MUST-READS

• Saudi Arabia reiterates rejection of Israeli comments on displacement of Palestinians from their land

  Saudi Arabia on Sunday reiterated its categorical rejection of statements regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land, particularly those made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it rejected “such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including the ethnic cleansing they are subjected to.” The ministry likewise expressed its appreciation of the “condemnation, disapproval and total rejection announced by the brotherly countries” regarding the Israeli leader’s comments. “The Kingdom also points out that this extremist, occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to the brotherly people of Palestine and their emotional, historical and legal connection to this land, and it does not think that the Palestinian people deserve to live in the first place, as it has completely destroyed the Gaza Strip, killed and injured more than 160,000, most of them children and women, without the slightest human feeling or moral responsibility,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said.

  • Saudi Gazette - Saudi Arabia rejects Netanyahu’s remarks, accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing in Gaza
• Saudi Arabia logs SAR 1.3B in mining exploration spending in 5 yrs

  Saudi Arabia invested SAR 1.3 billion in mineral exploration over the past five years, a significant sum in the sector, according to Abdulrahman Al-Balooshi, Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. Drilling activity in the Kingdom exceeded 500,000 meters in 2023 alone, Al-Balooshi told CNBC Arabia. The number of exploration companies surged from six to 133 between 2018 and 2023, driven by improved geological data access and ministry incentives such as financial support and land allocations.

• Alat and Lenovo Break Ground on Major New Manufacturing Facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  The new manufacturing hub, which is expected to begin production in 2026, will be located just 15 minutes from Riyadh´s international airport in the Kingdom’s Special Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ). It will complement Lenovo’s extensive manufacturing footprint of 30+ factories around the world spanning Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, and the USA, and further increase supply chain resilience and flexibility. The new manufacturing hub will also enable Lenovo to be closer to customers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. The factory will be constructed on a 200,000 sqm campus site at “Riyadh Integrated” operated by Special Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ) and will produce millions of “Saudi Made” laptops and desktops, as well as servers in a factory designed, constructed, and operated to high standards of sustainability. Today’s celebration follows the deal closing that was announced on January 8^th 2025, following shareholder and regulatory approvals, and marks the completion of the US$2 billion investment (via three-year zero-coupon convertible bonds) alongside the strategic collaboration agreement that was initially announced in May 2024.

• Groq opens EMEA’s largest AI computer centre in Saudi Arabia

  Jonathan Ross, CEO of Groq today announced the opening of the AI inference leader’s second GroqCloud region and Europe, Middle East and Africa’s largest AI inferencing center in Dammam, backed by $1.5 billion investment in Saudi Arabia. Speaking on the main stage of LEAP 2025 in the company of Tareq Amin, former CEO of Aramco Digital and H.E. Abdullah Alswaha Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Ross confirmed that the GroqCloud is now live running on 19,000 Groq LPUs (language processing units). The new AI infrastructure hub was built in partnership with Aramco Digital and with the financial backing of Aramco . Amin emphasised that the GroqCloud service was not being priced at a premium and Saudi Arabia now has the lowest cost for inferencing AI models in the world.

• Botero, Banksy Win Big in Sotheby’s Debut Saudi Auction

  The historical mud-brick city of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia played host to an unusual crowd on Saturday night: art aficionados, new collectors and first-time paddle holders melding together to take part in Sotheby’s inaugural auction in the kingdom. The offerings were as diverse as the crowd, with everything from high-end collectible watches to handbags, paintings, jewelry and sports memorabilia on sale to the highest bidder. In the end, it may have been Saudi Arabian businessman Amr Zedan who struck the most luck. Zedan, who had participated in Sotheby’s auctions on the phone prior to the event, won bids for two pieces, including the oil painting Society Woman by Fernando Botero for $1 million. A new art collector, Zedan said he plans to add the piece to a portfolio started with his wife.

• Hajj 2025: Saudi Arabia bans children from accompanying pilgrims; registration opens for citizens, residents
  Saudi Arabia has banned children from accompanying pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj season, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced. The decision aims to protect children from the risks associated with the intense crowding that occurs every year, the ministry said. “This measure is taken to ensure the safety and well-being of children and to avoid exposing them to any harm during the pilgrimage,” the ministry stated. The ministry also added that priority for Hajj participation this year will be given as always to those who have not performed the pilgrimage before. Registration for the 2025 Hajj season has officially opened for Saudi citizens and residents through the Nusuk app and the official online portal. Pilgrims are required to verify their information, add companions, and submit any requests for exemptions, including those related to accompanying mahrams.

• Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s ‘extremist, occupying mentality’ in growing row over housing Palestinians

  Saudi Arabia has accused the Israeli government of pursuing an 'extremist, occupying mentality' amid a growing row over the claim it could house millions of Palestinians on its land. In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, its Foreign Ministry accused Israel of "continuous crimes" and "ethnic cleansing" of the Palestinian people. It followed comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to an Israeli TV channel, saying: “The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there." The Saudi statement on Sunday mentioned Mr Netanyahu's name but did not directly refer to the comments about establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi territory. The UAE and Egypt are among the Arab states to condemn Mr Netanyahu's suggestion. "The kingdom stresses its categorical rejection to such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including the ethnic cleansing they are subjected to," the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.

• Jordan condemns Netanyahu’s ‘incendiary calls’ for establishing Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia
  Jordan condemned on Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements about establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, deeming them “incendiary calls” and a “violation of international law”, Anadolu news agency reported. “The Israeli government continues its provocative policies and statements that undermine the sovereignty of nations and the principles of international law,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufian al-Qudah said in a statement. He stressed Jordan’s “absolute rejection of these provocative statements, which reflect an exclusionary and inciting ideology hostile to peace and contribute to further escalation in the region.”

• Arab states slam Netanyahu over suggestion to move Palestinians to Saudi Arabia

  Arab governments have slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks that a Palestinian state should be established in Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu – wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza – suggested earlier this week that Palestinians should be moved to Saudi Arabia which has "a lot of land," calling a Palestinian state a "security threat" to Israel. Riyadh quickly rebuffed the Israeli leader's comments in a foreign ministry statement, reiterating that normalisation with Israel would only be possible if an independent Palestinian state was established. Netanyahu and his far-right government have outright rejected a Palestinian state, which many Palestinians want to see include the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital. The comments came amid Netanyahu's visit to Washington this week, where he appeared alongside US President Donald Trump, who unveiled a controversial plan to "take over" Gaza and displace millions of Palestinians

  • Aljazeera - Saudi Arabia slams Netanyahu’s suggestion it should host Palestinian state
  • ME Eye - Netanyahu suggests Palestinians can have a state in Saudi Arabia
• Saudi’s Red Palace hotel hits 60% construction milestone, says Boutique Group CEO
  Saudi Arabia’s Boutique Group is ahead of schedule on its flagship Red Palace hotel project, with construction more than 60 per cent complete as the ultra-luxury hospitality company prepares to set new service standards in the Kingdom. The Public Investment Fund-owned company is targeting completion slightly earlier than its planned April 2026 opening date, according to Chief Executive Officer Christoph Mares. The project, which will transform one of Riyadh’s historic landmarks into an ultra-luxury hotel, will boast what the company claims will be the highest staff-to-guest ratio in global luxury hospitality.

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