“We started on the project in Saudi Arabia and our green hydrogen projects in 2017, our project is going to come on stream in 2027, so it’s taken 10 years. It’s a long process.” Seifi Ghasemi, CEO, Air Products, Air Products in talks for more NEOM offtake [Gas World]
“Screen growth in the Middle East has overtaken the rest of the world, with approximately 1,000 new screens added since 2019. By the close of 2024, the region is expected to reach nearly 2,500 screens, reflecting the rising demand for cinematic experiences across MENA, driven primarily by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is set to lead the MENA region in screen count by year-end, reaching 803 screens, followed by the UAE with 734.” Omdia Forecast: MENA cinema poised for growth projected to reach $1.5 billion and video streaming to $2.9 billion in 2029 [Satnews]
“China is the largest source of outbound tourists globally, home to over 400 million individuals with substantial disposable income. According to Skift reporting, Chinese travelers took 155 million trips abroad in 2019, spending nearly $255 billion — 14 percent of global tourism revenue. The total number of outbound trips from China is expected to exceed 365 million by 2030.” Saudi Arabia Eyes Major Slice of China’s Tourism Market [Skift]
“Millions of students are currently enjoying a vacation at the end of the first semester, which runs through November 17. The holiday, which began on Thursday, has given a significant boost to the hotel business in Riyadh, where an annual entertainment and tourist festival is underway. Room costs have reached SR7,000 per night, especially at five-star hotels in central Riyadh, according to the Saudi news portal Sabq, citing booking websites. Occupancy rates at some central Riyadh hotels and those near the airport have reached 100%, while overall citywide occupancy is at 76%.” School break sets price records for Riyadh hotels [Gulf News]
“The Kingdom’s women workforce is expanding in unprecedented ways. According to the Ministry of Finance, female labor participation has reached 35%—well above the original Vision 2030 target of 30%. This marks a stark economic shift. Yet, despite this progress, deep-rooted structural barriers and societal resistance persist. Female inclusion is still largely concentrated in caregiving and education—sectors prioritized by nationalization policies—which restricts their wider economic involvement. Going forward, the key question is whether Saudi Arabia can overcome these social hurdles while sustaining its rapid economic momentum.” Sumaiya Al-Wahaibi, Saudi women at work: progress and obstacles [Amwaj]
“As things stand today, there are hardly any major customers who buy green hydrogen. That’s why we have to step on the brakes a little.” Michael Lewis, CEO of German utility Uniper, Saudi Arabia Bets $10B on Green Hydrogen [Oilprice.com]
“Project Transcendence would aim to team up with large, established tech companies, with the Saudis offering help with infrastructure and capital. Ultimately, the amount invested could be $50 billion to $100 billion.” Saudis Plan $100 Billion AI Powerhouse to Rival UAE Tech Hub [Yahoo]
“Year-to-date, Aramco has paid dividends of $93.2 billion, financed by taking on debt as its free cashflow amounted to just $63.7 billion during the same period. Put simply, Aramco has burned through more than $100 million a day – a day – to finance its distribution to shareholders. Even the fortress-like balance sheet of the Saudi company cannot sustain that for ever.” Javier Blas, Opinion: Saudi Aramco Is Burning Cash – It Needs to Stop [Bloomberg]
“This [conference of the parties to the UN convention on combating desertification to be held in Riyadh in December] is about land degradation, land preservation and drought. It’s very important for water security, food security, biodiversity, and human community. We need to go back to basics and remind the world of this connection we all have with the land. Desertification tells us that we have not exercised good land management.” Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, Degradation of land is threat to human life, Saudi government says, [The Guardian]
“We love this partnership here. You know, when we first started here, I think fans were excited, but they didn’t know what to necessarily expect. And over that time, I’ve seen that change exponentially. We had the first women’s match here in Saudi Arabia. It went from us asking, “Can we bring women here” to them being on billboards all over the city, to the GEA [General Entertainment Authority] and His Excellency calling us and saying, “I don’t feel like there’s enough women on this show. Can we have more women put into the show?” WWE wrestler, Triple H, Saudi Arabia Demanded WWE Add More Women To Show [TJR Wrestling]
