MUST-READS

• Unpacking the Drivers of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Policy

  At its core, Saudi Arabia's foreign policy orientation is grounded in the Kingdom’s economic program Vision 2030. For Vision 2030 to succeed, there is a clear awareness by the Saudi government that international partnerships and a stable geopolitical environment are essential. As the country works to reduce its dependence on oil and diversify its economy, foreign relations are not merely supplementary but a prerequisite for securing the investments, trade agreements, and stability needed for sustained economic growth. As Saudi Arabia seeks to establish itself as an attractive investment destination, diplomatic efforts help maintain an investment-friendly environment, assuring foreign investors of the country's security and stability.

• Eid al-Fitr: Employees, students in Saudi Arabia to enjoy long Eid holiday

  This year’s month of fasting began on March 1. The official Eid holiday in Saudi Arabia will start on Sunday March 30, meaning that employees will enjoy a long holiday with Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, already off as weekend days. The Eid al-Fitr break will be extended to four days ending on Wednesday, April 2, with work resuming on Thursday, April 3. For students on the other hand, the break will begin on March 20 and studies will resume on April 6, according to the education ministry’s academic calendar. The actual date of the first day of Eid al-Fitr will be confirmed when the crecent moon is sighted.

• Saudi Arabia’s Emergence as a Diplomatic Broker

  Although Riyadh’s audition for the global spotlight began years ago, it has kicked into overdrive this year, with the kingdom hosting multiple bilateral and multilateral meetings since January alone. These include the first high-level, direct meeting between Russia and the United States in years; an emergency Arab League summit to discuss postwar reconstruction plans for Gaza; an international meeting on securing assistance for post-Assad Syria; and the first foreign trips by interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and newly minted Lebanese president Joseph Aoun. Most recently, Riyadh hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky this week amid high-level U.S. discussions on resolving the Ukraine war, and a follow-up summit between President Trump and Vladimir Putin may take place there as well.

• Pokémon Go developer Niantic to sell gaming business to Saudi group

  Niantic Labs has announced that it’s selling its video game division to Saudi Arabia-owned mobile developer Scopely for $3.5 billion after struggling to replicate the success of Pokémon Go across its other AR games. The newly inked agreement includes Niantic’s Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom mobile gaming titles. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. Should the deal go through, it will also bring Niantic’s social companion apps for Pokémon Go — Campfire and Wayfarer — under Scopely ownership. Scopely says it will gain “Niantic’s entire team of exceptional gamemakers and category-leading games.” However, the Peridot and Ingress AR gaming titles, the latter of which is also supported by the Wayfarer mapping app, will remain under the ownership and development of Niantic Spatial.

• Saudi Arabia leads Arab nations in condemning Israel’s Gaza electricity cut

  Saudi Arabia led other Arab nations Qatar and Jordan in condemning Israel’s decision to cut electricity supply to the war-battered Gaza Strip, calling in separate statements for the international community to take action. Israel announced on Sunday it was disconnecting the only power line to a water desalination plant in Gaza, in an effort to pressure Palestinian militant group Hamas into releasing hostages amid an apparent impasse in truce talks. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry expressed “condemnation in the strongest terms of the Israeli occupation authorities’ use of collective punishment against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by cutting off electricity to the area.”

• Saudi finance leaders discuss accounting reforms at ICAEW event

  Finance leaders in Saudi Arabia discussed the need for accounting reforms to augment investor trust and financial transparency at an event hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).  The conversation centred on how enhanced accounting standards, ethical frameworks, and technological adaptation could keep the profession aligned with the country’s progress.

• Saudi-owned Sela strikes deal with Olympics hero Mills

  Sky News has learnt that Sela, which has gained international prominence in recent years as the shirt sponsor of Saudi-owned Premier League side Newcastle United, will announce later on Tuesday the formation of a partnership with Origin Sports Group. The alliance will come soon after Sela agreed a collaboration with The Ring and TKO to form a new international boxing promotion company. Sela's joint venture with Origin will include the establishment of an international headquarters in London, with a board including Sela's head of international business, Ibrahim Mohtaseb.

• Saudi Arabia rebrands as mediator for global crises

  Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is increasingly busy hosting state leaders who fly in to discuss pressing global conflicts. This Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the Saudi Crown Prince to speak about Russia's war in Ukraine. This is ahead of a Tuesday meeting between Ukrainian and a US teams set to negotiate a potential end to Russia's war of aggression, as well as a security deal that would include US access to Ukraine's valuable mineral and metal deposits. It will be the first time that Ukrainian and US delegates talk face-to-face after the public spat between US President Donald Trump and President Zelenskyy in the White House in late February. The fact that the two countries have agreed to meet in Saudi Arabia — and not, say, in Europe — highlights the emerging key position of the oil-rich kingdom in the Middle East. "Saudi Arabia has indeed established itself as a platform for dialog in the last two to three years," Sebastian Sons, a senior researcher for the German think tank CARPO, told DW. "In Saudi Arabia's foreign policy strategy, it currently plays a very important role to talk to everyone," he added.

• Saudi Arabia, Ukraine Issue Joint Statement Emphasizing Strong Economic Ties and Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Trade Volume

  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine commended the strong economic ties between the two friendly countries and emphasized the importance of joint action to develop the volume of trade exchange. The two sides also welcomed the upcoming reestablishment of the Saudi-Ukrainian Business Council in 2025. This came in a joint statement issued following the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the text of which reads as follows: "Within the framework of distinguished relations and close cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 10, 2025. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received President Zelenskyy at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. They held an official discussion session, during which they reviewed the aspects of the distinguished relations between the two friendly countries, and expressed their desire to enhance them in all fields.

• US wants Ukraine to ‘do difficult things,’ Rubio says ahead of Saudi ceasefire talks

  The two sides have framed Tuesday's talks as a way to reset bilateral relations following last month's explosive Oval Office meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance. The showdown prompted Trump to denounce Kyiv as the main impediment to peace in Ukraine, as well as placing a freeze on U.S. military aid and some intelligence sharing. "The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things," Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who will lead the U.S. delegation -- said on Monday ahead of the talks. Zelenskyy has stressed his readiness for peace, though repeatedly warned that any agreement must ensure deterrence against future Russian aggression. On Monday, Zelenskyy -- who will not take part in Tuesday's talks -- traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

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