“Saudi Arabia’s football league is 50 years old and its King’s Cup is closing in on its 70th year; Only Japan has won more than Saudi Arabia’s three AFC Asian Cup titles, while leading club team Al Hilal is the continent’s most successful ever team thanks to its four AFC Champions League triumphs.” Mark Lomas, What does hosting the 2034 World Cup mean for Saudi Arabia? [Al-Arabiya]
“There is complete synergy and coordination among all government sectors to ensure the success of our bid to host this global event. We will deliver the best edition in the history of the World Cup on Saudi soil in 2034.” Saudi Football Federation president Yasser Al-Misehal, Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup Bid Conference Highlights Key Aspects of the Largest World Cup [Saudi Press Agency]
“The main accomplishment of the series is that it’s kind of humanising Saudi football. Because so far, I think people all over the globe, they were just thinking about dollar signs.” Danyel Reiche, Georgetown University in Qatar, who researches the intersection of politics and sport in the region, Football presents Saudi Arabia with soft power tool paving the way for World Cup [Arab Weekly]
“She had a driver, whose name was Gamar, and he drove her around everywhere, and he knew every single detail about her life… she realized that he knew basically everything about her life, and she barely knew anything about his.” Ahd Kamel‘s, Saudi director whose directorial debut “My Driver and I” is premiering at the Red Sea Film Festival, ‘My Driver and I’ Reveals Saudi Arabia’s 1980s, ’90s Social Fabric and Director Ahd Kamel’s ‘Soul,’ Say Lead Actors [Variety]
“We have been in contact with all actors in the region. We are in constant communication with Turkey and every stakeholder involved.” A Saudi official stated that the kingdom has been communicating with all regional actors over Syria and was determined to do what was possible to avoid a chaotic outcome for the country. Syrian rebels topple Bashar al-Assad: How the world reacted [Middle East Eye]
“There might be more familiar faces than some of the awards shows back in America. Am I crazy to say that? There are just so many great people here.” Vin Diesel, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Vin Diesel, Spike Lee, Will Smith, Eva Longoria & Michelle Yeoh Hit Carpet At Red Sea Film Fest [Deadline]
“When people cannot grow food, they migrate. This migration often leads to tension and conflict in the receiving areas, creating a cycle of dislocation and violence. This is an issue that touches every aspect of our lives — food security, national security, migration, air quality and biodiversity.” Saudi Arabia’s Climate Envoy and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir, How Saudi Arabia is leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle land degradation [Arab News]
“We are bullish on the Saudi market for 2025. Saudi will benefit from the portfolio flow rotation out of China. To top it off, valuations are becoming more compelling once again.” Thea Jamison, managing director at Change Global Investment LLC, Saudi Stocks Poised to Rebound as Trade War Risks Grow for Peers [BNN Bloomberg]
France’s business world wanted to be part of the “massive dynamic wave” in the kingdom. “They realise now the deep transformation of the kingdom. There’s nothing that can prevent change now.” French entrepreneur Julie Barbier, who worked in Dubai for 14 years before relocating recently to Saudi Arabia with state incentives, France targets Saudi PIF’s ‘colossal’ investment power [The National]
“They underscored the need for concerted efforts to maintain regional stability and prevent the region descending into new crises that could threaten its security.” Saudi prince discusses ‘new crises’ in long-awaited UAE visit [Al-Monitor]
