SUSTG.com / Research

Discover stories, topics, and more about Saudi Arebia faster.

We can't find results matching your search.

Adjust your search and try again or browse topics and stories below.

Recent stories from sustg

  • Saudi Arabia Takes Significant Step Toward Formal Tender for Peaceful Nuclear Power Plants
     

    Saudi Arabia has sent a request for information (RFI) to international suppliers to build two nuclear power plants, a first step towards a formal tender, three sources told Reuters. Saudi Arabia has announced plans to extract uranium domestically as part of its nuclear power program and will start building its first nuclear reactors next year. Extracting […]

     
  • KAPSARC’s New Headquarters Near Riyadh, Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Receives LEED Platinum Status
     

    The futuristic-looking new headquarters of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC) on the outskirts of Riyadh has received LEED Platinum certification—the first of Zaha Hadid Architects’ projects to receive the title. KAPSARC is a non-profit dedicated to studying energy and their environmental impacts. The new 230,000 square-foot campus comprises five buildings and cuts a striking figure against […]

     
  • Saudi Arabia to Award Nuclear Reactor Contract by End of 2018; U.S. Set to Miss Out
     

    Saudi Arabia plans to award a construction contract for its first nuclear reactors by the end of 2018, a senior government official said on Tuesday as reported in Reuters. “With sponsorship from the highest levels in the state, the contract will be signed by the end of 2018,” Maher al Odan, the chief atomic energy […]

     
  • Over 87,000 Business Licenses Issued to Saudi Arabia this Year – Report
     

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce and Investment issued over 87,000 business licenses to women in the last year as the Kingdom looks to increase female integration into the Saudi economy. The Ministry said it issued 87,575 commercial registrations for women “for businesses in various fields, including trade, manufacturing, communications, information technology, real estate, cleaning, tourism, restaurants […]

     
  • Saudi-Russia Ties Strengthen as King Salman Visits around Russia Energy Week
     

    Saudi-Russia ties continue to warm ahead of King Salman’s visit as the Kingdom looks to expand bi-lateral investment opportunities, according to reports. Saudi Arabia and Russia are the two biggest energy players, producing almost a quarter of the world’s oil between them. As the de facto leader of OPEC, Saudi Arabia has forged a working […]

     
  • Saudi Economy Contracts as Production Cuts, Reforms Begin
     

    Saudi Arabia’s economy contracted by 1.03 percent in the second quarter of this year following a 0.5-percent contraction in the first quarter, according to reports, as participation in the OPEC oil production cut and disappointing growth in non-oil industries weighed on the economy. While the contraction in the economy is to be expected as OPEC and Russia seek […]

     
  • With Historic Decree on Saudi Women Driving, An Economic and Social Game-Changer
     

    Saudi women and champions of equal rights around the world embraced a decision by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to allow women to drive for the first time, a landmark royal decree that will change the Kingdom’s economy and society in countless ways. Saudi Women will now be able to legally apply for their own driving licenses without having to secure […]

     
  • PIF $2.7b Bet on Entertainment an Investment Toward a ‘Vibrant Saudi Society’
     

    Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on September 20 that it is setting up a new company to invest in the entertainment sector, as the Kingdom looks to achieve a more vibrant society – a stated goal of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The company, which will have $2.67 billion in initial capital to invest, will seek […]

     
  • The Next U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia?
     

    President Trump is rumored to be nearing a selection for U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, according to reports. A New York Times reporter tweeted today that Dave Urban, who ran President Trump’s surprise successful campaign in Pennsylvania in 2016, is said to be the President’s pick for the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The top American newspaper’s […]

     
  • Qatar Welcomes Saudi Decision to Open Border for Hajj Pilgrims
     

    Qatar has responded positively to Saudi Arabia’s decision to open its border with with the Gulf Arab nation for Hajj pilgrims, but also criticized a “politicization” of the key pilgrimage, according to reports. Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said in a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden that “regardless of the fact that the pilgrimage was prohibited […]

     

MUST-READS

  • Saudi Arabia Buys Stake in Blavatnik’s Streaming Service Dazn

    The sports investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a minority stake in billionaire Len Blavatnik’s streaming service Dazn Group, which holds the broadcasting rights of some of Europe’s top-tier football leagues. SURJ Sports Investment, a unit of the $1 trillion Public Investment Fund, and Dazn will set up a regional joint venture to help broaden fans’ access to live and on-demand sports content, according to a statement Monday. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, though Bloomberg News has previously reported SURJ would invest at least $1 billion.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Residences draw early buyers at $1.5mn starting price

    Red Sea Global has sold more than 12 per cent of its ultra-luxury homes on Saudi Arabia’s western coast before the official market launch, with prices starting from SAR5.5 million ($1.47 million) for a one-bedroom property, as the developer taps into growing regional demand for premium coastal real estate. The pre-sales success of the multi-billion riyal development on Shura Island signals a strong appetite from wealthy Gulf investors for Saudi Arabia’s emerging luxury tourism destinations, with the developer primarily targeting buyers from the kingdom and neighbouring Gulf countries.

