MUST-READS

• CERAWeek 2025: triumphalism, agnosticism, and a touch of fear

  CERAWeek, the annual gathering of the energy elite in Houston, Texas, is an intense crash course in the state of world oil and gas markets, geopolitics and all the technological paraphernalia that keeps the global economy turning. There is an unspoken rivalry between CERAWeek and Adipec – the autumn gathering in the UAE which also draws a global energy audience – but in the era of President Trump and American “energy dominance”, Houston is the place to be in 2025. It’s difficult to distil the sheer weight of information that’s been laid out before me over the past week of dawn-to-early-hours days and many conversations with energy leaders.

• Gulf digitalisation growth barely moving needle in productivity

  Improvements in the availability and quality of digital infrastructure and services have yet to impact productivity growth in the Gulf economies in any meaningful way, according to IMF officials, past and present. The digitalisation of government services – through online portals for administrative tasks or e-procurement platforms – as well as the advent of tele-health services, fintech and e-commerce, allowed the Gulf states to better address the challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. But improved productivity has proved more elusive, the officials said at a virtual event hosted this week by the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC. “How do we wrap those two together – huge benefits from digitalisation but still very weak productivity growth in the region?” said Tim Cullen, a former assistant director in the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia department. “Is that something that in the next stage of digitalisation we may see reversed?”

• Saudi Arabia launches loan guarantees for SMEs to stimulate investment in environmental projects

  Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley witnessed on Sunday the signing of an agreement between the Environment Fund and the Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Guarantee Program (Kafalah) to launch a loan guarantee product to support environmental projects in the Kingdom. The agreement seeks to provide guarantees for credit facilities provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), contributing to stimulating investment in the environmental sector. This agreement coincides with the launch of the Incentives and Grants Program Platform to support environmental projects in the Kingdom.

• Crown Prince launches Saudi Architecture Characters Map to celebrate Kingdom’s architectural heritage
  The Saudi Architecture Characters Map highlights 19 architectural styles inspired by geographical, natural and cultural characteristics, derived from urban and historical studies of building traditions passed down through generations. As chairman of the Supreme Committee for Saudi Architectural Design Guidelines, the Crown Prince emphasized that Saudi Architecture reflects the cultural and geographical diversity of the Kingdom. He further highlighted the importance of sustainable urban planning that harmonizes with the local environment while integrating traditional architectural elements into modern designs.

• Saudi Arabia unveils plans for Global T20 League with $500M investment

  Saudi Arabia is set to launch a groundbreaking global Twenty20 league, backed by its $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund. Spearheaded by Australian cricket figure Neil Maxwell, the ambitious project aims to transform the sport by introducing a traveling eight-team league modeled after tennis’s Grand Slams. Financed by Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments, the league is expected to host matches in four different locations throughout the year. Discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) are already underway, with sources indicating that Saudi Arabia is prepared to invest $500 million in the venture.

• Saudi Arabia launches crackdown on ‘immoral acts’ amid social reforms

  Saudi Arabia has arrested more than 50 people, including 11 women on prostitution charges, in a new crackdown on “immoral acts” amid ongoing social and economic transformations under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to a report by the FT, the Ministry of Interior’s newly established unit, tasked with tackling “community security and human trafficking,” has also detained dozens of foreigners for alleged offences in massage parlours and for forcing women and children into begging. This marks the first time in over a decade that authorities have publicly acknowledged the existence of prostitution in the kingdom.

• Inside the ‘camouflaged’ Desert Rock Resort: Saudi Red Sea destination draws global tourists at $3,200 per night
  Saudi Arabia‘s Red Sea Global’s newest ultra-luxury offering, Desert Rock Resort, has quickly established itself as a global draw since its December 15 opening, with its striking carved-into-mountain design capturing attention across social media platforms. The resort has attracted visitors from China, Eastern Europe and East Asia within its first three months of operation, despite premium pricing of SAR8,000-12,000 ($2,133-$3,200) per night. “Our first guest was a Chinese guest,” revealed Thomas Combescot, General Manager at Red Sea Global Hospitality. What distinguishes Desert Rock within Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding hospitality landscape is its architectural approach. Unlike most luxury resorts that showcase their presence, Desert Rock deliberately blends with its environment.

• Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media

  Saudi Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh called on imams and preachers to be sincere and avoid hypocrisy and showing off. He cited filming and posting prayers and preaching in mosques during the holy month of Ramadan on social media and channels as an example of incompatibility with sincerity. The Grand Mufti said this in a religious edict (fatwa) in response to a question about the decision taken by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to ban filming and posting prayers and lectures on social media. “This issue was a serious one before the decision of the ministry to ban filming and posting prayers and lectures on social media as part of the measures to ensure avoiding errors that may occur,” he said while noting that there is the issue of sincerity, which is a condition for the acceptance of any act of worship. “There are two conditions to accept any work. They are sincerity to God, and that the work is in accordance with the spirit of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah,” he said.

• Saudi Aramco Oil Sales to China Set to Fall Sharply in April

  Saudi Aramco is set to supply the lowest amount of oil to China in several months, even as the OPEC+ cartel gears up to boost output. The state-owned Saudi Arabian major will send 34 million to 36 million barrels of April-loading crude to customers in China, the world’s biggest importer, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That compares with 41 million for March, and a figure below 36 million would be the smallest since at least the first half of last year.

• Despite tough talk, economic woes may force Iran to bargain with Trump
  For Iran's clerical leaders, engaging with the "Great Satan" to hammer out a nuclear deal and ease crippling sanctions may for once be the lesser of two evils. Though it harbours deep mistrust of the United States, and President Donald Trump in particular, Tehran is increasingly concerned that mounting public anger over economic hardships could erupt into mass protests, four Iranian officials said. That's why, despite the unyielding stance and defiant rhetoric of Iran's clerical leaders in public, there is a pragmatic willingness within Tehran's corridors of power to strike a deal with Washington, the people said.

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