“Over 15 cities across Saudi Arabia are gearing up for grand celebrations marking Saudi Founding Day, with events scheduled from February 20 to 23. The Memory of the Land event, taking place across multiple cities from February 21 to 23, will spotlight the history of the first Saudi state. Spectacular light shows will also be part of the celebrations. Drone displays will illuminate the skies of various cities on February 22, while artistic fireworks will be launched in 15 cities.” Saudi Founding Day celebrations set to light up 15 cities with cultural and artistic events [Saudi Gazette]
“To reconstruct a Palestinian state, yes. To reconstruct a territory that the Israelis might destroy again in a matter of years, I don’t think that would be a sensible thing to do.” Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK, Reconstruction and rivalries: What to expect from Saudi Arabia’s Gaza summit [Middle East Eye]
“The number of tourists who visited the GCC in 2023 accounted for nearly 52.9 percent of the 128.7 million targeted in 2030. They spent a total $110 billion during that year…the figure accounts for nearly 58.7 percent of the $188 billion targeted in 2030.” Abdullah Al Rubai, Head of the GCC’s Human and Environmental Affairs Sector, GCC aims for $188bln tourism income in 2030 [Zawya]
“As Saudi Arabia makes a play for the diplomatic mainstage, Prince Mohammed is motivated to be proactive rather than reactive, to counsel pragmatism rather than rigidity,” Laura Blumenfeld, senior fellow and Middle East analyst at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, Saudi prince proving crucial to Trump efforts to end Ukraine, Gaza wars [VOA]
“At Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, the talks began without visible handshakes, and no statements were made. A stern-faced US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat across from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff by his side. Lavrov was accompanied by senior Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban also attended.” US-Russia hold talks in Riyadh without Ukraine [Le Monde]
“The outlook for initial public offerings in the Middle East and North Africa region remains positive in 2025, with Saudi Arabia leading the market with 27 potential listings.” Saudi Arabia to lead region’s initial public offerings in 2025 — EY [Arab News]
“We can’t travel directly from Riyadh to Tokyo, to Shanghai, to Seoul, to Sydney — the list goes on and on. The number one premium passenger for Qatar Airways — business and first class — is Saudi passport holders. Number three on Emirates? Saudi passport holders…Why? Because there is no direct connectivity from Riyadh. Haram. Haram. Haram.” Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, ‘Haram. Haram. Haram!’ — Riyadh Air CEO slams lack of direct flights from Saudi Arabia to major global cities [Saudi Gazette]
“People always have pity on orphans, and if they want to help them, they usually do so by giving them food and water only. But there’s little education. Through a study, I found that orphans are less educated, so I wanted to pay attention to them.” Mansour Al-Mansour, a teacher at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi School in al-Ahsa, Saudi educator known for charity and prisoner work wins $1 million Global Teacher Prize [AP]
“Rather like our weather, it’s a dry country. Everyone has their own culture, and we’re happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture, but we don’t want to change our culture for someone else, OK? And I mean, really, you can’t live without a drink?” Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Saudi Arabian ambassador to the UK, Saudi ambassador tells World Cup fans: ‘You can have fun without alcohol’ [The Guardian]
“LEAP has evolved from a movement to a multiplier effect – but now is our defining moment. Technology has catalysed Saudi Arabia as the biggest success story in youth and female empowerment in the 21st Century, and we are laser-focused on continuing that success story. The intelligence age is here and, in partnership with you, we are going to take that leap together.” Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, How LEAP 2025 is Driving AI Investment Across Saudi Arabia [Technology Magazine]
