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  • President Trump, King Salman Speak Amid Qatar Diplomatic Fallout
     

    U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman amid a growing crisis between GCC states over allegations that Qatar is funding terrorism and extremist activities. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and three other states have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, threatening a socio-economic crisis for what Saudi Arabia’s leaders only recently […]

     
  • Is a Political Solution to the Yemen Conflict on the Horizon?
     

    The Saudi-led coalition is “now looking for a political solution rather than a military operation to take Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah,” former US officials who work on Yemen told Al Monitor‘s Laura Rozen. The possible breakthrough could avoid a military escalation to take the Houthi-held strategic port, which would make the catastrophic food shortage […]

     
  • U.S., Saudi Arabian Agribusiness Majors May Partner to Bid on Saudi Grains Milling Privatization
     

    Saudi Arabia’s largest private agriculture company, Almarai, and U.S. agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland Co. are reportedly among companies eying Saudi Grains Organization’s (SAGO) milling operations, the kingdom’s sole supplier, according to an exclusive report by Reuters. The state-owned SAGO handles the Kingdom’s grains purchases, and is one of the world’s largest wheat and barley buyers. The company […]

     
  • Seven Saudi Soldiers Killed on Yemen’s Border Last Week
     

    At least seven Saudi soldiers have been killed in the past week in clashes with Yemeni rebels, Al Jazeera reports, citing the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Mohammed al-Manjahi was the latest soldier to be killed on the kingdom’s southern borders in the fight against Houthi rebels. According to an AFP news agency tally compiling reports by the Saudi […]

     
  • Saudi Arabia Replaces Finance Minister in Continued Shift Toward Younger Technocrats
     

    Saudi Arabia has replaced its Minister of Finance, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, with the head of the Kingdom’s capital markets regulator Mohammed Al-Jadaan in the latest move toward a younger generation of technocratic leaders in high positions. Al-Assaf was Saudi Arabia’s longest-serving active minister, having held the position of Minister of Finance since 1996. Another Royal […]

     
  • Houthi Rebels Claim Capture of Post Inside Saudi Border
     

    Officials from Yemen’s Shiite Houthi militia say their fighters and allied troops have captured a Saudi military post in the border region of Jazan, according to reports.  According to a report in the Associated Press, the claim has been denied by a Saudi military spokesman. However, a 15-minute video clip posted on social media networks and aired late […]

     
  • In 2016, Saudi Restrictions Removed for U.S. Meat Exporters
     

    2016 has been a good year for U.S. farmers and food producers looking to expand into the Saudi market as the Kingdom has relaxed previously established restrictions on both poultry and beef imports from the United States.  In July, Saudi Arabia lifted a lengthy four-year ban on US beef imports that followed a scare over […]

     
  • Graphic: Saudi Arabia Reshuffles Government Leaders, Modifies Ministries
     

    Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issued a Royal Order on Saturday, May 7th, 2016 making changes to the government structure and key leaders. The Royal Order follows the recently released ‘Vision 2030’ economic and development plan to transform the Saudi economy and society into the 21st Century. The full text of the changes as issued by […]

     
  • Full Text: Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ National Transformation Program
     

    Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is chair of the Council of Economic Development Authority (CEDA) and Minister of Defense presented the much-anticipated ‘Vision 2030’ framework of new policies to be pursued by the Saudi government. Here’s the full text of his presentation, as well as the Vision 2030 roadmap itself. The […]

     
  • Saudi Arabia, Turkey Support Syrian Opposition at Geneva Talks but ‘Avoid Setting the Agenda’
     

    Saudi Arabia and Turkey voiced their support of Syria’s opposition members in Geneva for possible U.N.- sponsored peace talks with the Syrian regime, whether the opposition continued with the talks or not. The comments were made in a joint press conference by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir and Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoglu in Riyadh.  Saudi […]

     

MUST-READS

  • The Ukraine Crisis Deepens Food Insecurity Across the Middle East and Africa

    In 2021, the two countries exported more than one-quarter of the world’s wheat. They are both major suppliers of corn, sunflower seed oil, and barley; Russia is also a major supplier of fertilizer, which is critical for agricultural production

  • Ukraine war threatens food supplies in fragile Arab world

    Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which countries in the Middle East rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread and bargain noodles. They are also top exporters of other grains and the sunflower seed oil that is used for cooking.

  • Saudi Arabia denies restaurants will serve food during Ramadan fasting hours

    Saudi Arabia has denied restaurants will be open to serve food for foreigners or tourists during daytime hours in the month of Ramadan. The Council of Saudi Chambers said a letter being circulated online containing the claim was fake. The letter, attributed to the council, said restaurants would be allowed to serve food during Ramadan fasting hours if curtains or covers were installed. Ramadan is expected to begin in early April.

  • Ukraine War Threatens World’s Food Supply

    Gallup data offer insight into the populations most likely to suffer from a prolonged disruption: People in countries reliant on wheat from Ukraine or Russia, where large segments of their populations were also struggling to afford food before the war broke out. Many of the countries on this list, including Egypt, Turkey and Kenya, are also dealing with political instability and conflict, situations only made worse when populations go hungry.

  • Saudi food supplies are stable, no concerns amid Russia-Ukraine crisis – minister

    Local stocks of basic food commodities, which include wheat, rice, sugar, vegetable oils and barely, “are at safe levels and there are no fears of any shortage,” he added.

  • The Russia-Ukraine conflict is set to hit Lebanon’s food supply

    “Wheat would be the food commodity most impacted as Russia is the world’s largest exporter of wheat, and Ukraine is also a major exporter,” said Steve Taravella, a senior spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme. Combined, the two countries are responsible for 29% of the global wheat trade.

  • How FDI changed food habits and made us fatter

    The consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages, along with declining levels of physical activity, have created a world where in most countries being overweight or obese kills more people than issues related to hunger or being underweight, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

  • Oman, Saudi Arabia sign food and water security pact

    The signing of the MoU came on the sidelines of the International Council for Dates, held in Al Ahsa, the KSA.

  • SDFA plans to obligate Halal certification over food products

    Any food product, whether raw or included in a component of any other food product that contains gelatin, collagen, animal rennet, animal fats and oils, will be required to issue halal certificate, the authority indicated. The authority added that even food products that bear a halal logo, sign or word will be required to have a halal certificate. SFDA has suggested that the implementation of the obligation to have a halal certificate on food products should enter into force next July.

  • A Russian invasion of Ukraine could drive up food prices and spark widespread unrest far from the front lines

    Smith noted that in 2020, half of all wheat consumed in Lebanon — a country critically dependent on bread as a staple and slammed by a crippling economic crisis — came from Ukraine. Yemen and Libya respectively import 22 percent and 43 percent of their total wheat consumption from Ukraine. In 2020, Ukraine also supplied more than 20 percent of wheat consumption in Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh.