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“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]

TOP STORY

FIFA issues highest ever rating for 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Officially Submits Bid to Host the FIFA World Cup 2034™

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) issued its Bid Evaluation Report of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 with the bid receiving 419.8 out of 500, the highest ever score in FIFA World Cup history. [more]

 

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Macron and Saudi crown prince sign partnership deal, call for Lebanon elections

in france24.com: President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic partnership on Monday aimed at deepening bilateral ties and de-escalating conflict in the Middle East, including Lebanon, where the two leaders called for presidential elections.  Macrons state visit is the first by a French president to Saudi Arabia since Jacques Chirac in 2006, cementing what the presidency calls a very close relationship. In 2021, Macron became one of the first Western leaders to meet Prince Mohammed in Saudi Arabia after the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadhs consulate in Istanbul.

Saudi Arabia to abandon US defence treaty for more modest alternative

in thearabweekly.com: A full-blown US-Saudi treaty would need to pass the US Senate with a two-thirds majority and this would be a non-starter unless Riyadh recognises Israel, the sources said. The pact now under discussion would involve expanding joint military exercises and drills to address regional threats, mainly from Iran. It would foster partnerships between US and Saudi defence firms, with safeguards to prevent collaboration with China, the sources said. The agreement would promote Saudi investment in advanced technologies, especially drone defence. The US would increase its presence in Riyadh through training, logistics and cyber security support, and might deploy a Patriot missile battalion to enhance missile defence and integrated deterrence. “Saudi Arabia will get a security deal which will allow more military cooperation and sales of US weapons, but not a defence treaty similar to that of Japan or South Korea as initially sought,” said Abdelaziz al-Sagher, head of the Gulf Research Institute think-tank in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Regains Some Oil Market Share From Russia in Asia

Via Tsvetana Paraskova in oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia’s oil exports to Asia rose in November, while Russia’s crude sales in the world’s most important oil-importing region fell amid lower purchases by Moscow’s two key markets, China and India. Recovering Asian refining margins, a decline in the premium of the Dubai benchmark to Russia’s Urals, and rising shipping costs for Russia’s crude helped Saudi Arabia boost its crude oil supply to Asia by 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, according to data from LSEG Oil Research cited by Reuters’s columnist Clyde Russell. Saudi crude oil exports to Asia jumped to 5.83 million bpd last month, up from an estimated 5.28 million bpd in October.

 

MORE ON THE KINGDOM AND BEYOND

Saudi Arabia hits 900+ sports sponsorships in quest for influence

The study mapped 910 sponsorships in different sports and 1,412 positions in 207 Saudi entities, noting that the kingdom has significantly expanded its web of...[By Ed Dixon via sportspro.com]

 

France’s EDF, TotalEnergies awarded Saudi solar tenders during Macron visit

TotalEnergies will build an 0.3 gigawatt (GW) solar park in Saudi Arabia, while EDF Renewables will build...[By America Hernandez via reuters.com]

 

KAPSARC and Climeworks to explore feasibility of Direct Air Capture solutions in Saudi Arabia

The MoU outlines a roadmap to assess the deployment of new DAC systems in the Kingdom, focusing on availability of natural resources including subsurface CO₂...[via climeworks.com]

 

Saudi Arabia and World Bank Group to Establish a Global Knowledge Hub in Riyadh

The World Bank Group–Saudi Arabia Knowledge Hub (K-Hub) will serve as a platform for knowledge generation and exchange to drive greater development impact for countries....[via worldbank.org]

 

How French and Saudi architects are redesigning the cities of tomorrow

Saudi Arabia today is synonymous with megaprojects. Since the launch of the Vision 2030 reform agenda, the Kingdom has rolled out a range of major...[By Zeina Zbibo via arabnews.com]

 

Saudi Arabia announces 5 new initiatives worth $60 million at SGI Forum

Saudi Arabia unveiled five new initiatives, valued at $60 million (SR 225 million), reinforcing the Kingdom's leading role on climate and environment efforts. The initiatives were...[via saudigazette.com]

