QUOTED

Quoted

“Even though there’s the stigma, you still see a lot of amazing women doing what they want in the sports field. You find weightlifters, triathletes – if you want to do it you can do it, nothing is stopping you.” Leila Zahid, Saudi surfer, An Inside Look at Saudi Arabia’s Fledgling Surf Scene [Surfer]

TOP STORY

Italy’s PM Meloni meets Crown Prince in AlUla

Italy, Giorgia Meloni visit

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit included $10 billion in agreements spanning energy, defense, and cultural heritage as well as discussions on regional stability and international cooperation. [more]

 

MORE TOP STORYLINES

Saudi Arabia must punch its weight on global stage: minister

in france24.com: We are a key player in the world, the world economy, and we need to punch at our weight, Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. We need to make sure that emerging economies and low income countries voice is heard, al-Jadaan said. This is why we are really protecting, in every possible way, their interests in these multilateral institutions, he said, stressing that emerging economies were becoming actually larger than advanced economies in total population and size of economy. Collectively, they need to be represented in the table.

Saudi Arabia raises local workforce quotas across key sectors

Via Nour El-Shaeri in arabnews.com: Saudi professionals in dentistry, pharmacy, accounting, and technical engineering will soon see expanded job opportunities as the Kingdom rolls out new Saudization targets under its Vision 2030 plan. The HRSD, in collaboration with health, commerce, and housing authorities, is now focused on localizing 269 professions. The initiative builds on earlier measures, such as increasing Saudization rates in radiology to 65 percent, medical laboratories to 70 percent, and physiotherapy and therapeutic nutrition to 80 percent last October. Effective July 27, community pharmacies and medical complexes will be required to achieve a 35 percent Saudization rate, hospitals 65 percent, and other pharmacy-related businesses 55 percent, according to a Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announcement. These rules will apply to companies employing five or more pharmacy professionals.

Saudi Arabia opens up holy cities to foreign property investors

Via Edmund Bower in agbi.com: Saudi Arabia’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that foreigners will be allowed to invest in companies that own real estate in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The CMA said the decision would “stimulate investment” and “enhance the attractiveness and efficiency of the capital market”. It added that the reform would help the economy by “attracting foreign capital and providing the necessary liquidity for current and future projects” in Mecca and Medina. The change in the law makes it easier for non-Saudis to invest in the real estate market of the two holy cities. At present they are forbidden by law from buying property in the holy cities, although it is possible to lease property for a maximum of 99 years.

 

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GAFT Leads Saudi Negotiating Team in GCC-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement Talks

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US ambitions are a fork in the road for GCC crypto

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GCC targets $188bn tourist spending as visitor numbers boom

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Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy records best performance since 2014 in January, says PMI

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Saudi Arabia conducts military exercises with 15 countries at Air Warfare Center

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Gulf sovereign wealth funds drive $36bn+ mega-deal boom as UAE, Saudi buck global M&A slowdown

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Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh

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Oil prices: The US is in a ‘delicate dance’ with Saudi Arabia

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Saudi-PIF backed Umm Al Qura moves ahead with IPO to support $26bn Masar project in Makkah

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Saudi Arabia champions youth as it drives talent development to fuel Vision 2030

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500 Global Launches New Fund Led by Amjad Ahmad to Fuel MENA’s Next Wave of Tech Champions

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Kuwait awards railway contract to Turkish company

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Trump turns vs hawkish ex aides as he hopes for deal with Iran

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The Best Universities in the World

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