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  • Why Trump’s proposal on Gaza is ringing alarm bells in the region

    President Donald Trump's plan for the United States to take over the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and develop it economically touches on one the most sensitive issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Trump's plans are likely to heighten fears among Palestinians in Gaza, which had a pre-war population of around 2.3 million, of being driven out of the coastal strip, and stoke concern in Arab states that have long worried about the destabilising impact of any such exodus. Palestinians have long been haunted by what they call the "Nakba", or catastrophe, when 700,000 of them were dispossessed from their homes during the war that surrounded the creation of Israel in 1948.

  • Jordan ready for war with Israel if Palestinians are expelled into its territory

    Jordan is ready to declare war on Israel in the event that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to forcibly expel Palestinians into its territory, Middle East Eye understands. The warning comes in the wake of repeated statements from US President Donald Trump that he would like to see Jordan and Egypt take in Palestinians as part of a move to "clean out" the Gaza Strip. Well-placed sources in Amman and Jerusalem told MEE that the last thing Jordan wants is war and it is eager for a peaceful solution. But they are adamant that the Jordanians will close the border if refugees begin to cross into the country. If the Israelis seek to re-open it, that would be "a casus belli," one source said.  The Jordanians are under no illusion they could win a war with Israel, but believe they would have no choice but to fight.

  • Syria: Manbij car bomb attack suspends SDF-Damascus talks

    A deadly car bomb attack near northern Syria’s Manbij has suspended negotiations between the Damascus interim government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), two sources familiar with the issue told Middle East Eye. The attack on Monday killed at least 20 people, most of them women working in agricultural fields. The area was captured from the SDF by Turkey-backed armed groups in the Syrian National Army (SNA) coalition in December. Fighting has been ongoing between the factions around the Tishreen Dam to the east. There have been seven car bombings in and around Manbij since December. No one has claimed responsibility.

  • Saudi Arabia contradicts Trump, vows no ties with Israel without creation of Palestinian state

    Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the country rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their homeland, stressing that its position on the Palestinians is not up to negotiation. The statement noted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has affirmed the kingdom's position in "a clear and explicit manner" that does not make other interpretations possible under any circumstances.

  • Saudi Arabia reaffirms unwavering stance on Palestinian state, rejects any political bargaining

    In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the Kingdom's commitment to Palestinian statehood is deeply rooted and unshakable. "This firm stance was explicitly affirmed by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman during his address at the opening of the first year of the ninth session of the Shoura Council on September 18, 2024. In his speech, the Crown Prince made it clear that Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is established, with East Jerusalem as its capital." Saudi Arabia also firmly rejected any actions that undermine Palestinian rights, including Israeli settlement expansion, land annexation, and any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland. The Kingdom called on the international community to take decisive action to alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions faced by the Palestinian people, who continue to stand resilient in defense of their land and rights.

  • Saudi crown prince holds telephone call with UAE president

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman phoned the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on Tuesday. During the call, the two leaders reviewed relations between their countries and areas of existing cooperation and opportunities for developing them, Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Mohammed and Sheikh Mohamed also discussed the latest regional and international developments and efforts made toward them to achieve security and stability.

  • 3 ways Gulf economies are tackling the global talent shortage

    Ageing populations and demographic shifts are reducing the pool of skilled workers, even as rapid technological advancements outpace workforce skills. Fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science and cybersecurity face surging demands but are struggling to find qualified candidates for these roles. While not immune, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies are turning this challenge into an opportunity, adopting a three-pronged strategy to drive sustainable growth in the Middle East.

  • Distinguishing Myth From Reality: Saudi Arabia’s Trade and Investment With the United States

    Verifying the numbers quoted by Trump, Al-Jadaan, and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is not easy. Definitions are not always clear, data on Saudi investment in the United States is not comprehensive, and there are errors and omissions in the Saudi balance of payments data that could mean its imports are underrecorded. With these constraints in mind, the following is a best effort at pulling together the relevant information on U.S.-Saudi trade and investment relations to see which numbers stand up to scrutiny and which do not.

  • Saudi Arabia champions youth as it drives talent development to fuel Vision 2030

    Figures from the General Authority for Statistics released in 2023 show that 63 percent of the Kingdom’s population is under 30 years old, and the government and private sector are working hand-in-hand to shape the coming era. “Digital literacy is essential, as technological advancements require the younger generation to not only be proficient in the latest advancements but also drive innovation in areas like AI and data analytics,” Riyadh Al-Najjar, PwC Middle East chairman and Saudi Arabia country senior partner, told Arab News.  He added: “An entrepreneurial mindset is equally important, as the success of Vision 2030 relies on growing the private sector. Young people need to be able to spot opportunities, think critically, and solve problems that add value to the economy.”

  • Saudi-PIF backed Umm Al Qura moves ahead with IPO to support $26bn Masar project in Makkah

    The IPO proceeds are to be deployed for funding the infrastructure, land settlements, and development of the MASAR Destination, a major Makkah redevelopment project valued at $26.66 billion (SAR 100 billion). The company said it plans to offer 130.8 million new shares, or 9.09 per cent of its post-increase capital, Reuters reported. Spanning 1.2 million square meters, MASAR aims to enhance Makkah’s infrastructure with hotels, residential units, retail spaces, and cultural centres, according to its website. The Saudi Exchange granted conditional approval on December 8, 2024, while the Capital Market Authority (CMA) approved the company’s IPO on December 24, 2024, allowing it to raise funds for land settlements, infrastructure, and project expansion.