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  • Türkiye in Talks with Saudi Arabia for US$6 Billion Defense Deal. KAAN to Get First Foreign Customer?

    The Turkish Air Force is expected to begin operating the KAAN fighter jet in 2028, with an initial delivery of 20 aircraft from TAI (TUSAS). By 2029, TAI is projected to produce two KAAN fighter jets per month, generating approximately $2.4 billion (RM9.6 billion) in annual revenue. Recently, Defence Security Asia reported that Saudi Arabia is considering a proposal to acquire approximately 100 units of the KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet, which is currently under development in Türkiye. Discussions on the potential acquisition were reportedly held during a recent visit by Saudi Royal Air Force Commander Prince Turki bin Bandar Al Saud to Türkiye. During his visit, Prince Turki met with key Turkish defense companies, including Roketsan, Aselsan, and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the manufacturer of the KAAN fighter jet.

  • What does Neymar’s departure mean for the Saudi league?

    The Brazilian attacker was among the global stars who transferred to Saudi clubs in 2023 when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr and Karim Benzema left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad. But unlike the latter two, Neymar was injured too often to make much of an impact in the desert kingdom after his 90 million euros ($94 million) transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. He played just seven games before Al-Hilal released him this week by mutual consent. Analysts say his exit is not likely to have a big impact on the Saudi league’s international standing as long as other big names remain. “Neymar’s departure does not damage the brand. If the other stars start leaving then it is different, but that does not look like it’s happening,” said Sasi Kumar, a former Singapore international and founder of Spain-based sports investment company 28 Ventures. “He went there, got injured and the timing was unfortunate. I am sure Hilal and other clubs will go and make more signings, as the ambitions are still there.”

  • Saudi Arabia’s Q4 GDP expands at fastest quarterly pace since 2022

    Saudi Arabia’s economy grew at the fastest pace since 2022 during the fourth quarter of last year, buoyed by expansion of both the oil and non-oil sectors as the kingdom continues to pursue its economic diversification agenda. The country’s gross domestic product grew by 4.4 per cent on an annual basis during the three-month period to the end of December “supported by the growth of key economic activities”, the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics said on Thursday. This rise is markedly higher than the 2.8 per cent year-on year GDP growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024, and is the sharpest rate of expansion in the past two years, according to Gastat data.

  • Saudi defense giant SAMI appoints new CEO

    Saudi Arabia’s government-owned defense giant has appointed Thamer AlMuhid as its new Chief Executive Officer, five months after previous CEO Walid Abukhaled stepped down, the company’s board of directors announced today. “In his role as CEO, Eng. AlMuhid will lead SAMI’s mission to develop cutting-edge technologies, manufacture world-class products, and forge strategic partnerships,” according to a statement from Saudi Arabian Military Industries. The company said AlMuhid served earlier in several executive positions from CEO of Saudi Chemical Company to the vice chairman of the board of directors of the National Academy of Military Industries. AlMuhid will be the third SAMI CEO since the organization’s founding in 2017, after German national and former Rheinmetall executive Andreas Schwer, and Saudi national and former Northrop Grumman executive Walid Abukhaled.

  • Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia

    Interpol is to establish an office in Saudi Arabia that will serve the Middle East and North Africa region. Hisham Al-Faleh, undersecretary at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, and Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the international police organization, signed a host country agreement on Wednesday. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Maj. Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the president of Interpol, also attended the signing ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In addition, they discussed Interpol’s activities during a meeting that also included Nasser Al-Dawood, the deputy minister of interior; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Al-Saqeeh, the director general of Saudi Interpol; and other senior officials.

  • Adesanya vs Imavov: UFC fight Saudi Arabia – start time, card, how to watch

    The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) travels to Saudi Arabia with an impressive lineup of mixed martial arts (MMA) talent, headlined by a thrilling main event middleweight clash between former two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya of New Zealand and France’s rising star, Nassourdine Imavov. The co-main event features a much-anticipated bout between the all-round brilliance of Shara Magomedov from Russia and the powerful punching Briton, Michael Page.

  • Simplex secures $13 million to propel Saudi expansion

    Simplex, a rising startup in the field of CNC machine manufacturing, secures $13 million as part of Saudi efforts to support and localise advanced industries within the Kingdom. Simplex will use the fund to open a huge factory, which is set to be built on a 20,000 square meter site in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and will be dedicated to producing advanced CNC machines. Simplex signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Development Centre to establish the company's first factory within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • Saudi Arabian team to standardise use of seawater in concrete production

    A team led by Saudi Arabian developer Neom has announced plans to research new forms of concrete, including ones that incorporate seawater, plastics, fine sand and construction waste. The NovusCrete consortium will look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of concrete, and also to cut costs and increase its lifespan and ease of recycling. Other members of the team include the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, the Saudi Investment Recycling Company, Swiss chemicals producer Sika and US-based concrete researcher ClimateCrete. They will also work alongside the American Concrete Institute, which has established a committee for the use of seawater in concrete.

       

  • Qatar approves memorandum on nuclear safety cooperation with Saudi Arabia

    The Qatari Cabinet has approved a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in nuclear safety and radiation protection between its Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission. This decision was made during the Cabinet’s regular meeting yesterday morning, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA). In 2006, the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) decided to conduct a joint study on the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation and water desalination. The six GCC countries agreed to carry out an initial feasibility study, followed by a detailed assessment and an implementation plan. The results of the detailed study, completed in 2010, confirmed the technical and economic feasibility of establishing a joint nuclear power plant.

  • KBR Scores Contract to Support Saudi Energy Future

    Global engineering specialist KBR Inc. has booked a contract to support a sustainable production of energy resources in Saudi Arabia. KBR said in a media release it will contribute to the delivery of Aramco’s Master Expansion Program and increase gas handling capacity at key regional locations. The agreement will see KBR assist efforts to increase and maintain the maximum sustainable capacity across the Shaybah field's four Gas-Oil Separation Plants (GOSPs) through 2028. It said it will also support the operation of power plant and well injection facilities. The project prioritizes sustainability by integrating carbon-free energy alternatives, carbon capture, and gas reinjection to reduce emissions, optimizing existing equipment and GOSP plot space, and evaluating a greenfield facility to enhance resource efficiency while supporting Saudi Aramco’s 2060 net-zero goals, KBR said.