MUST-READS

• Saudia ‘still a flag carrier’ ahead of Riyadh Air launch

  Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia is upgrading its fleet with new Boeing and Airbus aircraft even as the government prepares to start a new airline later this year. The 80-year-old carrier has 118 aircraft on order, most of which will replace older models in its existing fleet of 147, and are scheduled to arrive through next year. Meanwhile, the new airline Riyadh Air will replace Saudia as the kingdom’s primary flag carrier and operate out of the capital. Saudia, by contrast, will focus its operations out of Jeddah, its historic city on the Red Sea coast and the gateway to Islam’s holiest sites in nearby Mecca and Medina.  The world’s second-largest oil producer is investing or seeking investment of around $100 billion in its aviation infrastructure and equipment as part of efforts to more than triple passenger traffic to 330 million by 2030.

• Saudi Arabia Chairs 69th Session of UN Commission on the Status of Women

  The 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) began yesterday, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations Abdulaziz Alwasil. The session will continue through March 21, featuring a high-level delegation led by Family Affairs Council Secretary-General Maimoonah Al Khalil. As chair, the Kingdom emphasizes enhancing international cooperation to support women's empowerment and address their challenges. It will also share its experiences and initiatives that have strengthened Saudi women's role as a key driver of national development. Al Khalil emphasized that Saudi Arabia's selection to chair CSW69 demonstrates the significant strides made in empowering Saudi women. She attributed this success to the unwavering support of the Kingdom's leadership, which has facilitated women's continuous achievements across all fields.

• Siemens Energy awarded $1.6 billion Supply Contract for Rumah 2 and Nairyah 2 Power Plants

  Siemens Energy announces that it has been awarded a USD 1.6 billion project, with Harbin Electric International as the EPC contractor, to provide key technologies for the Rumah 2 and Nairyah 2 gas-fired power plants in Saudi Arabia. Located in the western and central regions, the plants will add 3.6 gigawatts of power to the national grid – enough to supply around 1.5 million homes. The project includes long-term maintenance agreements to support the plants’ operational reliability over the next 25 years. Core components for the power plants will be manufactured at the Siemens Energy Dammam Hub, which is currently expanding to increase local production capacity and support Saudi Arabia’s energy sector.

• Ukraine agrees to U.S. ceasefire plan. ‘Hopefully Russia agrees to it,’ Trump

  The United States will resume military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine after Ukrainian negotiators today agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire, which the US will now discuss with Moscow, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “We’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes,” Rubio told journalists after the conclusion of talks with the Ukrainians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tonight. “The ball is now in their court.” President Trump “wants the war to end,” Rubio said. “Today, Ukraine has taken a concrete step in that regard. We hope the Russians will reciprocate.” “The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear: that they share President Trump’s vision for peace,” US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said. “They share his determination to end the fighting.”

• Positive Energy and Pragmatic Actions Needed to Drive Global Growth and Rise of AI: Dr. Sultan Al Jaber

  Speaking at CERAWeek in Houston, Texas, Dr. Al Jaber called for durable, stable policies to meet the growing demand for energy. “The world is finally waking up to the fact that energy is the solution. Energy is the beating heart of economies, a key driver of prosperity and is fundamental to every aspect of human development. If we want a pro-growth world, we need pragmatic actions and policies that are pro-growth, pro-investment, pro-energy and pro-people.”

• How separatist militants hijacked a train in Pakistan
  The Jaffar Express was heading to the city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, with 425 people on board when it was attacked. Militants blew up the railway tracks and opened fire on the train, killing the driver and trapping the locomotive inside a tunnel before taking control of it. Some of those rescued said they crouched low when the firing started, while others spoke of passengers who had been injured or killed.

• US resumes sending aid, intel to Ukraine; seeks ‘yes’ from Russia on ceasefire

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his own statement that the day’s discussions began with Ukraine’s key priorities: stopping Russia’s missile and drone attacks, releasing prisoners of war, the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, and building confidence in the overall diplomatic process. “The American side understands our arguments and considers our proposals,” Zelenskyy said. “The U.S. side proposed taking an even bigger first step—a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone, and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line. Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal.”

• Saudi Arabia, Ukraine Issue Joint Statement Emphasizing Strong Economic Ties and Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Trade Volume

  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine commended the strong economic ties between the two friendly countries and emphasized the importance of joint action to develop the volume of trade exchange. The two sides also welcomed the upcoming reestablishment of the Saudi-Ukrainian Business Council in 2025. This came in a joint statement issued following the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the text of which reads as follows: "Within the framework of distinguished relations and close cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 10, 2025. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received President Zelenskyy at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. They held an official discussion session, during which they reviewed the aspects of the distinguished relations between the two friendly countries, and expressed their desire to enhance them in all fields.

• US wants Ukraine to ‘do difficult things,’ Rubio says ahead of Saudi ceasefire talks

  The two sides have framed Tuesday's talks as a way to reset bilateral relations following last month's explosive Oval Office meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance. The showdown prompted Trump to denounce Kyiv as the main impediment to peace in Ukraine, as well as placing a freeze on U.S. military aid and some intelligence sharing. "The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things," Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who will lead the U.S. delegation -- said on Monday ahead of the talks. Zelenskyy has stressed his readiness for peace, though repeatedly warned that any agreement must ensure deterrence against future Russian aggression. On Monday, Zelenskyy -- who will not take part in Tuesday's talks -- traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

• PIF launches Al Waha, first Saudi-owned duty-free retailer

  PIF today announced the establishment of Al Waha Duty-Free Company (Al Waha), a travel retailer and the first Saudi-owned duty-free operator. Al Waha, a wholly owned PIF company, will become a leader in travel retail and secure a greater share of passenger spending for the Saudi economy.  Al Waha will develop luxury retail outlets in select locations across the country and feature a variety of merchandise including distinctive, high-quality Saudi products. Al Waha will operate its airport outlets on a duty-free basis, and will explore additional travel retail opportunities at land border crossings and seaports, as well as channels such as inflight shopping. Majed Al-Assaf, Head of Consumer Goods and Retail in MENA Investments at PIF, said: “By establishing Al Waha as a national travel retail champion, PIF intends to grow the Saudi travel retail industry and further support its ambitions for the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia. Al Waha will offer a distinctive traveler experience across Saudi travel retail touch points through diverse product offerings, a duty-free operation and a superior digital customer journey.

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