MUST-READS

• Jeeno Thitikul Cruises to 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International Crown

  Jeeno Thitikul secured her fifth Ladies European Tour (LET) title after storming to a four-stroke victory at the 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International. The Thai star, who is number four in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, began the day with a three-shot lead at Riyadh Golf Club. Thitikul rolled in a birdie on the first before adding further birdies on the fourth and seventh holes to put herself in a commanding position. Another birdie on the 10th was followed by a bogey on the next hole however, she soon added another birdie on 12 before a dropped shot on the 14th hole. A round of 69 (-3) on the final day to end the week with a score of 16-under-par was more than enough to ensure Thitikul began her 2025 season in the best way.

• Rubio arrives in Saudi Arabia before Russia talks to end Ukraine war
  Russia said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold talks with top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Tuesday that will focus on ending the war in Ukraine and restoring "the whole complex" of Russia-U.S. ties. Rubio arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday on a previously planned trip. U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who are set to arrive later on Monday, will be joining him at the talks with the Russians. The talks will be among the first high-level, in-person discussions in years between Russian and U.S. officials and are meant to precede a meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to President Vladimir Putin, would fly to the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday. Riyadh, which is also involved in talks with Washington over the future of the Gaza Strip, has played a role in early contacts between the Trump administration, which took office on January 20, and Moscow, helping to secure a prisoner swap last week.

• Saudi Arabia Expands Absher Platform with New Digital Identity Services for Citizens and Expatriates

  Saudi Arabia has expanded its Absher digital platform with new services that streamline government procedures for citizens and expatriates. The platform recently achieved a milestone of 28 million digital identities in December 2024. Maj. Gen. Saleh Al Murabba, Chief of the Saudi Directorate of Passports, announced new features including digital identity verification for expatriates, photo upload capabilities for dependent passports, and enhanced national ID card management services. Expatriate residents can now display digital identification details to authorities, update passport information, and submit photos for passport-related procedures through the platform.

• Saudi Arabia awards almost $2bn of contracts in January

  Saudi government entities awarded more than SAR6.5 billion ($1.7 billion) of contracts in January, led by housing, infrastructure and industry. More than half the value of the contracts issued last month – SAR3.7 billion – was allocated towards construction, with the remainder going on water , energy and industry projects, the Saudi Contractors’ Authority (SCA) said last week in its latest Muqawil (contractor) bulletin. There were 15 projects in all, and the capital Riyadh took the lion’s share by value at SAR4.8 billion. This month, the SCA is expecting the number of awarded contracts to rise to 25, from entities including Saudi Electricity Company, the National Housing Company and the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

• Saudi Prince Steps In as Power Broker in Trump’s New World Order

  MBS, as the oil-rich kingdom’s de facto ruler is known, is one of the few global power brokers to enjoy a close relationship with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while most Arab heads of state see him as critical to tackling a more erratic Washington. That has positioned Riyadh as the most likely venue for a Trump-Putin summit on Ukraine, and puts Prince Mohammed at the heart of the regional response to Trump’s controversial proposals for war-ravaged Gaza. Saudi officials believe that positioning MBS as a peacemaker furthers the kingdom’s goal of becoming a middle-ranked global power that’s friends with everyone and pursues a foreign policy that’s mainly in the service of its economic interests and aspirations.

• Saudi Arabia Emerges as Key Global Player Under Trump

  Saudi Arabia's diplomatic maneuvers reflect its ambitions to assert itself globally while securing its own geopolitical interests. Its support for a negotiated peace in Ukraine could bolster its influence with both Washington and Moscow, while its leadership on Gaza underscores its regional authority. The Kingdom's balancing act will test its ability to navigate the complex dynamics of great power competition and Middle East stability. "Saudi Arabia's recent diplomatic maneuvers reflect a growing maturity from Riyadh that we didn't see during President Donald Trump's first term. The Kingdom appears to have moved on from an unrealistic foreign policy approach towards the region, and instead seems to be using its leverage and embracing diplomacy as a tool for regional stability and strategic influence."

• Discover a World of Cinematic Opportunities in Saudi Arabia

  The Saudi Film Commission, one of 11 specialized commissions under the Ministry of Culture, plays a pivotal role in empowering the industry and driving its development, further strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a leader in the global film landscape. From the high mountains of the north to the Red Sea’s white beaches in the west, and from vast deserts in the east to green landscapes in the south, Saudi Arabia offers an array of possibilities for filmmakers. The Kingdom’s landscapes, with their modern cities, reflect a blend of heritage and modernity, offering the chance to tell diverse stories. Sites like NEOM, Alula, Diriyah, Riyadh, Jeddah and the Empty Quarter provide a versatile backdrop providing locations that can stand in for a wide variety of settings.

• Explorer completes first stage of bid to cross Saudi Arabia on foot

  Writer and TV presenter Alice Morrison, from Edinburgh, began her journey on New Year’s Day at the border with Jordan. Accompanied by two camels – named Juicy and Lulu – and local guides, the 61-year-old has now covered the 930 kilometres to the Prophet’s Mosque, also known as Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, in Madinah. The seven-week journey saw the seasoned explorer average about 23km – or 33,000 steps – per day. During the journey, Ms Morrison, who speaks fluent Arabic, explored numerous pieces of the country’s rich history – including ancient ruins, bronze age tombs, and relics from the old Hejaz railway.

• Saudi Arabia deports 10,822 illegal residents in a week

  Saudi Arabia has deported 10,822 illegal residents during the last week, the Ministry of Interior revealed on Saturday. A total of 29,510 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents while 3678 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations during the period between Feb. 06 and 12. The Saudi security forces have arrested a total of 22,663 illegal residents from various regions of the Kingdom during the last week. The arrests were made during the joint field security campaigns that were carried out in collaboration with the relevant government agencies.

• How Saudi Arabia is leveraging regenerative tourism to blend luxury with sustainability

  At the heart of Saudi Arabia’s environmental strategy is regenerative tourism, which aims to protect natural habitats through science-led approaches and sustainable practices. Unlike sustainable tourism, which aims to minimize harm, regenerative tourism strives to improve destinations through conservation, community engagement and science-led initiatives. This includes implementing eco-friendly infrastructure, protecting biodiversity, and involving local communities in conservation efforts to ensure long-term environmental and economic benefits.

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