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  • King & Spalding’s Strategic Expansion: Merging with Al Fahad & Partners in Saudi Arabia

    In a landmark move to solidify its presence in the Middle East, King & Spalding, ranked 17th in the 2023 Am Law 100 with a gross revenue of $2.14 billion, has merged with Abdulaziz H. Al Fahad & Partners, one of Saudi Arabia’s most esteemed law firms. The newly formed entity, King & Spalding Al Fahad, is poised to deliver an expansive suite of legal services, aligning with the region’s evolving needs and the ambitious economic transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

  • White House envoy met senior Palestinian official in Saudi Arabia

    President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met on Tuesday in Riyadh with a senior adviser to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, according to two sources with knowledge of the meeting. This was the first meeting between a Trump administration official and a Palestinian official since November's election. The sources said the meeting was the result of several weeks of back-channel talks between Trump administration officials and Palestinian leadership. According to one source, Saudi Arabia helped broker the meeting, which took place in its capital.

  • Minister AlRajhi: increased Saudi-ILO cooperation fosters decent work, social justice and inclusive development

    As we continue to build a labour market that serves all who live and work in the Kingdom, we are acutely focused on eradicating abuse and exploitation in all its forms. Effective global collaboration is imperative to achieve this goal, and the Kingdom is aligned with key international labour standards, including through the ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on the Protection of Wages No. 95 and the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention No. 29. Building on these commitments, the Kingdom has now introduced a National Policy for the Elimination of Forced Labour – the first of its kind in Arab countries.

  • Former Eastern Province Emir Prince Mohammed bin Fahd passes away

    Born in Riyadh in 1950, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd is the second son of King Fahd. He received his school education from the Capital Model Institute. Prince Mohammed bin Fahd obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and political sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After graduation, he worked in the private sector but was gradually introduced to multiple public assignments. During the early 1970s he was a major stakeholder of the Al Bilad conglomerate. Then he was appointed assistant deputy minister of interior. In 1985, he was named emir of the Eastern Province, and his tenure ended in 2013.

  • The case for a GCC Common Sustainable Finance Framework

    The GCC is at a pivotal moment in shaping its sustainable finance landscape. Our latest report, "The case for sustainable finance" series, explores the opportunities of establishing a common framework for the region. As the world moves toward inclusive and resilient financial systems, the GCC can set a powerful example through collective action and a unified approach to sustainability.

  • GCC trade set to grow 5.5% annually through 2033, with total trade volume reaching $2.3trln, BCG report finds

    Global trade patterns are transforming significantly as new economic corridors emerge and traditional relationships evolve. According to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), world trade in goods is projected to grow at an average of 2.9% annually through 2033, with the GCC region playing an increasingly pivotal role in connecting major trade routes between East and West. The BCG report reveals a robust outlook for GCC trade, with total trade volume set to reach 2.3T USD by 2033. This growth is supported by significant expansion across multiple trade corridors, with China emerging as the largest growth market at 88B USD (5.7% CAGR), followed by Japan at 46B USD (9.4% CAGR). The analysis shows GCC's non-hydrocarbon trade will grow by 3.5% annually, highlighting the region's successful economic diversification efforts.

  • Commentary: The Elusive Saudi-Israeli Normalization Deal – Why an Agreement is Likely to Fall Short of Expectations

    The primary actors involved in a potential Saudi-Israeli normalization have strong incentives to portray a deal as a paradigm-shifting event with tremendous, transformative potential for the broader region. This normalization agreement is often described as an all-or-nothing opportunity that will emerge triumphantly within a game-changing grand bargain or else collapse spectacularly. There is good reason to consider another scenario more closely resembling the status quo: a Saudi-Israeli normalization that is considerably less encompassing and transformative than envisioned. Yet many foreign policy priorities of both Saudi Arabia and Israel now appear increasingly disconnected from normalization. The Saudi crown prince—and de facto ruler of the country—craves global recognition. Mohammed bin Salman wants to represent Saudi Arabia at G20 summits, court tech titans and financiers from the U.S. and Europe, and deepen relations with BRICS countries. As far as the Middle East region is concerned, Saudi officials have pursued a policy of de-escalation, which include reestablishing diplomatic relations with Iran and reducing economic pressure on the Houthis.

  • 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.

  • Saudi, other OPEC+ ministers meet after Trump calls for lower oil price

    Saudi Arabia's energy minister and several of his OPEC+ counterparts have held talks following U.S. President Donald Trump's call for lower oil prices and ahead of a meeting next week of OPEC+ oil-producing countries, according to official statements and sources. Trump last week called on Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices. OPEC+ has yet to respond, but five OPEC+ delegates said a meeting of the group's top ministers on Feb. 3 is unlikely to adjust its current plan to start raising output from April. On Monday, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman held talks with Iraq's Hayan Abdel-Ghani and Libya's Khalifa Abdulsadek in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

  • Decarbonizing Saudi Arabia Energy and Industrial Sectors: Assessment of Carbon Capture Cost

    Saudi Arabia has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. However, the economic implications of deploying CCUS within the Kingdom remain insufficiently explored. This work provides updated estimates of CO₂ emissions across key sectors in Saudi Arabia, including electricity, petrochemicals, refineries, cement, steel, ammonia production, and desalination, based on 2022 data.