“After turning down opportunities to go to the Middle East for many years, I’m excited to go play and see a place in the world I’ve never been…I understand those who are upset or disappointed. You’ll be OK. I’m excited to experience this for the first time.”
-Phil Mickleson, professional golfer, on his decision to play in the upcoming Saudi International golf tournament. The tournament will run from 30th January – 2nd February at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City. [GolfDigest.com]
“The Saudi G20 Presidency is committed to continuing the work from Osaka and promoting multilateral consensus. Working with our G20 partners, we will strive to deliver concrete actions and realize opportunities to enable us to face the challenges of the future.”
–Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a press release announcing that Saudi Arabia had officially assumed the G20 presidency. [Press Release]
“I congratulate my brother His Excellency Mr. Yasser Othman Al-Rumayyan… It’s an important step to prepare the company for the public offering, wishing him every success.”
–Khalid Al-Falih, on stepping aside as Saudi Aramco chairman to be replaced by Yasser Al-Rumayyan.
“Last week marked another historic day for Saudi women, giving them hope for a brighter future for them and their daughters…Next time I travel abroad, I will not have to worry about the travel permission being updated in the Saudi Passport Directorate’s records or at the Saudi borders. I will pack my suitcase knowing that presenting my green passport, as an adult with full Saudi citizenship, will be sufficient…As a Saudi woman, it is exciting to witness a new era of rapid changes that will be referred to in the future as the time when Saudi Arabia started to open up to accepting women as equal partners to men.”
Lulwa Shalhoub, a resident of Jeddah, writes how the change in guardianship laws in Saudi Arabia will affect her life and in an op-ed. [BBC]
“We confirm that we will continue to hold such meetings and talks between our two countries to ensure further progress, partnership, investment development and mutual trade.”
-Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry, and Natural Resources, on talks with Russia during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Alexander Novak. [Reuters]
