Recent stories from sustg

MUST-READS

  • Gibson Dunn Launches in Saudi Arabia with Seven-Partner Team

    The firm’s Riyadh team includes seven partners—each of whom has extensive experience working with clients in Saudi Arabia: Megren Al-Shaalan, Mohammed Bashir, Mahmoud Abdel-Baky, Jonathan Langley, Mohamed AlHasan, Lars Petersen and Ibrahim Soumrany. Gibson Dunn has significantly expanded in the Gulf in the last 12 months, adding 14 new partners and 19 new associates, the largest investment made in the region by any international firm during this time.

  • Opinion: The world must start preparing for peacemaking in the Middle East

    But notwithstanding the abysmal conditions that currently prevail, the world must turn to preparing for peace once the guns fall silent. Indeed, international pressure is already building for finally addressing the root causes of the conflict and bringing about a peaceful resolution. US president Joe Biden, among others, has again invoked a two-state solution as a possible outcome, which, if not ideal, remains the least bad option.

  • Arbitration in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Part 4 – Drafting and Concluding Effective Arbitration Agreements in Saudi Arabia

    An effective, well-drafted arbitration clause (or arbitration agreement)  provides parties with a contractual mechanism through which they can enforce their legal rights. Therefore, it is an essential part of any contract pursuant to which the parties have agreed to resolve their disputes by arbitration. Arbitration clauses need to be properly drafted to be valid, effective and enforceable. Poorly drafted arbitration clauses may be challenged at the stages of initiating arbitration or enforcing arbitral awards, and defective or "pathological" arbitration clauses may even deprive the parties of access to arbitration.

  • Exxon to start lithium production for EVs in the US by 2027

    Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) said on Monday it plans to start producing lithium from subsurface wells by 2027 to provide supplies of the key metal used in electric-car batteries and advanced electronics.

    Oil majors are investing in the electrification sector as governments in the United States and Europe set programs to promote wider use of electric vehicles and reduce fossil-fuel consumption.

    Exxon said it will start production from briny waters pumped out of the ground in an area in the state of Arkansas known to hold significant lithium deposits to help develop a domestic source of the metal.

  • Automakers’ drive to avoid China’s EV rare earth dominance gathers speed

    The auto industry's drive to make electric vehicle motors with little to no rare earth content has hit high gear, with European, U.S. and Japanese automakers and suppliers racing for alternatives in an area dominated by China.

    Automakers have mostly relied on motors with rare earth-based permanent magnets, which have been the most efficient at providing the torque to power EVs.

    But different types of motors without permanent magnets that were previously too big and too inefficient, or those with greatly-reduced rare earth content have become commercially viable, prompting the rush for alternatives.

  • Mastercard and Ottu partner to boost payment access across GCC through Mastercard Gateway

    Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ottu, a prominent fintech player in the Middle East region. This pioneering partnership is primarily focused on Ottu's integration of Mastercard Gateway, enabling a range of local payment methods in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Inochem starts trial runs at soda ash, calcium chloride plants

    Khair Inorganic Chemical Industries Co (Inochem) has started trial operations at its soda ash and calcium chloride plants in Saudi Arabia, its part-owner Sahara International Petrochemical Co (Sipchem) said. The 300,000 tonne/year soda ash plant and the 350,000 tonne/year calcium chloride plant are located at the Ras Al-Khair Industrial City. Total project cost was Saudi riyal (SR) 2.9bn ($773m), Sipchem said in a filing on the Saudi bourse on 12 November.

  • Emirates 90-plane 777X deal to kick-start Dubai Airshow

    Middle East carriers look set to order tens of billions of dollars of long-haul jets at the opening of the Dubai Airshow on Monday, as Emirates renews confidence in the delayed Boeing 777X while facing new competition from rivals such as Turkish Airlines.

    Hosts Emirates and sister airline flyDubai are expected to stamp their mark early on the world's second-largest aerospace event, industry sources said, despite concerns about a drop in the economically key travel sector due to the war in Gaza.

  • Saudi FM stresses need for immediate ceasefire in Gaza after meeting Jordanian and British counterparts

    Prince Faisal stressed Saudi Arabia's position, which rejects targeting of civilians in any manner and underlines the importance of reaching an immediate cessation of military escalation. The Saudi foreign minister also stressed the necessity of lifting the siege on Gaza, as well as securing safe corridors for the entry of relief and humanitarian aid to civilians.

  • Saudi Arabia: Riyadh to host 2024 Smart Cities Forum

    The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) unveiled a three-year partnership with FIRA Barcelona at the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona. This alliance lays the groundwork for the Riyadh-hosted Smart Cities Forum scheduled for early 2024. The Riyadh Smart Cities Forum aims to gather national, regional, and global thought leaders to drive discussions on people-centric, smart, and sustainable cities in Saudi Arabia. This platform will showcase the Kingdom’s latest innovations and foster global dialogues with key stakeholders.