MUST-READS

• The Red Sea Film Fest Roundtable in Saudi Arabia With Spike Lee: “We Are Witnessing a Big Change”

  RSIFF 2024 jury president Spike Lee took time out of his busy festival schedule to take part in the discussion at the historic Nassif House Museum in Jeddah’s Old Town Al-Balad. Representing host nation Saudi Arabia was Meshal Al Jaser, whose humorous thriller Naga, which tells the story of a young woman who sneaks out for a date that goes wrong, screened in the 2023 RSIFF’s Arab Spectacular section and is streaming on Netflix. It also presented an opportunity to bring together six filmmakers who have made names for themselves as game changers and innovators for the second annual Hollywood Reporter roundtable at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The filmmakers discussed a broad range of topics, including creative influences, the importance of music, battling stereotypes, the role of AI and the lasting influence of Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

• Saudi Arabia, MBS adamant on Palestinian state before Israel normalization: Blinken

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is adamant about having a Palestinian state as part of any deal to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, the top US diplomat has said, adding that this was the key to long-term stability in the Middle East and one that would ensure Israel’s security. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that a Gaza ceasefire was necessary first. But after that, the focus would need to be on the long-term stability of the region, which would include Israel’s security. “And, of course, the key to that is the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” he said in an interview with Foreign Affairs published on Wednesday, expressing hope that the incoming Trump administration would get such a deal done. Despite several reports over the last year, including as recently as this week, that Saudi Arabia is willing to ease its demands in exchange for normalization, Riyadh has repeatedly been consistent in its stance demanding a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

• Combating desertification: Innovative solutions highlighted at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

  The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) has wrapped up with key discussions on combating desertification, building drought resilience, and achieving land degradation neutrality. The meeting, held in Saudi Arabia, brought together leaders, scientists, and stakeholders to confront the growing challenges of land degradation and its impact on vulnerable communities. Among the notable contributors at COP16 was a team of researchers from the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC), attending the conference for the first time. Their participation showcased how scientific innovation, local knowledge, and cross-country collaboration can pave the way for sustainable and equitable futures.

• Diriyah begins second-phase work with $202m contract

  Diriyah Company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has awarded a SAR758.5 million ($202.2 million) contract to China Harbour Engineering Company for bulk excavation works in the second phase of the Diriyah giga-project. The excavation will span 6.3 sq km, covering much of the second phase of the 14 sq km development. More than 600 heavy machines will be deployed to prepare the foundation for key cultural assets, including the Royal Diriyah Opera House and the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena. Excavated materials will be crushed and repurposed for road bases, landscaping and backfill, meeting international sustainability guidelines and circular economy principles. Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said that the excavation is ahead of schedule, ensuring smooth progress for the project’s cultural assets.

• Mubadala backs US-based AI startup in $600m funding round

  Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company is among the investors backing Crusoe, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence infrastructure provider, in its $600 million funding round. The Series D funding round was led by Founders Fund, with participation from new and existing investors, including Fidelity, Long Journey Ventures, Nvidia, Ribbit Capital and Valor Equity Partners. In June 2022, Mubadala participated in a $350 million series C funding round for US-based Crusoe Energy.

• Diriyah Company awards $202M excavation contract to China

  Diriyah Company, the visionary Saudi mixed-use developer transforming “The City of Earth,” has awarded a $202.2 million contract to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for bulk excavation works within the second phase of the ambitious Diriyah project. Spanning approximately 6.3 square kilometres of the 14 square kilometre development, this phase is a cornerstone in bringing Diriyah’s integrated urban master plan to life. The project features more than 40 hotels, arts districts, museums, and world-class sporting venues, including the Royal Diriyah Opera House and the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena. This groundwork will enable the seamless construction of the planned cultural and entertainment landmarks, paving the way for Diriyah to become a premier live-work-play destination on the outskirts of Riyadh.

• Saudi Green Initiative 2024 forum, gallery, and talks conclude with impactful outcomes

  The Saudi Green Initiative Forum, Gallery and Talks, held during the sixteenth session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), concluded successfully in Riyadh. Over the course of two weeks, the Saudi Green Initiative Pavilion saw significant attendance and broad participation from international experts and representatives across various sectors, showcasing the whole-of-society progress on Saudi Arabia’s path to net zero through the circular carbon economy approach. The pavilion also hosted a series of sessions and discussions that explored the many successes that have already been achieved in the fields of emissions reduction, afforestation and ecosystem protection. Held under the theme "Action is in Our Nature," the fourth edition of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum took place on December 3-4, convening 50 speakers across 25 sessions. The Forum engaged an audience of 1,500+ delegates from the public and private sectors, and announced five new initiatives valued at $60 million (SAR 225 million) alongside the signing of 14 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

• Saudi Arabia to launch random drug tests for public transport drivers nationwide
  Dubai: Saudi Arabia is set to launch a nationwide campaign to conduct random drug and substance abuse tests on public transport drivers, including those operating trucks, buses, and taxis, in a joint effort by the Public Transport Authority, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Health. The Federation of Saudi Chambers confirmed the campaign following communication from the Public Transport Authority, stressing its importance in safeguarding lives and preventing accidents caused by impaired driving. Testing will be overseen by the Ministry of Health and is expected to begin in the coming months.

• Pillsbury Merges With Saudi Law Firm to Open Riyadh Office
  Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has announced plans to open an office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, via a merger with Saudi law firm AlArfaj & Partners. Pillsbury said in a statement on Monday that it is awaiting issuance of a business license from the Saudi Ministry of Justice, but plans to work with AlArfaj & Partners to establish an office in the nation's capital city of Riyadh once the government approves. The combined firm would operate under the name Pillsbury AlArfaj. "Pillsbury has been involved in a wide range of work in the Kingdom over several decades, and the demands for in-country legal support are growing,” firm chair David Dekker said in a statement. "We’re hearing this from clients in all the U.S., European and Asian financial and technology centers in which we operate, and from within Saudi Arabia itself. Against that backdrop, the time is right to expand our commitment to the Saudi Arabia market and the wider Middle East region."

• Saudi Arabia spends over SAR 500M on mineral exploration: Deputy Minister

  Saudi Arabia is currently spending more than SAR 500 million on mineral exploration, compared to less than SAR 25 million in 2018, with an eye for 50% more year-on-year (YoY) in 2024, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Mudaifer. “Spending on exploration activities has grown by 40% YoY from SAR 80 per square kilometer to SAR 300, albeit still below the global average. Thus, we aspire to increase it by 50%, in a bid to align growth with global rates,” he told the press conference on the fourth International Mining Conference. The official also indicated that a total of 70 foreign and local exploration partnerships were established this year. Further, programs and incentives worth about SAR 780 million were created for investors in the exploration domain.

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