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  • Saudi Arabia stresses balance between economic growth, energy security, and climate action

    Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, stressed the importance of achieving a balance between economic growth, energy security, and climate change mitigation. He made his remarks during his participation in the Energy Transitions Working Group meetings, the 15th Clean Energy Ministerial, and the 9th Mission Innovation Ministerial, held on October 3 and 4 in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The minister highlighted Saudi Arabia's leadership in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, reiterating the Kingdom's commitment to leading global efforts through its adoption of circular carbon economy technologies.

  • Assessing the Potential and Feasibility of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Technologies in Saudi Arabia

    As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strives to achieve its climate goals and transition its economy away from fossil fuel dependency, understanding the viability and impact of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) options becomes paramount. This paper reviews state-of-the-art CDR options and explores the potential applicability of such options within Saudi Arabia. Various CDR solutions, both conventional and novel, are investigated by using a multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodology to compare CDR options relevant to Saudi Arabia. The MCDA methodology defines a set of performance, economic and environmental criteria.

  • Billboard Arabia Uses AI to Create Performance Honoring Late Saudi Arabian Music Icon Etab

    Billboard Arabia‘s special edition “Jalsat” (session) stands out in form and purpose. The exclusive video series “Jalsat Billboard Arabia” was launched in February 2024 and featured some of the region’s most groundbreaking artists, from Ahmed Saad to Siilawy and Saint Levant. This time, in celebration of Saudi National Day, Billboard Arabia traveled back to the 1980s to revive the voice of an icon—a trailblazer who made music history in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Etab. Released on the 94th Saudi National Day (Sept. 23), Billboard Arabia deployed AI technology to bring Etab’s iconic voice and performance back, with a fresh take on her tribute to Saudi in the song, “Ya Saudi” (Hey Saudi).

  • Saudi Arabia promises more pilgrimage industry work visas

    Saudi Arabia will issue more temporary work visas to those employed in the pilgrimage industry.  A statement by the ministry of human resources said Hajj and umrah work would now be included in its temporary visa programme. A half-year visa will cover the fasting month of Ramadan and the Hajj pilgrimage, which comes around three months later.  The new rules will give the private sector more flexibility to use seasonal labour, the ministry said. The cabinet approved the measures this week.

  • Saudi Arabia’s PIF slashes stake in Amazon

    Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has sharply reduced its holdings in Amazon, cutting its stake by nearly 80 percent in the latest quarter. The sovereign wealth fund, which manages more than $700 billion in assets, revealed in its latest Securities and Exchange Commission filing this week that it now holds less than 350,000 shares, down from over 1.5 million shares in the previous filing in June.  The current position is valued at around $66 million, a significant drop from $296 million.

  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital is ‘catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s biotech revolution’

    One of KFSHRC’s most significant achievements is the localization of CAR T-cell therapy production. By producing these life-saving therapies domestically, the hospital has reduced treatment costs by a substantial 80 percent and improved patient access, it said. “Recognizing the importance of a robust biotechnology ecosystem, KFSHRC has partnered with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to establish the National Biotechnology Center. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization,” a KFSHRC statement to Arab News said.

  • Saudi Arabia’s first female wildlife ranger unit celebrates 5000th patrol at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve

    Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Reserve Development Authority, stated that the female ranger team are exploring new horizons one patrol at a time. He emphasized that around the world, women's conservation teams are crucial, and noted that the Reserve has focused on empowering women—who make up 33% of the 183-strong team, well above the global average of less than 11%.

  • Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP expected to grow 5.5% from 2025 to 2027: Moody’s

    Saudi Arabia’s non-hydrocarbon real gross domestic product is set to grow between 5 and 5.5 percent from 2025 to 2027, driven by increased government spending, a new analysis showed.  In its latest report, US-based credit rating agency Moody’s stated that this growth marks an improvement from the 4.6 percent growth recorded in 2022-2023 and the modest 1.5 percent seen between 2017 and 2019.

  • Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait Not to Allow U.S. Airbases to Be Used Against Iran

    Urgent calls for de-escalation dominated the discussions, with regional leaders expressing fears that an extended conflict could jeopardize key oil installations. Although Iran has not directly threatened Gulf oil facilities, it has hinted that intervention from "Israel supporters" could lead to retaliation against their interests in the region. According to Saudi commentator Ali Shihabi, Gulf states believe an Iranian strike on their oil facilities is unlikely, but are cautious given the hints conveyed through unofficial channels.

  • Saudi Arabia Railways Joins EULYNX Signalling Consortium

    Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has officially joined the EULYNX Consortium, making it the first organisation outside of Europe to become part of the group. The EULYNX Consortium is an international collaboration of leading European railway infrastructure managers dedicated to the standardisation and modernisation of railway signalling systems.