MUST-READS

• The reality of life in Gaza right now, according to a former Middle East correspondent

  Christiane Amanpour speaks to journalist and author, Sarah Helm, about the potential consequences of an Israeli ground incursion into Rafah in Gaza.

• Saudi crown prince receives prime minister of the Netherlands

  Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, received on Tuesday the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte.

• Six Senses Southern Dunes offers serenity in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea

  ix Senses Southern Dunes was the first property to open in The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious regenerative tourism project, and so expectations are high. Now, alongside The St Regis Red Sea, it’s one of only two hotels in the area, which is eventually set to span 28,000 square kilometres, with myriad luxury resorts on more than 90 islands. The National checked in to a one-bedroom pool villa to see if the project lives up to the hype.

• Saudi Tennis Federation President Arij Mutabagani discusses big year ahead for sport

  At the first Grand Slam of 2024, there appeared to be a ceremonial passing of the tennis torch as record-breaking men’s champion Novak Djokovic was beaten in the Australian Open semi-finals by 22-year-old upstart Jannik Sinner, who went on to claim his first major crown. With Roger Federer and Serena Williams retired, and Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray are tipped to follow in their footsteps this season, the sport of tennis is currently in a state of transition.

• Saudi Arabian women and collective memories: a discussion with artist Manal AlDowayan

  Saudi Arabian artist Manal AlDowayan used to hate the word feminist. “I thought feminism was created for white, Western women, and their language didn’t include me,” she told me recently. Her work spans the range of photography, video, sound, sculpture and participatory practice. It is usually themed around the limitations and pockets of freedom that Saudi women have, as well as interrogating traditions, and collective memories. This has caused the art public to look at her as a feminist artist, and that’s also why her statement is quite surprising. “I think my grandmother was a feminist,” she clarified quickly. “Not through her sexual conduct or the way she dressed. Just by her resilience. She was a strong woman. Her husband died early and she had to raise 10 children alone. All of them became successful in their own right. She was amazing.”

• Baker Hughes and Dussur inaugurate Saudi Petrolite Chemicals’ facility

  Baker Hughes and Dussur have formally inaugurated the previously announced joint venture (JV) chemicals manufacturing facility focused on providing oilfield and industrial chemicals in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The facility will be known as the Saudi Petrolite Chemicals facility. The event commemorated the new facility which will increase KSA’s supply base targets of raw materials like solvents and glycols, as well as accelerate the development of manufacturing skills and capabilities of the local workforce. With faster delivery of fit-for-purpose chemical solutions, the facility is closer to customers and suppliers, creating efficiencies across the business. The new facility also builds on Baker Hughes’ continued strategy to source and produce chemicals in proximity to key demand hubs, as recently achieved with the Singapore chemicals manufacturing facility in 2022.

• Saudi Arabia’s dream of the desert train will cross UNESCO world heritage sites

  Arsenale Group and Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) recently announced a partnership to build the first luxury train that will cross the Kingdom at the end of 2025. Dubbed Dream of the Desert, the train will be made entirely in Italy with a design inspired by Saudi style and tradition. From the capital Riyadh to Al Qurayyat, on the northern border with Jordan, passengers will get to travel through scenic deserts and UNESCO world heritage archeological sites.

• PGA political golf drama is Saudi’s Trump card

  The scrutiny over Saudi Arabia’s potential investment in golf is intensifying. U.S. lawmakers accused, opens new tab former Citigroup (C.N), opens new tab power banker Michael Klein and other consultants to the sovereign’s Public Investment Fund of siding with the Middle East nation. While the deal with the PGA Tour is in flux, delays could work in the Saudis' favor. Last week, a Senate subcommittee hauled Klein, McKinsey boss Bob Sternfels, Boston Consulting Group Chair Richard Lesser and Teneo Chief Executive Paul Keary in for a hearing on national security. The interrogation was prompted in part by a surprise June agreement by the PGA and former archrival PIF-backed LIV Golf that outlined a potential tie-up between the two groups.

• Opinion – Only President Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Can Redirect the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

  One of the most unexpected developments in the Israel-Hamas war is the emergence of a powerful alignment of interests and incentives for Israel, the Palestinians, America and Saudi Arabia to all get behind a pathway to a Palestinian state that can live in peace alongside Israel. For starters, moving toward a Palestinian state — once this war ends — is the key for Israel reconnecting with important constituencies around the world, it’s the key to an eventual secure pathway out of Gaza and it is the cement for the regional alliance Israel needs to protect itself.

• Saudi Aramco starts trading US crude that helps set Brent oil benchmark

  Saudi state oil company Aramco has started trading a U.S. crude oil grade that underpins the global Brent benchmark in a process run by oil-index publisher S&P Global Commodity Insights, the publisher said on Monday. Aramco, the world's largest oil company, has been expanding its trading activity. The company could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday after Saudi business hours. On Monday, Aramco sold a cargo of U.S. WTI Midland crude to Total in the Platts Market on Close process, known as the Platts window, trade sources said. Aramco had last Thursday sold another cargo of the U.S. crude.

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