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  • Passenger traffic at Saudi airports rise to 94M in 9M 2024

    The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said that Saudi Arabia’s airports received 94 million passengers in the first nine months of 2024, a rise of 15% year-on-year (YoY). GACA said the number of flights increased by 10% YoY, while the volume of air freight rose by 52% YoY.

  • Saudi Arabia to maintain crude oil output at 12.3M bpd: Energy Minister

    Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said today, Oct. 29, that Saudi Arabia is committed to maintaining crude oil production capacity at 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd). Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, the minister added that the Kingdom continues to strengthen and modernize renewable energy transmission lines. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia is ready to export green hydrogen, while ensuring its availability for investors coming to the Kingdom to invest in hard-to-abate sectors.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Nabt raises $1.5 million Seed led by Merak Capital

    This funding will enable Nabt to accelerate product development and expand its market reach, supporting efforts to transform Saudi Arabia’s fresh produce ecosystem. Founded in 2022, Nabt operates a B2B marketplace connecting farmers directly with businesses, promoting transparency, efficiency, and sustainability. These initiatives contribute to food security in the Kingdom and align with the objectives of achieving self-sufficiency in food production.

  • Saudi: Herfy Food swings to losses in 9M-24; revenues down

    Herfy Food Services Company shifted to net losses valued at SAR 56.61 million in the first nine months (9M) of 2024, compared to net profits worth SAR 2.76 million in 9M-23. Revenues stood at SAR 868.81 million in 9M-24, down 0.86% year-on-year (YoY) from SAR 876.38 million, according to the interim financial statements. The loss per share hit SAR 0.88 during January-September 2024, versus an earnings per share (EPS) of SAR 0.04 in 9M-23.

  • Saudi insurance spending per capita up 30% to SAR 2,034 in 2023

    Per capita spending on insurance in Saudi Arabia grew 30% to SAR 2,034 by the end of 2023, compared to SAR 1,564 a year earlier, data from the Insurance Authority (IA) showed. The per capita insurance spending is defined as the gross written premiums (GWPs) during the year divided by population number. Health insurance accounted for 59% of total per capita spending in the sector last year, followed by general insurance with 37%, as well as protection and savings insurance with 4%.

  • How would a President Harris deal with Saudi Arabia?

    As president, Harris would have to accept that close ties with Riyadh are necessary. There is already a draft bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia that includes security guarantees and cooperation on civilian nuclear power. While the vice president is campaigning, improbably, as the candidate of change, she should pick up the threads of Biden’s existing policy on Saudi Arabia.

  • NASCAR linked with possible race in Saudi Arabia toward end of decade

    NASCAR was listed with a caveat that it was one of the parties having discussions as opposed to having a firm deal. NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell and Exec VP and Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer Ben Kennedy both told SBJ in separate interviews in ’23 that the Middle East was one of the regions they were exploring for potential events, alongside Europe, South America and Asia.

  • Amjad Iraqi: The Future of Palestinians in Israel

    Amjad Iraqi: It's definitely been quite a complex experience. I think first of all, Gaza's not just sort of an imaginary construct for Palestinian citizens. There are very real family connections, community connections, and Palestinian history. Gaza is, and has always been, very much the center of Palestinian identity and politics and culture. And so, to experience it in this moment whereby you're seeing Gaza decimated in the way that it's been, I think has been very profoundly shocking to Palestinian citizens as much as it has to other Palestinians.

  • Cruise Saudi expanding to 10 destinations along Red Sea coast, 3 new ports underway

    Currently operational ports include Jeddah, Yanbu, and Dammam, which have already facilitated visits from hundreds of thousands of international tourists. Among the new developments is AlWajh, which Clasen revealed will serve as a gateway to AlUla, plus a private island and beach location exclusively for cruise passengers.

  • Saudi Arabia Turns to Debt Markets for Vision 2030 Financing

    According to Saudi Arabia’s National Debt Management Center, the kingdom’s total debt stood at some $308.7 billion at the end of September. Of this total, $183.7 billion was domestic debt, and the remaining $125 billion was foreign debt. Compared to U.S. debt, this is nothing. But compared to 2019 debt levels, it is a palpable increase: in 2019, Saudi debt stood at $180.8 billion.