QUOTED

Quoted

“Discussions are just happening, and at the Arab Summit there will be agreement… Straight off the bat, there is no one state solution. As far as we’re concerned, we don’t see the displacement of the people of Gaza as a viable method in order to achieve prosperity.” Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK, Saudi ambassador to UK rules out one-state solution for Palestine [Arab News]

TOP STORY

Official symbol for Saudi Riyal introduced

courtesy: Time Out Riyadh

The symbol, which blends Arabic calligraphy with the name of the national currency, “riyal,” will be utilized in financial and commercial transactions both within the Kingdom and internationally. [more]

 

MORE TOP STORYLINES

Arab leaders huddle in Saudi Arabia in pushback to Trump's Gaza plans

Via Aya Batrawy in npr.org: There was no final communique, press conference or details of when the meeting started or ended, in contrast to standard protocol when Arab leaders meet. Instead, a single photo was released on Friday, showing Arab leaders standing shoulder-to-shoulder in Saudi Arabia for what the kingdom called an informal brotherly gathering, though with lofty discussion on Gazas future. Arab countries, keen to maintain warm ties with Trump as president, have rejected the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza while not directly condemning Trumps idea. Egypt and Jordan view the plan as destabilizing to their security and the region. The UAE, which has close ties with Israel and opposes Hamas in Gaza, has emphasized that reconstruction of Gaza must be linked to the establishment of a Palestinian state. An assessment this week by the U.N., World Bank and European Union says Gaza and the occupied-West Bank need at least $53 billion for reconstruction and recovery over the next decade. The U.N. says 95% of Gazas schools have been damaged or destroyed, as have more than 90% of homes and most hospitals, roads, water systems and agricultural land. Another U.N. estimate says more specifically that nearly 300,000 homes have been completely destroyed in Israeli airstrikes.

Saudi PIF Eyes More US Investment in Second Trump Term, Governor Says

Via Matthew Martin and Gillian Tan in yahoo.com: 40% of the fund’s international investments go to the US, Yasir Al-Rumayyan said on Friday at the Saudi-sponsored Future Investment Initiative Priority summit in Miami. “And it could be much more,” he added, but “unfortunately sometimes when you want to procure more from the US or invest more there are certain restrictions. I hope with the current administration these restrictions will be out and it will attract more investment.” Al-Rumayyan said PIF, which counts Newcastle United and LIV Golf among its holdings, remains focused on sports and e-sports investments. He said that its portfolio company Savvy’s mandate is to “not only to invest in other companies in e- or video games, but to create esports activities.” Savvy-owned Scopely is in talks to acquire Niantic’s video-game business, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week.

Duel In the Desert: Forever Young Pips Romantic Warrior In An Epic Saudi Cup

Via Alan Carasso in thoroughbreddailynews.com: The Arabic announcer at King Abdulzaziz Racetrack whipped the crowd into a literal frenzy as the Saudi Cup field circled the starting stalls midway up the chute. The 109 seconds that followed the springing of the stalls nearly defies description. Romantic Warrior opened up on his rivals and they were partying in Wan Chai, but as he displayed when blousing out Bookem Danno (Bucchero) at the finish of last years Saudi Derby, Forever Young loves a fight, and he began pegging back the margin with time ticking away. James McDonald was hard at work on Romantic Warrior and said post-race that his mount was not stopping, but Forever Young was kept after and proved narrowly better on the day in a race that wont soon be forgotten. “He jumped very well from the wide gate in 14 and got into a nice position without a problem. It was my tactics to be in that situation. I believe in Forever Young, I never thought Id lose the race. This is the best moment in my life.” The Saudi Cup is a newly announced Win and Youre In qualifier for this years Breeders Cup Classic.

 

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Inside the ‘camouflaged’ Desert Rock Resort: Saudi Red Sea destination draws global tourists at $3,200 per night

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CEDA reviews role of reforms in diversification of economy and surge in non-oil revenues

The report sheds light on financial performance during the fourth quarter of last year, including revenues, expenditures, and public debt indicators. It highlighted a 21...[via com.sa]

 

Why Saudi cash hasn’t been able to turn Newcastle into a soccer superpower

Unlike Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City, which has dominated English soccer over the past decade, and Qatari-backed Paris Saint-Germain, which has done likewise in France, it...[By James Robson via apnews.com]

 

