Recent stories from sustg

  • Oil Notches Third Straight Week of Gains, but Global Economy Fears Still Weigh on Prices
     

    Concerns that a looming economic slowdown might soon impact fuel consumption around the world are weighing down oil prices after Saudi Arabia and the OPEC+ group of oil producing nations have successfully reversed a downward trend for oil since the start of 2019. Brent hit a four-month high of $68.69 per barrel on Thursday, up from $51 […]

     
  • Senate Passes Joint Resolution to End U.S. Military Support for Saudi-Led Coalition in Yemen
     

    The U.S. Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to end American support for the Saudi-led, U.N.-backed coalition in Yemen, issuing a challenge to President Donald Trump to use his first veto of his Presidency. The bill, entitled “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not […]

     
  • Large Quantities of Natural Gas Discovered in Red Sea, Al-Falih Says
     

    Large quantities of gas have been discovered in the Red Sea, the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing comments made by Minister of Energy Khalid Al-Falih. Al-Falih said that Saudi Aramco will intensify exploration work over the next two years after completion of a feasibility study. Falih also said Saudi Aramco was studying possible Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project […]

     
  • Latest Economic Data Shows Continued Improvement in Saudi Economy, Jadwa Investment Says
     

    Latest economic data from Jadwa Investment’s March 2019 economic chartbook shows more positive signs for the Saudi economy. Economic data reviewed by Jadwa for the month of January showed improvements for the economy, including a 32 percent rise in POS transactions, and a rise in non-oil PMI to its highest level since December 2017, the Riyadh-based bank said. […]

     
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives in China
     

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in China on Thursday, the third stop of his tour of Asian nations that started with visits to Pakistan and India. The Crown Prince is slated to meet Chinese President Xi Jin Ping during the official visit. China is Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, ahead of the United States. At […]

     
  • Looking East, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Arrives in Pakistan
     

    Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for the start of a tour of several Asian nations as the Kingdom looks eastward to strengthen trade relationships and business opportunities. As is usually the case for the highest Saudi royal leaders on state visits, the Crown Prince traveled with a sizable entourage […]

     
  • Once Taboo, Valentines Day is Celebrated in Saudi Arabia
     

    Before 2018 in Saudi Arabia, Valentines Day was “an old tradition kept in the dark” and not openly celebrated by Saudis, instead being secretly observed by citizens in the privacy of their homes. Then, last year, Sheikh Ahmed Qasim Al-Ghamdi, former president of the Saudi “religious police” or Ha’ia, endorsed Valentine’s Day celebrations for the first time in […]

     
  • December Economic Data Shows Slight Cooling but Non-Oil Exports Grow, Jadwa Says
     

    The latest monthly economic chartbook released by Jadwa Investment found a cooling in some key economic data points, although the Saudi stock market soared by 10% in January as oil prices rose. The Riyadh-based Jadwa’s report found that POS rose by 10 percent while cash withdrawals were flat, and non-oil PMI index was marginally down […]

     
  • Saudi Media Powerhouse SRMG Launches Independent Arabia
     

    The Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) and the UK online publisher The Independent have launched a new digital news site, IndependentArabia.com. SRMG announced the appointment of Saudi journalist and political analyst Adhwan al-Ahmary as editor-in-chief of the online platform, while the new service will be staffed by a team of experienced journalists from Saudi Arabia […]

     
  • Saudi Oil Reserves Are Even Bigger than Previously Estimated
     

    An independent audit of Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves found that the Kingdom has more oil than previously estimated, according to reports and an official statement from the government of Saudi Arabia. The audit, conducted by Houston-based petroleum consultants DeGolyer & MacNaughton, had concluded that Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves total 268.5 billion barrels – over 2.2 […]

     

MUST-READS

  • Russia, Iran, China could stoke post-election violence, US intelligence officials say

    Russia, China and Iran are intent on fanning divisive narratives to divide Americans ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. elections and may consider fomenting violence after voters go to the polls, U.S. intelligence officials said on Tuesday. The officials, briefing reporters on U.S. election security, said foreign actors could consider physical threats and violence, and are highly likely to conduct disinformation operations to create uncertainty and undermine the election process.

