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  • Oman advances liquefied hydrogen export project

    Developed by Oman’s state-run hydrogen company Hydrom, the Ministry of Energy, Athens-based Ecolog and offtaker EnBW, one of Germany’s largest power companies, the project is expected to be completed in 2030. It follows an agreement signed during Cop28 in Dubai in 2023 between Oman, the Port of Amsterdam, Zenith Energy Terminals and GasLog, outlining the development of a liquid hydrogen supply chain to transport green hydrogen from Oman to the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe.

  • Google Cloud and Accenture launch Generative AI Center of Excellence in Saudi Arabia

    Google Cloud and Accenture are extending their pan-global Generative AI collaboration into the Saudi market, launching their latest Center of Excellence in the Kingdom’s capital city. First launched late 2023 in the US, the Generative AI Center of Excellence of Accenture and Google Cloud provides businesses with the industry expertise, technical knowledge, and product resources to build and scale applications using Google Cloud’s generative AI portfolio and accelerate time-to-value. Fast forward to today, and Accenture and Google Cloud have setup over a dozen such Generative AI Center of Excellences, including in New York, London, Bengaluru, and Sydney. Now, Saudi Arabia has been unveiled as the next location (and first in the Middle East), with the initiative set to provide a major boost to the Kingdom’s generative AI scene.

  • Saudi Arabia Wants To Supply Europe With Green Hydrogen

    With global interest in hydrogen accelerating, he sees the project as especially well placed to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s natural advantages. “We have the scale, location, and the partnerships in place that give us a significant lead,” he said, describing NGHC as a potential model for Saudi Arabia’s broader push into renewable energy and a significant part of Vision 2030’s economic transformation goals, NGHC has signed a 30-year distribution contract with Air Products to bring its green hydrogen to international markets in the form of ammonia, which makes it easier to transport and distribute. NGHC is not the only company in Saudi Arabia that is making green hydrogen a central part of its future. Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) in Berlin, an instrumentality of the German government, has signed a letter of intent with Saudi-based ACWA Power to supply it with 200,000 tons of green hydrogen beginning in 2030. Is there a need for so much green hydrogen? One steel plant in Duisburg is expected to require 143,000 tons of it per year.

  • Kering holds the first edition of its Kering Generation Award X Saudi Arabia

    In 2018, Kering launched the first edition of its Kering Generation Award in China to support local start-ups with a positive environmental and social impact. Since then, the Kering Generation Award has expanded across several regions, including Saudi Arabia, with the support of the Kingdom’s Fashion Commission. This first Saudi edition focused on identifying startups with a positive impact in the areas of customer engagement, circular economy, and water conservation. During a pitching session in early January, 10 start-ups among 100 were selected by a panel of experts. These 10 finalists then benefited from tailored mentoring before their final evaluation.

  • NEOM Green Hydrogen project reaches key milestones in energy transition

    In 2024, NGHC reported achieving 60% completion across its key sites, which include a hydrogen production facility, wind garden, solar farm, and transmission grid. The installation of critical technology and the preparation of “Electrolyser 1” for a 2025 launch marked key construction milestones. NGHC is also expanding its workforce, launching a recruitment drive that attracted over 9,000 applicants and forming partnerships with educational institutions to train future talent in the sector.

  • Saudi Moves Closer To 6th-Gen Fighter Aircraft. Italian PM Meloni Ready To Welcome Riyadh Into GCAP

    The GCAP, launched in 2022, is a collaborative initiative that seeks to design, manufacture, and deliver a next-generation crewed combat aircraft. The member states of the GCAP grouping seek to induct the first aircraft developed under this program by 2035. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Italy’s Leonardo, and Britain’s BAE Systems are leading the project as system integrators. On the question of whether the grouping will welcome the entry of Saudi Arabia, Meloni said, “We are in favor of the Saudis entering, but clearly this… will not be immediate,” emphasizing that the details of the GCAP still need to be worked out between the three founding nations. The Italian Prime Minister further added that opening up the multibillion-euro scheme to a fourth country will take time, without giving a tentative deadline.

  • Big Oil in no rush to ‘drill baby drill’ this year despite Trump agenda

    Wall Street expects U.S. oil and gas companies to keep a lid on spending in 2025 and keep their focus on generating shareholder returns, despite calls by President Donald Trump to "drill, baby, drill." Big Oil begins reporting fourth-quarter results this week, and outlooks for the coming year should reflect the dissonance between Trump's oil and gas-maximizing agenda and investor expectations. The industry has pushed in recent years to drive down costs and increase production by using more efficient technology rather than drilling many new wells. Producers also must contend with lower global oil prices as the post-pandemic demand rebound runs its course and as China's economy struggles. Benchmark Brent crude oil prices are projected to average $74 per barrel in 2025, down from $81 in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Overall, for the U.S. exploration and production sector, analysts at Scotiabank expect companies to target up to 5% production growth this year, and flat to slightly lower year-over-year capital expenditures.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Golden Handshake: A Generous Farewell to Civil Servants.

    Saudi Arabia has rolled out a remarkable initiative called the “Golden Handshake” program, earmarking a hefty sum of 12.7 billion Saudi Riyals to encourage early retirement among its civil servants. This isn’t just any policy; it’s a strategic move designed to streamline government operations and inject new life into the workforce by making room for the younger generation. The essence of this program lies in its offer of financial incentives to those who’ve dedicated years to public service, providing them with an opportunity to step back gracefully. To qualify for this golden opportunity, there are specific criteria set by the program. You’ve got to have clocked in at least 15 years of service and be aged between 50 and 55.

  • ‘Next Saudi Generation Program’ Launched to Support Saudi Talent in Motorsports

    The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) has launched the Next Saudi Generation Program to support and develop Saudi talent in motorsports. The program, conducted in collaboration with the Saudi Motorsport Company and under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, aims to empower Saudi youth and provide opportunities for future champions—both men and women—to explore rally racing and integrate into the world of motorsports. As part of this initiative, five drivers and their co-drivers were selected: Fahd Al-Marmash with co-driver Hossam Al-Zahrani, Hamza Bakhshab with co-driver Fahd Al-Omar, Abdullah Al-Shaqawi with co-driver Raed Al-Assaf, Merihan Al-Baz with co-driver Waleed Al-Sheqawi, and Fatima Banaz. These participants will compete for the first time in the Saudi Rally 2025, the Kingdom’s most prestigious and challenging motorsports event, hosted by Saudi Arabia for the sixth consecutive year. The selection of these competitors occurred during the Qassim Rally, a key round of the Saudi Rally Championship.

  • How Artificial Intelligence Will Affect Asia’s Economies

    Asia-Pacific’s economies are likely to experience labor market shifts because of artificial intelligence, with advanced economies being affected more. About half of all jobs in the region’s advanced economies are exposed to AI, compared to only about a quarter in emerging market and developing economies. However, as we show in our latest Asia-Pacific Regional Economic Outlook, there are also more jobs in the region’s advanced economies that can be complemented by AI, meaning that the technology will likely enhance productivity rather than replace these roles altogether. The concentration of such jobs in Asia’s advanced economies could worsen inequality between countries over time. While about 40 percent of jobs in Singapore are rated as highly complementary to AI, the share is just 3 percent in Laos.