Trump’s Middle East Policy and Its Impact on Saudi Arabia

Trump’s renewal of the maximum pressure campaign could lead to rising tensions in the Gulf after a brief period of relative stability. The Saudis remember...[By Sultan al-Amer via newlinesinstitute.org]

 

Saudi crown prince congratulates Mark Carney on confirmation as Canada PM

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Mark Carney on Friday, on the occasion of the formation of the new government headed by him...[via arabnews.com]

 

Saudi Arabia launches crackdown on ‘immoral acts’ amid social reforms

Saudi Arabia has arrested more than 50 people, including 11 women on prostitution charges, in a new crackdown on “immoral acts” amid ongoing social and...[via middleeastmonitor.com]

 

Saudi Arabia, Indonesia to ink MoU to resume hiring domestic workers

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Saudi Arabia records 23,865 violations in nationwide residency and labor law inspections

The Ministry of Interior conducted inspection campaigns across Saudi Arabia between March 6 and March 12 to ensure compliance with residency, labor, and border security...[via saudigazette.com]

 

Saudi Arabia unveils plans for Global T20 League with $500M investment

Saudi Arabia is set to launch a groundbreaking global Twenty20 league, backed by its $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund. Spearheaded by Australian cricket figure Neil Maxwell,...[via geosuper.tv]

 

Crown Prince launches Saudi Architecture Characters Map to celebrate Kingdom’s architectural heritage

The Saudi Architecture Characters Map highlights 19 architectural styles inspired by geographical, natural and cultural characteristics, derived...[via saudigazette.com]

 

Saudi Arabia launches loan guarantees for SMEs to stimulate investment in environmental projects

Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley witnessed on Sunday the signing of an agreement between the Environment Fund and the Small and...[via saudigazette.com]

 

Saudi pours billions into Diriyah as megaproject nears completion

Developer Diriyah Company — backed by Public Investment Fund — secured $1.6 billion in financing to develop the Wadi Safar project, an upscale residential...[By Kelsey Warner via semafor.com]

 

US vows to keep hitting Houthis until shipping attacks stop

The United States will keep attacking Yemen's Houthis until they end...[By Phil Stewart, Mohammed Ghobari and Gabriella Borter via reuters.com]

 

Gulf digitalisation growth barely moving needle in productivity

Improvements in the availability and quality of digital infrastructure and services have yet to impact productivity growth in the Gulf economies...[By Valentina Pasquali via agbi.com]

 

CERAWeek 2025: triumphalism, agnosticism, and a touch of fear

CERAWeek, the annual gathering of the energy elite in Houston, Texas, is an intense crash course in the state of world...[By Frank Kane via agbi.com]

 

Trade wars and oil woes fuel market uncertainty

Between 10am and 4:30pm on March 11 the tariff rate on Canadian aluminium and steel imports to the US was hiked...[By Robin Mills via agbi.com]

 

S&P upgrades Saudi Arabia’s credit rating after two years on economic diversification efforts

S&P Global Ratings has raised Saudi Arabia’s credit rating for the first time in two years, citing the country’s economic...[By John Benny via thenationalnews.com]

 

Navantia Begins Construction of Saudi Arabia’s Seventh Avante 2200 Corvette

Spanish defense contractor Navantia has cut the steel of the Royal Saudi Naval Force’s seventh Avante 2200-class corvette at its shipyard in San Fernando. The...[By Rojoef Manuel via thedefensepost.com]

 

‘Bad Boys 3’ Directors Shooting Saudi Blockbuster ‘The Seven Dogs,’ First-Look Image Revealed

“Bad Boys 3” directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are shooting Saudi blockbuster “The Seven Dogs,” featuring...[By Nick Vivarelli via variety.com]

 

Arab leaders meet in Saudi Arabia to hash out Gaza plan

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Saudi Arabia hosts ‘informal’ Arab summit on post-war Gaza

Saudi Arabia hosted an “informal” summit of Arab states in its capital Riyadh on 21 February to discuss regional efforts to propose an alternative to US...[via thecradle.co]

 

Analysis: What’s Behind the Arab Alternative to Trump’s Gaza Proposal

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Saudi ambassador to UK rules out one-state solution for Palestine

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BP to ditch renewables goals and return focus to fossil fuels

BP's chief executive will scrap a target to increase renewable generation 20-fold by 2030, returning the focus...[By Arunima Kumar and Anousha Sakoui via reuters.com]

 
 

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