 

Saudi Arabia signs solar deals with France’s TotalEnergies

A separate power purchase agreement for the Kingdom’s Al Masa’a solar power plant project was signed between the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), French state-owned...[via alarabiya.net]

 

Crown Prince: Saudi Arabia provides $6B funding for 200 water projects

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman inaugurated the “One Water Summit” in Riyadh on Tuesday evening in the presence of several presidents and...[via argaam.com]

 

FIFA, Clifford Chance Accused of ‘Whitewashing’ Saudi Human Rights Record in World Cup Bid

As FIFA approaches its December 11 vote to appoint the 2034 World Cup host, the football association is once again under fire for allegedly...[By Dario Sabaghi via law.com]

 

Saudi NEOM partners with CarbonCure and Gulf Cryo on low-carbon concrete push

Efforts to integrate carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies into construction in Saudi Arabia’s futuristic Neom city have taken a major step forward as CarbonCure...[By Anthony Wright via gasworld.com]

 

Saudi Arabia bets on tech to make deserts bloom

Saudi Arabia accounts for nearly 75 percent of Middle East investment in climate technology start-ups worldwide, according to a 2023 report by auditor PwC. But its...[via phys.org]

 

Saudi Arabia’s Neo Space Group to Acquire UP42 from Airbus

Saudi Arabia’s Neo Space Group (NSG) is making an acquisition in the Earth observation space, acquiring UP42 from Airbus Defence and Space. Terms of the deal were not disclosed in...[By Rachel Jewett via satellitetoday.com]

 

Locating EV Charging Stations to Enable Intercity Travel in Saudi Arabia

The development of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure presents a promising pathway to reduce transportation emissions, particularly when integrated with low-carbon...[By Ryan Alyamani and Thomas Gertin via kapsarc.org]

 

How FIFA helped pave the way for Saudi 2034

In October 2023, FIFA made a surprising move that effectively set the stage for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host a future FIFA World Cup...[via playthegame.org]

 

Aramco’s Diversification Strategy: Fueling Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

Saudi Aramco is not only the largest oil producer globally but also the most profitable business, surpassing tech giants like Apple and...[By John Calabrese via agsiw.org]

 

France targets Saudi PIF’s ‘colossal’ investment power

During a three-day official state visit focused on boosting business ties, Mr Macron told a Saudi-French business forum in Riyadh that one of...[By Sunniva Rose via thenationalnews.com]

 

Macron announces France-Saudi partnership to co-host conference on creating Palestinian state

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday, December 3, that he and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, would...[via lemonde.fr]

 

Iraqi fighters head to Syria to battle rebels but Lebanon’s Hezbollah stays out, sources say

Hundreds of Iran-backed Iraqi fighters crossed into Syria on Monday to help the government fight rebels who...[By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Maya Gebeily via reuters.com]

 

Fuel oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion for Iran and its proxies

A sophisticated fuel oil smuggling network that some experts believe generates at least $1 billion a year...[By Maha El Dahan and Yousef Saba via reuters.com]

 

After decades, China sputters as engine of global oil demand growth

China's crude oil imports are on track to peak as soon as next year as transport fuel...[By Siyi Liu and Chen Aizhu via reuters.com]

 

Climate solution: Sails make a comeback in shipping, to dent its huge carbon footprint

The international merchant fleet of more than 100,000 ships transports more than 80% of global trade. But it’s also responsible for about 3% of global...[By John Leicester via apnews.com]

 

Persistent Fall in Private Borrowing Brings Global Debt Down

Global debt decreased about one percentage point to 237 percent GDP. The values for 2023 are now available from the just released IMF’s Global Debt...[By Vitor Gaspar, Carlos Gonçalves, Marcos Poplawski-Ribeiro via imf.org]

 
 

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