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  • BRICS Membership: A Game-Changer for Saudi Arabia’s Economy?

    First and foremost, it is important to understand the economic power of the BRICS nations. Together, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa represent 40% of the world population and 25% of global GDP. If Saudi Arabia were to join this group, it would not only significantly increase the size and influence of the bloc, but also provide the country with access to a powerful network of economic partners.

  • First Milling Co. plans IPO on Saudi exchange

    First Milling Co. is planning an initial public offering and listing of its ordinary shares on the main market of the Saudi Exchange. The company was approved for an IPO of 16.65 million ordinary shares, representing 30% of the company’s share capital. The final price at which all subscribers in the offering will purchase shares will be determined at the end of the book-building period. First Mills produces more than 48 flour products and wheat byproducts such as animal feed, bran and wheat germ. It has a premium flour brand, Aloula, which is marketed in retail outlets across Saudi Arabia.

  • Then and now: How Arab states changed course on Syria

    President Bashar al-Assad's attendance at an Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday is the result of big policy shifts by Arab states that once backed his opponents in Syria's civil war. Here is an overview of the policies of major Arab players towards Syria and Assad, and how they have changed

  • Disasters, exacerbated by climate change, displaced more people than war in 2022—the year Russia invaded Ukraine

    By the end of 2022, a total of 71.1 million people were living in internal displacement, a state in which they have been forced to flee their homes but not crossed an international border. It marks the highest number on record and a 20% increase on the previous year.

  • Saudi Arabia announces major change to work and visit visas

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a new initiative, cancelling the visa sticker on passports and switching to an e-visa with QR code.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo: How superstar ‘has changed everything’ about Saudi football

    Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al-Nasser has completely transformed the Saudi top flight, says another of the division's overseas players. Speaking to FourFourTwo for the latest issue available to buy, Kaku – a Paraguay international who plays for Al-Taawoun – explained the transformative impact of Ronaldo's arrival in the Saudi Pro League.

  • Commentary: Saudi Arabia’s changed approach in Yemen

    The first sign of the Houthis’ willingness to yield to Tehran’s dictates came immediately after the Saudi delegation’s visit to Sana’a. The intensity of the Houthi media discourse died down to some extent and, after long obstructing the process, the Houthis forged ahead with the exchange of prisoners. They also began to dismantle the border shanty towns that they had erected in recent years to smuggle sub-Saharan African migrants into Saudi territory. Such steps are obviously not sufficient, but they are part of the confidence-building measures which it is widely believed, may require many more years of patient work.

  • New Changes to Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law

    Most importantly for companies doing business in the Kingdom, the revised PDPL outlines a broader set of circumstances under which cross-border data transfers are allowed. It also introduces standard “data adequacy” language, mandating that data can only be transferred to jurisdictions offering equal or higher levels of data protection, although the law does not specify the process or criteria for making adequacy decisions.

  • Riyadh housing crisis: Expats head to Saudi after HQ rule change but face major real estate shortage

    “A lot of expats are moving to the Kingdom and they’re looking for accommodation, but we have to remember that historically, the focus has always been on larger properties like larger apartments and villas because that is what the Saudi population has historically wanted – to live in a large family home.” A “significant amount of residential development” is needed “to cope with the project population growth,” said Durrani, which is set to at least double. In Riyadh, the population is expected to grow from 7.5 million today to around 17 to 18 million by the end of the decade.

  • Report: Saudi Arabia makes major changes to work visas

    Practical and written test of skilled workers will be carried out under the programme based on which they can apply for a Saudi work visa. Five professions are selected for skill testing in the initial phase including plumber, electrician, welder, automobile electrician and refrigeration/air conditioning technician.