which […]

     
  • Changing patterns in U.S. crude imports
     

    U.S. crude oil import patterns have been undergoing significant shifts in recent months. While growing domestic tight oil production from the Bakken formation in North Dakota and elsewhere has helped displace imports from some countries, U.S. import volumes from the Canadian oil sands and Saudi Arabia have been on the rise. In total, U.S. crude […]

     
  • At the SACM Career Fair in Washington, Saudi Arabia’s Brightest Are Met With Opportunities (PHOTOS)
     

    Across the United States, around the end of the month of May every year, graduating students from high schools and universities join with families and friends to celebrate their achievements in

     
  • Saudi Satire Ignites YouTube’s Massive Growth in Middle East
     

    Fahad Albutairi never expected a career in broadcast or comedy, and he certainly didn’t expect to emerge as a YouTube star known to millions. Albutairi is the co-founder and star of the La Yekthar Show, a small cadre of YouTube shows shot in Saudi Arabia that have become wildly popular in the last year. His […]

     
  • Saudi female entrepreneurs exploit changing attitudes
     

    In Saudi Arabia, a small but determined number of women are overcoming obstacles to build their own thriving businesses. Social constraints in the conservative Kingdom have not stopped women from amassing substantial individual wealth. An estimated $11.9 billion is held by women primarily in bonds and bank accounts, according to asset managers Al Masah Capital. […]

     
  • Saudi Arabian Airlines Officially Becomes ‘Saudia’, Embraces Privatization
     

    Saudi Arabian Airlines has today been formally renamed Saudia and has become a full member of the SkyTeam alliance while at the same time confirming the first stage of the long-awaited privatisation will go ahead in the next month.

     
  • Saudi construction sector ‘most buoyant globally’
     

    Massive construction projects in the GCC, particularly around social and transport infrastructure, will offer tremendous opportunities valued at up to $500 billion for contractors, Deloitte Middle East’s annual report “GCC Powers of Construction: Five Lessons to Learn From” released Wednesday said. The Deloitte report showed that there is imminent growth in the Saudi Arabian construction […]

     
  • IMAX ARABIA 3D Now Available for Mass Consumption on Netflix Streaming
     

    IMAX ARABIA 3D, the film directed by Hamzah Jamjoom, is now available to watch at any time on Netflix’s instant streaming option for the first time.

     
  • Saudi Budget Needs Less Than $80/Bbl To Be Balanced
     

    Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia would still be able to balance its budget even if oil prices fall to less than $80 per barrel, Al Arabiya television reported Tuesday, citing the kingdom’s finance minister, Ibrahim Al-Assaf. “As you know the oil revenues are affected by two factors; price and production…the price that leads to a […]

     
  • The Gulf Military Balance in 2012
     

    The Burke Chair at CSIS is issuing a new report called the Gulf Military Balance in 2012. The report shows that the Gulf military balance is dominated by five major groups of military forces: the Southern Gulf states, Iran, Iraq, outside powers like the US, and non-state actors like the various elements of Al Qa’ida, the […]

     

MUST-READS

  • A Shifting Tone on Palestinian Statehood

    The US, by far the most important country when it comes to swaying Israel, says it hasn’t shifted its official stance regarding an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza. But its calls for one to be created eventually are getting louder. For now, Israel isn’t listening as it continues with its campaign to destroy Hamas and ensure Oct. 7 is never repeated. But the pressure is mounting, including from its closest supporters.

  • OECD raises global growth outlook on US strength

    The global economy is on course to hold up better this year than expected only a few months ago as an improved outlook in the United States offsets euro zone weakness, the OECD said on Monday. World economic growth is expected to ease from 3.1% in 2023 to 2.9% this year, better than the 2.7% expected in November in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's last outlook. In an update of its forecasts for major economies, the Paris-based OECD left its 2025 global estimate unchanged at 3.0%, when growth is expected to be boosted by major central banks rate cuts as inflation pressures subside.

