“Just once I wish they would show us doing something good… like baking a cookie or something…. I’ve been to Iran, we have cookies. Just once I want CNN to be like “now we’re gonna go to Muhammad in Iran.” They go to some guy like, “Hello I’m Muhammad and I’m just baking a cookie. I swear to God. No bombs, no flags, nothing. Back to you Bob”.” Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani, Beyond Chaos and Conflict, the Middle East is Also a Place of Beauty [Australian Institute of International Affairs]
“It’s a crowded market at the moment and there is a war for talent. Law firms have to hire Saudi nationals and there is a talent shortage. It is going to take time.” George Reilly, director at legal recruitment firm Wilkinson Partners, Why law firms are betting big on Saudi Arabia [Financial News]
“The country will require $640 billion in construction spending over the next five years based on the current pipeline of projects, according to data compiled by Dubai-based analysis firm MEED Projects. That suggests banks may need to come up with almost $384 billion over that period if they fund 60% of the pipeline, using a mix of more deposits and debt.” Christine Burke, Saudi Arabia banks embark on record bond binge for mega-projects [Bloomberg]
“The remittance of expatriates in Saudi Arabia fell 10.41 percent to SR9.33 billion during the last month of February from SR10.41 billion in the previous month. This showed the decline of foreign remittance by SR1.08 billion month-on-month basis, marking the lowest average monthly level in five years, according to a monitoring by Okaz/Saudi Gazette based on the statistical figures released by the competent authorities.” Expat remittance falls to its lowest level in 5 years [Saudi Gazette]
“I’ve been working with the Saudis and with all the other Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan and Qatar. They’re prepared to fully recognize Israel. There has to be a post-Gaza plan, and there has to be a trade to a two-state solution. It doesn’t have to occur today. It has to be a progression and I think we can do that.” U.S. President, Joe Biden, Biden Says Arab States Ready to Recognize Israel in Future Deal [Bloomberg]
“You can’t underestimate the emotional impact this has on people. It’s how we conceive ourselves as a society. … You are seeing a desire for people to want to self-identify and be reflected in data so they can tell their own stories.” Meeta Anand, senior director for Census & Data Equity at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, U.S. Census changes how it identifies people by race and ethnicity, creates Middle Eastern category for first time [PBS]
The easing of tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia has left other GCC members in “a safer position because any clash between the two regional giants would invariably have involved the smaller states, which would have had to take sides—in favor of Saudi Arabia—and therefore getting in the crosshairs of the Islamic Republic. As a general rule, any developments that result in a reduction of regional tensions are welcomed by the smaller GCC states.” Dr. Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar, How smaller GCC states view the Iranian-Saudi détente [Amwaj]
“Changing economic and geopolitical dynamics are motivating both regions to forge new strategic partnerships. Central Asia is experiencing a period of unprecedented economic sovereignty as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has weakened the country’s influence across the post-Soviet region. While China remains a major economic player in Central Asia, C5 countries are wary of becoming reliant on Chinese finance. Central Asian states see an opportunity to use new relationships to balance against their traditional partners and are aggressively seeking engagement with influential global powers.” Charly Ward, Central Asia: “Unprecedented” Collaboration Moves Beyond Oil [Caspian Policy Center]
“Historically, demand for food products peaks during Ramadan and the Hajj season, but that trend could change with so many ongoing projects underway.” Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture, Saudi Arabia’s wheat production continues to grow [World Grain]
“We had a very good discussion about the work that we’ve been doing for many months now on normalisation, and that work is moving forward. We’re continuing to make good progress.” Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State following meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. He added that he could not offer a timeframe and another senior State Department official said Washington and Riyadh were down to a handful of bilateral issues and there was political will to address those gaps. Blinken cites progress with Saudis on normalising ties with Israel [Reuters]
