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QUOTED
“This move means less reliance on experts from abroad in key fields like finance, project management and cybersecurity. Essentially, it’s about creating more jobs for Saudis in important, well-paying sectors and making sure they’re trained for these roles.” Azeem Zainulbhai, co-founder and chief product officer at talent-on-demand platform Outsized, Saudi Arabia’s localization plan is reshaping consultancy sector – and more beyond [Consulting Point]
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TOP STORY
World Arabic Language Day has been celebrated every year on 18 December since 2012. The date coincides with the day in 1973 that the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Arabic as the sixth official language of the Organization. [more]
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MORE TOP STORYLINES
in alarabiya.net: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is adamant about having a Palestinian state as part of any deal to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, the top US diplomat has said, adding that this was the key to long-term stability in the Middle East and one that would ensure Israel’s security. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that a Gaza ceasefire was necessary first. But after that, the focus would need to be on the long-term stability of the region, which would include Israel’s security. “And, of course, the key to that is the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” he said in an interview with Foreign Affairs published on Wednesday, expressing hope that the incoming Trump administration would get such a deal done. Despite several reports over the last year, including as recently as this week, that Saudi Arabia is willing to ease its demands in exchange for normalization, Riyadh has repeatedly been consistent in its stance demanding a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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Via Georg Szalai in hollywoodreporter.com: RSIFF 2024 jury president Spike Lee took time out of his busy festival schedule to take part in the discussion at the historic Nassif House Museum in Jeddah’s Old Town Al-Balad. Representing host nation Saudi Arabia was Meshal Al Jaser, whose humorous thriller Naga, which tells the story of a young woman who sneaks out for a date that goes wrong, screened in the 2023 RSIFF’s Arab Spectacular section and is streaming on Netflix. It also presented an opportunity to bring together six filmmakers who have made names for themselves as game changers and innovators for the second annual Hollywood Reporter roundtable at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The filmmakers discussed a broad range of topics, including creative influences, the importance of music, battling stereotypes, the role of AI and the lasting influence of Lee’s Do the Right Thing.
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Via Robbie O’Brien in trailfinders.com: It is best to travel without preconceptions, but as so much has been written about Saudi it’s difficult not to have some put upon you by the media, others’ opinions, or hearsay. When walking around the capital, Riyadh’s streets felt clean and safe with locals sitting outside enjoying cafes and shisha bars, while western females had their hair down and shoulders on display. It was clear that Saudi is certainly no more oppressive or strict than Dubai is, and it didn’t feel any more religious either; we didn’t hear the atmospheric call to prayer until day four when we were much further south in the holy city of Medina. Just like how the UAE has developed over the last 20 years into a certified holiday destination, Saudi offers more of the same with reliable sun and warmth just a relatively short, direct flight away. But what Saudi can offer that Dubai and Abu Dhabi can’t, is the centuries of history that came before it, with fantastic museums, cultural experiences and UNESCO World Heritage sites to explore. Now is the perfect time to visit for everyone but especially those who are more adventurous and like to have been somewhere that others haven’t yet.
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MORE ON THE KINGDOM AND BEYOND
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Saudi Arabia has finalised an arrangement for securing a shariah-compliant revolving credit facility worth $2.5 billion, the...[By Enas Alashray and Ahmed Tolba via reuters.com]
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Dakar Rally drivers and riders recount Stage 2 of the event, where competitors took two days to traverse nearly 1000 km....[via youtube.com]
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Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund plans to raise $7 billion from its first murabaha credit facility, as the fund diversifies its funding...[By Aarti Nagraj via thenationalnews.com]
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Saudi Arabia raised $12 billion from global debt markets in a three-part bond sale, attracting strong investor...[By Rachna Uppal and Enas Alashray via reuters.com]
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Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the provisions of the “Use of Security Surveillance Cameras” law prohibit the transfer or publication of security surveillance camera...[via arabnews.com]
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Among the venues announced Tuesday for the 24-team regional competition were the 70,000-capacity King Fahd Sports City Stadium and King Saud University Stadium, both in...[via france24.com]
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That the Gulf’s various sovereign wealth funds have become some of the most dominant players in global dealmaking has rarely been in...[By Matthew Martin via bloomberg.com]
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Saudi Arabia’s water sector witnessed significant shifts in 2023, with a 31 percent increase in desalinated seawater production, now comprising 50 percent of the country’s...[via azernews.az]
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Saudi Arabia will need estimated funding of SAR139 billion ($37.02 billion) in 2025 to cover the potential budget deficit. Finance minister Mohammed Al Jadaan has approved...[By Pramod Kumar via agbi.com]
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Saudi Coffee Company has launched its second annual Saudi Sip of Excellence Competition in partnership with the global nonprofit Alliance for Coffee Excellence. Designed...[By April Hawksworth via gcrmag.com]
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Saudi Arabia, one of the largest bond issuers in emerging markets last year, has started 2025 with a funding spree as the country fuels its...[By Abeer Abu Omar and Matthew Martin via yahoo.com]
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Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport and Riyadh King Khalid International Airport each posted record passenger traffic in 2024, reflecting the continuing strong performance of aviation...[By Dermot Davitt via moodiedavittreport.com]
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If you thought 2024 was a tough year, buckle up for 2025. The “say no to the status quo” year of elections is over. Voters in...[By Julie Ray via gallup.com]
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U.S. and Arab mediators are working round-the-clock to hammer out a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas,...[By Nidal Al-Mughrabi via reuters.com]
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The foreign policy of Bahrain frequently follows in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi’s leadership. As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first Gulf...[By Giorgio Cafiero via amwaj.media]
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