  • Saudi GAMI Signs 11 Agreements with Global Military Defense Industry Companies

    Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih and Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Eng. Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali witnessed on Monday the signing ceremonies of 11 cooperation agreements and several joint memoranda of understanding with various international companies specialized in military and defense industries. The ceremonies took place on the sidelines of the World Defense Show, which is being held in Riyadh from February 4 to 8. The agreements focus on building the capacity of vital fields. They entail, among others, transfer and localization of technology, establishment of local production lines, and training and developing national talent in these fields. These agreements and MoUs contribute to the strategic objectives of the Kingdom's military industries, such as localizing defense manufacturing, improving military readiness, enhancing industrial participation, and creating investment opportunities that support the Vision 2030 goal of localizing 50% of military equipment and services spending by 2030.

  • Prince Khalid bin Salman launches locally assembled new Hawk jet

    On the occasion of the rolling out of the latest jet Hawk aircraft assembled in Saudi Arabia, the minister said on his X account: “I was pleased to inaugurate the latest advanced jet aircraft, the Hawk T-165, which was assembled totally in the Kingdom by the Saudi hands, and to honor those working on it. This achievement reflects the extension of the successes of the vision of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in transferring and localizing technology in the military industries sector.”

  • Big Oil’s Optimism Faces Reality Check in Tech-Obsessed Stock Market

    Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. are generating returns not seen since their heyday over a decade ago, with $58.7 billion handed to shareholders last year and more to come in 2024, even if crude prices drop. And yet, they’re struggling to compete in a stock market beholden to Silicon Valley. Chevron hit record production in 2023 while buying back 5% of its stock and forecasts oil and gas growth of as much as 7% this year, led by low-cost barrels from the Permian Basin. It was rewarded with a 3% bump in its shares Friday, slightly better than Shell Plc’s gain a day earlier. Exxon, which is gushing cash from the fast-growing oil discovery in Guyana, fell 0.4%.

  • View of historic and cultural district of Al-Balad in western coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    This photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows a view of the historic and cultural district of Al-Balad in the western coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Al-Balad is famous for its colorful architecture.

  • Sah bonds: All you need to know about Saudi Arabia’s first dedicated savings product for individuals

    Saudi Arabia has launched the subscription to its first savings product dedicated to individuals – Sah –  with a yield reaching 5.64 percent on the first issuance. Registration for the Islamic-compliant bond, issued by the Ministry of Finance, started on Sunday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m. and will end on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 3 p.m. The Sah bonds are organized by the National Debt Management Center and designed as a savings product for individuals, offering attractive returns.  The bonds are offered monthly according to the issuance schedule, with a one-year savings period, fixed returns, and profits disbursed at the end of the bond’s maturity date.

  • What next for Saudi Arabia’s football vision as big ambitions meet player discontent?

    There is ambition in Saudi to bring more players in but across the league there have been complaints about standards in the game’s infrastructure there, be it the training grounds or the support staff. “They are realising that they have to start investing in facilities, physios and nutritionists to professionalise everything,” said an agent — who like others in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships — of a player in the Saudi Pro League. “The day-to-day care and attention to detail of the high-level athletes in Europe is much higher and more serious than in Saudi Arabia,” another agent of a player in Saudi said. “They are more laidback and relaxed, and that has led to significant discontent in the leading European players.”

  • Defense Ministers From Saudi-Led Counterterrorism Coalition Meet In Riyadh

    The second meeting of defense ministers from the member states of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition took place in Riyadh on Saturday. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who also serves as chairman of the coalition’s Council of Defense Ministers, inaugurated the meeting. Under the theme “Combating Terrorism: A Shared Responsibility,” the talks were attended by 42 IMCTC member states as well as three supporting countries.

  • Saudi Arabia sees 54% rise in industrial license approvals 

    The Saudi manufacturing sector continues to strengthen, with the Kingdom issuing 122 industrial licenses in December 2023, up from 79 in the same month the previous year.   The non-metallic minerals and non-ferrous metal manufacturing sector secured 18 permits from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, with the food manufacturing sector following closely with 15, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.  The chemicals manufacturing sector received 11 licenses, while the rubber and plastics production industry obtained 10 approvals, stated the SPA report.   It further noted that from the beginning of 2023 until the end of December, the ministry issued a total of 1,379 industrial licenses.