  • ‘Positive feeling’ in Iran amid talk of Saudi mediation with Trump

    Saudi Arabia is apparently floating the notion of mediating between Iran and the United States. First reported by CNN, Tehran has dismissed the idea as “speculation”—but that has not stopped the Iranian press from discussing what Saudi intervention could entail, and what Riyadh may gain by brokering talks. Speaking to Amwaj.media on condition of anonymity, a high-ranking Iranian political source expressed “a positive feeling” about the Kingdom potentially playing a constructive role in enabling engagement with the Donald Trump administration. Addressing the reasons for his positivity towards such a scenario—mindful of how other Gulf Arab states have more established records of facilitating dialogue with Washington—the source indicated Trump’s close relationship with Riyadh.

  • Israel will begin negotiations on next phase of Gaza ceasefire this week, minister says

    Israel will begin indirect negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal this week and it demands a complete demilitarisation of the enclave, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday. Negotiations for the second phase of the deal were supposed to start on February 2 but Qatar, who together with Egypt and the United States is mediating between the sides, said the talks have not officially started yet.

  • US-Russia hold talks in Riyadh without Ukraine

    Top United States and Russian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, February 18, for talks on resetting their fractured relations, the first such discussions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both sides downplayed expectations of a breakthrough in this first high-level meeting between the countries since US President Donald Trump took office. Still, the very fact the encounter is taking place has triggered concern in Ukraine and Europe following the US' recent overtures towards the Kremlin. At Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, the talks began without visible handshakes, and no statements were made. A stern-faced US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat across from Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff by his side. Lavrov was accompanied by senior Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban also attended.

  • Top Russian and US officials discuss improving ties and ending the Ukraine war — without Kyiv

    The top diplomats from Russia and the U.S. met Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine — talks that represented a rapid and major change in American foreign policy under President Donald Trump. No Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting, which came as the beleaguered country is slowly but steadily losing ground against more numerous Russian troops in a grinding war that began nearly three years ago. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country won’t accept any outcome from this week’s talks if Kyiv doesn’t take part. European allies have also expressed concerns they are being sidelined. Beyond Ukraine, the meeting — attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other senior officials — had been expected to focus on thawing relations between the two countries, whose ties have fallen to their lowest level in decades.

  • Saudi Arabia’s SURJ takes ‘US$1bn’ stake in DAZN

    Saudi Arabia’s SURJ Sports Investment, a subsidiary of the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has acquired a minority stake in sports streaming service DAZN. PIF has been linked with an investment in the broadcaster for several months, with reports earlier this year suggesting it was seeking a ten per cent share in the company for US$1 billion. Financial terms have not been confirmed, but the two parties have also committed to establishing DAZN Middle East and North Africa (MENA), a joint venture which will create broadcasting opportunities for Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports portfolio. Acquiring a stake in DAZN will allow Saudi Arabia to amplify its sporting ambitions. Saudi Pro League clubs have invested significantly in playing talent, while PIF has bankrolled the LIV Golf tour, acquired Premier League soccer club Newcastle United and become a sponsor of the ATP and WTA tennis tours.

  • Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia amid US-Russia talks in Riyadh

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, February 19, for an official visit, his spokesperson Sergiy Nykyforov confirmed to AFP on Monday. Nykyforov described the trip as a "long-planned" engagement, which Zelensky himself previewed last week without specifying exact dates. The Ukrainian president made it clear that he will not be meeting with any Russian or US officials who are scheduled to hold separate discussions in the kingdom on Tuesday, February 18.

  • Rubio discusses Gaza deal with Saudi crown prince

    Rubio, who arrived from Israel accompanied by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, met the de facto ruler ahead of talks expected on Tuesday with a Russian delegation in the Saudi capital. But the 500-day-old Israel-Hamas war dominated discussions, according to a State Department statement. Rubio and the crown prince "reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring that Hamas releases all hostages, including American citizens", the statement said. "The secretary underscored the importance of an arrangement for Gaza that contributes to regional security," it added. The two "discussed ways to advance shared interests in Syria, Lebanon, and across the region, to include Red Sea security and freedom of navigation", said the statement, which made no reference to President Donald Trump's widely criticised plan for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and move away the Palestinian population.

  • Why Is Saudi Arabia Hosting U.S.-Russia Talks? And Why Now?

    Experts see the talks as a sign that Saudi Arabia is seeking to assume a central role in international diplomacy while deepening its ties with longtime ally Washington. The discussions will be an opportunity for the oil-rich Arab nation to assert its political clout after it rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate Gaza’s residents while resisting any normalization of relations with Israel. “Riyadh wanted to have a bigger diplomatic footprint,” said Amin Tarzi, an adjunct professor of International Relations at the University of Southern California’s Washington, D.C. Program. He says that Riyadh is seeking to “revive the relationship” that Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman built with U.S. President Donald Trump during his first administration. In May 2017, Trump made his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia. “Both Riyadh and Washington would like to expand relations under the current U.S. administration,” said Tarzi.