MUST-READS

• Saudi Crown Prince discusses regional stability with Iraqi prime minister

  Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, received a phone call from the Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, discussing recent military escalations in the region and their implications on security and stability, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.

  The call came following Iran’s strike on Israel that caused tension worldwide.

• Commentary: GCC-EU ties are improving, but obstacles remain

  Europe has underlined its determination to play a stronger role in regional security by contributing to the deescalation of tensions in the wider Middle East, among other things. An example of this was the participation of 19 EU member states in the recent Aspides naval operation to help safeguard shipping in the Red Sea.

• GCC consulting market set to cross $6bn this year, shows report

  In a landscape where economic growth has waned in major global hubs with reports of top consulting firms laying off staff globally, the consulting market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is bucking the trend. According to the latest report by Source Global Research, the GCC consulting market witnessed 13.2 per cent growth in 2023, surpassing the $5bn mark for the first time.

• U.S. urges restraint as Israel braces for possible Iran retaliation

  The United States assesses that we are in a window where an Iranian response to an April 1st Israeli strike that killed seven IRGC officials at an Iranian facility in Damascus, Syria, could happen possibly anytime between now to next week. The United States has been talking to several countries that have a relationship with Iran asking them to send Iran a message urging restraint, and also speaking with the Israelis urging them not to overreact.

• Golan Heights ‘prime target’ as Israel warns Iran against attack

  Iran’s warning that Israel faces “punishment” over its suspected killing of senior Iranian commanders in Syria has triggered a clear Israeli response: any operation launched from Iran will be met with action inside Iran. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has reiterated his “ironclad” support for Israel as Washington is reportedly pushing Arab states to urge Iran to de-escalate tensions.

• Green oasis emerges in the Saudi desert after heavy rains.

  Parts of Saudi Arabia’s vast desert landscape near the holy cities of Mecca and Medina have undergone a remarkable transformation following the recent heavy rains. The once barren and parched terrain has burst into vibrant shades of green, as an abundance of water has breathed new life into the arid landscape.

• Take a closer look at the plans for the main regions of Neom, Saudi’s epic megacity project

  Saudi wants its Vision 2030 projects to boost residency, provide better opportunities, and help the nation diversify beyond fossil fuels — but it remains to be seen whether expectations will match up with reality.

• Miss Universe organization disputes reports of Saudi Arabia’s participation in 2024 pageant

  The Miss Universe Organization is disputing a flurry of what it calls “false and misleading” reports of Saudi Arabia’s participation in its 2024 pageant — news that, were it true, would have marked the Middle Eastern country’s debut. “No selection process has been conducted in Saudi Arabia, and any such claims are false and misleading,” the pageant said in a statement provided to CNN and released on its official website.

• Electronic security supports e-commerce growth in KSA: American Express

  The regulation of e-commerce and the strong electronic security pushed the e-commerce growth rate higher in Saudi Arabia, Al Eqtisadiah newspaper reported, citing Fahad Al Guthami, CEO of American Express Saudi Arabia. He added that the company recorded a 62% rise in local e-commerce sales during 2023, noting that the number of e-commerce transactions also leapt by 41% during the same year. Digital transformation opened the way for medium and small-sized enterprises as well as emerging companies to keep pace with this development, Al Guthami said.

• The benefits of neutrality: Saudi foreign policy in the wake of the Ukraine war

  Regardless of its voting behaviour at the UN, the Kingdom – which, unlike other Middle East states, was less dependent on wheat imports from the Black Sea region (Al-Saidi, 2023) – settled on the adoption of a neutral position. Only in May 2023 would Minister of Foreign Affairs Faysal bin Farhan officially acknowledge that stance, holding that Saudi Arabia had adopted ‘positive neutrality’ during the war (Al Arabiya, 2023).

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