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  • Hans Zimmer to reimagine Saudi Arabia’s national anthem

    Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is working on a new interpretation of the Saudi national anthem. Turki Al Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said talks had also been held with Zimmer over a concert and an original composition called Arabia, inspired by the kingdom’s culture and heritage. In a post shared on X, Al Sheikh called Zimmer “one of the greatest musicians of the modern age” and said they discussed several projects that could see the light of day soon. Zimmer was also offered the chance to create the soundtrack for coming Saudi film, The Battle of Yarmouk. Zimmer is a 12-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner, taking home the golden statuette for his work on The Lion King and Dune. Earlier this month, Zimmer performed at Dubai Opera alongside the Limitless Orchestra.

  • Oil turns lower after Trump says he’ll ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring the price down

    Crude oil futures fell Thursday after President Donald Trump urged Saudi Arabia and OPEC to cut their prices. U.S. crude oil fell 82 cents, or 1.09%, to close at $74.62 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent dropped 71 cents, or 0.9%, to close at $78.29 per barrel. Oil was higher on the session before Trump began speaking. Trump accused the Saudis and OPEC of fueling the war in Ukraine through high oil prices, claiming the fighting would end if they allowed global crude prices to fall. Russia is one of the largest oil exporters in the world and the revenues from those sales support its war. “I’m also going to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring down the cost of oil,” Trump said in a virtual address to the World Economic Forum. “If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately.”

  • Saudi Arabia weighs global mining deals as sector consolidates

    Saudi Arabia is looking for mining deals in a push to secure supplies of critical minerals for its industrialization plan, just as a wave of attempted consolidation sweeps the sector. Joining the consolidation drive “could be a good way of entering the market or getting at least access to different assets in a more structured way,” Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He didn’t elaborate whether this would be buying stakes in assets or buying companies outright. Deals have been on Saudi Arabia’s radar for a while as it pushes through with an ambitious economic transformation plan. The overseas drive has had limited results so far with just one major completed deal and another in the works in Pakistan, but recent dealmaking efforts by major companies may give the Saudis an opportunity to deploy their cash.

  • Floating solar could reach LCOE of $0.053/kWh in Saudi Arabia

    Scientists from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia have conducted a techno-economic analysis to assess the country’s potential for floating PV (FPV) development and have found that the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of floating PV project could be as low as $0.053/kWh. The study assessed techno-economic feasibility at three distinct locations with varying climates and topographies: the King Fahad Dam, a gravity dam on Wadi Bisha, 35 km south of Bisha in the ‘Asir Region; the Wadi Namar Dam, located south of Riyadh; and the Hali Dam, situated 14 km east of Keyad in Mecca Province. The scientists reported that the King Fahd and Wadi Hali sites offer greater depth, likely improving cooling and boosting efficiency. Maximum solar irradiation at King Fahd reaches 2.38 MW/m²/year, compared to 2.19 MW/m²/year at Wadi Namar and 2.07 MW/m²/year at Wadi Hali.

  • LIV Golf to Open 2025 Season Under the Lights in Saudi Arabia

    LIV Golf will open its 2025 season under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club. With the time difference, a daytime event in Riyadh would be in the early hours of the morning at an unwatchable time for most viewers in the United States. However LIV Riyadh, from Feb. 6-8, will begin at 6:15 p.m. local time and therefore 10:15 a.m. for golf fans in the eastern U.S. With LIV Golf inking a new broadcast deal with Fox, the change in time for the event could be an attempt to get their relationship with Fox off to a hot start.

  • Trump administration accepts resignation of US ambassadors to Jordan, Saudi Arabia

    The Trump administration has accepted the resignation of the US ambassadors to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya English has learned. All ambassadors submit their resignations when a new administration takes office, but these two were immediately accepted. A career diplomat, Ratney previously served as the acting deputy director of the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI). and the chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Jerusalem. He also previously served as the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Qatar as well as the acting deputy assistant secretary for the Levant and Israel and Palestinian Affairs. The veteran diplomat was US special envoy for Syria and served in Mexico City, Baghdad, Beirut, Casablanca and Bridgetown.

  • Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy poised to grow 4.8% in 2025: Minister

    Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy is expected to grow by 4.8% and 6.2% in 2025 and 2026, respectively, driven by efforts to invest in human capital and more dynamism in the private sector, said Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim. During a seminar entitled "Future of Global Economic Growth" at the Davos Conference 2025, Al-Ibrahim highlighted that the Saudi leadership has pushed for planning with confidence and careful management to drive further economic diversification and not to rely solely on oil.

  • Saudi Arabia Joins Hague System for International Registration of Industrial Designs

    Saudi Arabia has become the 99th country to join the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) announced. The Hague System provides a streamlined process for securing design protection across multiple countries or regions. The system is intended to assist creative individuals in promoting and marketing their designs while ensuring regional and international protection. This accession highlights the Kingdom's commitment to fostering creativity and innovation, which are essential for strengthening the national economy.

  • Saudi Arabia surpasses 2030 investment target: Al-Falih

    Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia has surpassed its $3.3 trillion investment target for the base economy, originally set for completion by 2030. Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia has surpassed its $3.3 trillion investment target for the core economy, originally set for completion by 2030. Speaking with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said these projections were part of Vision 2030. Capital formation targets have already been exceeded, with a significant portion deployed into the base economy, the minister added. Al-Falih said the government is slowing spending to let the private sector drive growth, indicating that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) plays a key role but accounts for only 15% to 20% of total investments.

  • Saudi Arabia’s economic potential in the gaming and esports market

    Gaming in Saudi Arabia has evolved far beyond just a hobby – it has become a dynamic industry driving innovation and shaping the Kingdom's future. The gaming and esports market is projected to generate $13.3 billion by 2030 (according to Savvy Games), making it a key driver of economic diversification under Vision 2030. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy (NGES), announced in 2022, aims to create 39,000 local jobs by 2030, spanning roles from game development to event management. Saudi Arabia’s investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure and hosting of world-class tournaments position it as a global hub for esports excellence. Beyond economic potential, esports provide young Saudis with opportunities to develop critical skills in technology, media, communication, and collaboration.