MUST-READS

• Gulf countries call for Israel to withdraw from Syrian lands it occupied after collapse of regime

  Gulf countries on Thursday issued a firm call for Israel to withdraw from the Syrian lands it recently occupied after taking advantage of a security vacuum following the collapse of the former regime. The call was issued at the start of an extraordinary meeting for the ministers of foreign affairs of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in Kuwait to discuss recent developments in Syria and Lebanon. “Israel's attacks on Syria and occupation of the buffer zone are a flagrant violation of international laws and Security Council resolutions,” the Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council Jasem Al Budaiwi said in his opening speech. Since the collapse of president Bashar Al Assad’s regime this month, Israel has bombed hundreds of weapons sites, airbases and naval assets in Syria and sent troops into a buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights. Israeli officials have called the incursion a limited and temporary measure to ensure the security of Israel’s borders but have not indicated when the troops will be withdrawn.

• UAE becomes Africa’s largest investor, overtaking China

  The UAE has emerged as Africa’s largest backer of new business projects, with Emirati companies committing $110bn (£88bn) to projects between 2019 and 2023, including $72bn in renewable energy, The Guardian reports citing FT Locations. These pledges outpace investments by the UK, France, and China, as traditional investors scale back. African leaders have also welcomed the UAE’s increased financial interest, particularly for green energy and infrastructure. “African countries are in dire need of this money [for] their own energy transitions,” Ahmed Aboudouh, associate fellow at Chatham House was quoted as saying. “But at the same time, [Emirati investors] come in with less attention to labour rights, to environmental standards.” The UAE’s investment ambitions align with its strategy to diversify from oil and gas. Major players include Dubai’s DP World, operating six African ports, and Abu Dhabi Ports, which has expanded in Guinea, Egypt, and Angola. In Zambia, International Resource Holdings—a conglomerate linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed—secured a surprise $1.1bn deal for a 51 per cent stake in Mopani Copper Mines.

• Saudi previously sought extradition for Germany attack suspect: Source close to government

  Saudi Arabia had previously requested extradition for the Saudi suspect in Germany’s deadly Christmas market attack, a source close to the government told AFP on Monday. “There was [an extradition] request,” said the source, without giving the reason for the request, adding that Riyadh had warned he “could be dangerous.” The attack on Friday evening killed five people. Saudi Arabia had warned Germany “many times” about Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, the source said. He did not explain in what way he was considered potentially dangerous.

• Saudi football gets its own Netflix documentary

  Over six episodes, Saudi Pro League: Kickoff chronicles the 2023-24 season, highlighting the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in 2022. His arrival in Riyadh — and a $200-million-a-year contract — inspired global stars, including Brazil’s Neymar and French striker Karim Benzema, to move to Saudi, elevating the league’s market value and global reach, with matches broadcast in 180 countries. The series examines football’s deep cultural roots in Saudi Arabia, and provides insight into the lives of the newcomers to the country.

• The Camel Museum: A Living Symbol of Authentic Saudi Culture

  Believing in the importance of participating in this national celebration of the camel, we at “Northwest Bus” launched a distinctive competition for designing a bus sticker inspired by the Year of the Camel. We invited all creative students across the Kingdom to participate with their ideas and innovative designs to take part in this historical journey and express their pride in this cherished national symbol.  In conclusion, let us celebrate the Year of the Camel with a spirit of pride and heritage, and look forward to a bright future that combines authenticity, progress, and pride in our national identity. 

• Saudi Reef Forum Sets New Milestones for Sustainable Development

  Organized by the Ministry of Water, Environment and Agriculture, the three-day event was recognized by Guinness World Records as the most attended agricultural forum in the world, bringing together around 70 speakers and nearly 5,000 visitors, including representatives from government entities, academia, businesses, local farms, and NGOs. The event highlighted the importance of rural communities and the role of public-private partnerships in rural development, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030.

• Saudi Arabia Becomes Top Buyer Of Russian Fuel Oil

  Saudi Arabia was the leading buyer of Russian seaborne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil (VGO) exports in November, LSEG data has revealed. According to Reuters calculations based on LSEG data, Russian fuel oil and VGO exports grew  6% month-on-month in November to about 4.26 million metric tons. Asian countries have become top buyers of Russia's fuel oil and VGO ever since the European Union imposed a full embargo on Russian oil products in February 2023. India is no longer the biggest buyer of Russian crude. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), India’s imports of Russian crude fell a massive 55% in November--the lowest figure since June 2022--despite Russia continuing to sell its oil at a discount. India has lately been trying to diversify its oil supplies

• Commentary: The balance of power is shifting in the Middle East – and it is Turkey’s ‘full moon’ on the rise

  Turkey played a pivotal role in the rebels’ surprising triumph. The operation unfolded with an extraordinary lack of the kind of violent destruction that has characterised Syrian campaigns over the past 13 years. Turkey provided intelligence, guidance and political cover. In the early years of the Syrian conflict, dozens of nations offered sporadic support to opposition groups, but Turkey’s commitment to the rebels in the north-western enclave near its border was consistent. Through ceasefires and frozen frontlines brokered since 2019, Turkey ensured that the rebels had the stability to rearm and reorganise. With Iran stretched thin and unable to provide resources and manpower due to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah and Iranian networks in Lebanon and Syria, the collapse of Assad’s regime became not only possible but inevitable. Meanwhile, Russia, preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, offered only limited support to Assad.

• The presence of women in Saudi press conferences

  The overall results show that the recent empowerment of Saudi women has led to an increase in their participation, rising from complete absence to nearly 14% of the questions asked. This shift may also encourage journalists to broaden their focus from women’s issues to other pressing topics of greater public interest. However, while female participation in the Saudi workforce has risen from 17% to 36%, their involvement in press conferences remains underrepresented. This suggests that certain areas of the workplace may require more time to advance, potentially through further training and education.

• From Riyadh Metro to flying taxis: Saudi Arabia’s transport revolution easing commutes

  The Riyadh Metro is opening in three phases. The Blue Line, which is 38 kilometers (24 miles) long, was one of the first lines to partially open, alongside the Yellow and Purple Lines, and runs north to south through Downtown Riyadh. The Red and Green Lines launched on December 15, while the Orange Line is scheduled to open by January 5, 2025. “Alternative means of transport outside of cars are necessary. Riyadh is gridlocked,” Nazar Musa, CEO at Sovereign PPG KSA, told Al Arabiya English. “Public transport solutions are crucial to ease traffic flow around the city.” The entire project features six color-coded lines spanning 176 kilometers with 85 stations, making it one of the largest urban transport projects currently operational in the world. Forty percent of the tracks run underground, facilitating smoother journey times across the Kingdom. The system features 183 train rakes manufactured by Siemens, Bombardier, and Alstom, establishing itself as the world’s longest driverless metro network. The fully automated operation represents a significant technological leap for the region’s public transportation infrastructure.

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