  • Identifying key issues in Saudi commercial sector for regulatory review: Report

    Private companies and institutions in Saudi Arabia are actively compiling a list of challenges facing the commercial sector, along with proposed solutions, in preparation for submission to the relevant authorities, Asharq Al-Awsat reported. The newspaper noted that the National Commercial Committee within the Federation of Saudi Chambers urged its member companies and institutions to participate in identifying challenges related to the commercial sector and to propose solutions for review before presenting them to the authorities concerned. These challenges will be submitted to various entities, including the ministries of Commerce, Human Resources and Social Development, Finance, and Municipalities and Housing, as well as the General Directorate of Civil Defense.

  • Saudi Arabia’s 3.7 GW solar tender attracts lowest bid of $0.0129/kWh

    Saudi Power Procurement Co. (SPPC) announced this week the shortlisted bidders for the final phase of the fifth round of the Saudi Arabian government's National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).  For the 2000 MW Al-Sadawi Solar PV IPP Project, the shortlisted bidders are a consortium comprising UAE-based Masdar and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), which offered a price of $0.0129/kWh, and a consortium formed by China-based SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Co., Ltd. and France-based EDF Renouvelables, which submitted a price of $0.0131/kWh.

  • Saudi Arabia pumps funding into startups as it vies for Mena No 1

    The VC market across the Middle East and North Africa raised $1.3 billion from January to September 2024 – and Saudi Arabia “led the region”, said startup analyst Magnitt. The kingdom secured “39 percent of Mena’s total funding” and activity was driven by $100 million-plus “deals like SallaApp’s $130 million round” in March, according to Magnitt’s Q3 report. The UAE was the region’s “most active market”, Magnitt added, “with a 12 percent increase in deal volume, accounting for 38 percent of all deals”

  • Saudi Arabian economic growth to accelerate in 2025 as oil taps open

    Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of crude oil, is reportedly preparing to abandon its unofficial target of reaching $100 per barrel. This will allow the kingdom to reverse past production cuts and increase market share, which along with non-oil revenue growth, will help drive faster economic growth. The Oct. 9-22 Reuters poll of 21 economists forecast the Saudi economy would expand 4.4% in 2025, the fastest in three years, and up from an expected 1.3% this year.

  • Saudi crown prince, Iraqi prime minister discuss regional crises during phone call

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on the phone with Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported. During the call, they reviewed relations between the two countries and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields. They also discussed the latest developments in the region and the efforts made to prevent the deterioration of the situation in Palestine and Lebanon, as well as how to spare the region from the risks of escalation.

  • Seven GCC IPOs raise $1.7 billion in Q3 2024, UAE leads growth with $1.1 billion

    Markaz’s report also revealed that the UAE led the GCC region in terms of IPO proceeds in Q3, raising a total of $1.1 billion from one offering. This constituted 69 percent of total GCC IPO proceeds during the quarter. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s IPO proceeds reached $512 million during the quarter with six offerings constituting 31 percent of total GCC IPO proceeds during the quarter.

  • BRICS summit 2024 to begin on Tuesday: All you need to know

    The original BRICS members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—will be joined by the newly admitted members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. However, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will participate virtually due to a recent injury, adding an interesting dynamic to the proceedings.

  • Saudi Minister of Finance Heads Kingdom’s Delegation to 2024 IMF-WBG Annual Meetings & 4th G20 FMCBG Meeting

    The Saudi Delegation will also include His Excellency the Governor of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Mr. Ayman Alsayari; His Excellency the Saudi Vice Minister of Finance, Mr. Abdulmuhsen Alkhalaf; the Deputy Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Mr. Khalid Bawazier; the Deputy Chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), Dr. Ryadh Alkhareif; and a number of specialists from the Saudi Ministry of Finance, SAMA, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), and the National Debt Management Center (NDMC).

  • Two Falcons Sold for SAR191,000 at Third Night of Saudi Falcons Club Auction 2024

    The Saudi Falcons Club Auction 2024, held at the club's headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh, continues until November 15. On the third night, two Shaheen falcons were sold for a total of SAR191,000. The first falcon, Tarh Al-Faw Hafr Al-Batin, presented by falconer Omar Al-Enezi, sold for SAR41,000. The second falcon, Tarh Al-Leith, presented by falconer Ibrahim Al-Ayyaf, began with a starting price of SAR50,000, generating intense competition before ultimately selling for SAR150,000.