QUOTED

Quoted

“Currently, China refines 68% of the world’s nickel, 40% of copper, 59% of lithium, and 73% of cobalt, and is continuing to expand its mining operations.” Visualizing China’s Cobalt Supply Dominance by 2030 [Visual Capitalist]

TOP STORY

GCC FMs meet to coordinate on Syria and Lebanon

GCC FM meeting, Syria extraordinary

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened the 46th extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Council in Kuwait to address ongoing events in the Syria and Lebanon.  [more]

  

MORE TOP STORYLINES

Assad’s Fall Prompts Initial Gulf Unity but Differences and Concerns Are Emerging

Via Kristin Smith Diwan: The rapid downfall of the Assad dynasty in Syria has caught the Gulf Arab monarchies by surprise, much as everyone else. Understandably, their initial reaction was somewhat guarded and holding to general principles. All of the Gulf Arab states issued brief statements supporting the preservation of Syria’s government institutions and stability and unity of its people. The Gulf states, like states bordering Syria, are unlikely to escape the consequences of these seismic changes in the heart of the diverse Arab east. There are concerns about the potential for renewed civil strife or terrorism in Syria and the possibility of it spreading to neighboring states Iraq and Jordan. There are already calls for greater Gulf engagement to balance Turkey’s advances and moderate the emerging Syrian leadership. The foreign ministers of Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia and the other states of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria in Aqaba, where they issued a statement pledging more robust aid and support for the transitioning Syrian government while emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue.

Saudi Arabia’s Absher Platform Reaches 28 Million Digital Identities Milestone

in idtechwire.com: The Absher platform serves as a comprehensive digital gateway, enabling users to access various Ministry of Interior services through three main channels: Absher Individuals, Absher Business, and Absher Government. Users can interact with more than 500 government and private entities through the unified national access portal known as “Nafath.” The platform has evolved from its original focus on passport and civil status services to become an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital transformation strategy. Operational data reveals that the Absher platform processed over 605,000 daily operations during the past year, demonstrating the system’s robust performance and widespread adoption. The Ministry of Interior has implemented advanced technical solutions to optimize service procedures and enhance user experiences. The improvements include AI-powered verification systems and cloud-based infrastructure that ensures 24/7 availability.

Shanghai, Mumbai, Dubai or Goodbye

Via Afshin Molavi in substack.com: Frankly, I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to understand the Dubai story – or even the broader UAE story – without a visit to Jebel Ali port. The visit might also make you re-think “the end of globalization” narrative that has attracted the attention of so many. Jebel Ali Port, in many ways, embodies the commercial spirit at the heart of Dubai, though the idea of the port was initially met with skepticism. When the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, unveiled plans for Jebel Ali Port in the 1970s, critics dismissed it as a “white elephant,” fearing it would overshadow the recently opened Port Rashid, which had debuted in 1972. The Jebel Ali port sees 180+ shipping lines connecting it to more than 150 destinations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. The Jebel Ali Free Zone hosts some 10,000 companies, engaged in trading, logistics or light manufacturing.
 

MORE ON THE KINGDOM AND BEYOND

Saudi Arabia completes arrangement to secure $2.5 bln credit facility

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]
 

Dakar Rally competitors react to grueling Stage 2 in Saudi Arabia: Video

Dakar Rally drivers and riders recount Stage 2 of the event, where competitors took two days to traverse nearly 1000 km....[via youtube.com]
 

Saudi Arabia’s PIF raises $7bn from first murabaha facility as it seeks to boost investments

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]
 

Saudi Arabia sells $12 billion 3-part bond amid strong demand

 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]
 

Saudi Interior Ministry confirms ban on transferring or publishing security surveillance camera recordings

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]
 

Taste of 2034 World Cup as Saudi Asian Cup stadiums named

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]
 

Mideast Wealth Funds Spend $82 Billion to Ramp Up Bets on Post-Oil Future

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]
 

Saudi Arabia boosts desalinated water supply to 50% in Vision 2030 push

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]
 

Saudi Arabia estimates 2025 budget funding at $37bn

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]
 

Saudi Coffee Company and Alliance for Coffee Excellence launch Sip of Excellence Competition

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]
 

Saudi Arabia Plans Further Borrowing Spree to Pay for Huge Projects

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]
 

Leading Saudi Arabian airports hit passenger traffic highs in 2024

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]
 

Saudi Arabia Hikes Its Oil Prices to Asia as Supply Tightens

The world’s top crude oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, has raised the price of its crude loading for Asia in February by more than expected...[By Tsvetana Paraskova via oilprice.com]
 

Saudi Arabia Mandates USB Type-C Charging Ports for Mobile Devices

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) have announced that the first mandatory phase of the...[By Aayushya Ranjan via techafricanews.com]
 

WHO chief says he was at Yemen airport as Israeli bombs fell nearby

A wave of Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's main airport Thursday just as the World Health Organization’s...[via go.com]
 

Visualizing China’s Cobalt Supply Dominance by 2030

Chinese dominance over critical minerals used in technologies like smartphones, electric vehicles (EVs), and solar power has become a growing concern for the U.S. and...[By Bruno Venditti via visualcapitalist.com]
 
 

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