MUST-READS

• 2034 Saudi Arabia World Cup: Host cities, stadiums and all you need to know

  A total of 15 stadiums will be used, eleven of which will be new. To host the 48-team World Cup, the kingdom needs 14 all-seater stadiums capable of holding at least 40,000 people. It currently has two: Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium, which is undergoing a major refit. By the time 2034 arrives, Saudi Arabia is likely to be home to some of the world's leading stadia. Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern country to host a Fifa World Cup after the kingdom was confirmed as the hosts for the 2034 global finals. The decision was a mere formality with Saudi Arabia the sole bidders to host the 25th edition of the World Cup. The tournament will see 48 national teams take part. Here is everything we know so far about the 2034 World Cup.

• Saudi Arabia and Navantia Ink New Contract for 3 More Corvettes

  Construction of the first unit will begin this year and the last vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028. Navantia will be responsible for the delivery of the first unit in Spain and will finalize the second and third units in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the installation, integration and trials of the Hazem Combat System to be done by SAMINavantia, similar to the works carried out on the fourth and fifth units of the first contract. SAMINavantia will supply the complete combat system of the three corvettes. This second batch series of corvettes for Saudi Arabia will be similar to the first batch, with a design based on Navantia’s Avante 2200 model, which is a multipurpose vessel specially designed for patrolling and monitoring of the Exclusive Economic Zone, maritime traffic surveillance and control missions, search and rescue missions and assistance to other vessels, among others. In addition, the vessels will have an important capacity for the defense of strategic assets, intelligence, and anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-surface and electronic warfare capabilities.

• Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034: Experts, fans say event will be ‘massive’ for Kingdom

  “Not only will it attract global media attention, but it will also allow Saudi Arabia to demonstrate its ability to deliver on major projects,” he said. “An event like the FIFA World Cup puts Saudi Arabia on the map for global leaders and foreign investment. It signifies KSA’s openness to international collaboration, adaptability, and growth.” “With an influx of people, there will be a higher demand for resources and infrastructure to accommodate. Saudi Arabia can use this win as an opportunity to showcase how it uses innovation, modern technology, and sustainability to create a business environment that will appeal to foreign investors and businesses.”

• Saudi Arabia makes history, gaining FIFA World Cup 2034 hosting rights

  The Kingdom officially submitted its bid under the theme "Together We Grow" in July 2024, unveiling ambitious plans to host matches across 15 state-of-the-art stadiums in five host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and NEOM. Additionally, 10 other venues will support the tournament’s activities across the country. Saudi Arabia’s vision for the 2034 World Cup includes providing unparalleled experiences for players and fans, offering world-class facilities, and sustainable infrastructure while prioritizing environmental conservation. The advanced transportation network will ensure quick and easy access to stadiums, complemented by streamlined travel procedures to guarantee a seamless and enjoyable experience for visitors. Following the official announcement, Saudi Arabia reiterated its commitment to delivering an extraordinary and unprecedented World Cup. This includes fostering cultural exchange, promoting sustainability, and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. The tournament represents a unique opportunity to highlight the Kingdom’s transformation under Vision 2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and to showcase its remarkable progress across multiple sectors, including sports.

• Gianni Infantino expects “spectacular” FIFA World Cup 2034™ in Saudi Arabia

  The FIFA World Cup Saudi Arabia 2034™ will be the first ever 48-team edition of the tournament to be played in a single host country, with the FIFA World Cup 26™ taking place in Canada, Mexico and the United States, before Morocco, Portugal and Spain co-host the centenary FIFA World Cup 2030™ (preceded by three centenary celebration matches to open the finals in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay).  The FIFA President says the decision to award Saudi Arabia hosting and organisational rights for the World Cup 2034 underlines the country’s growing reputation as a world-class international destination and host of sporting events, including the recently concluded FIFAe World Cup 2024™ at the FIFAe Finals in Riyadh, the inaugural FIFA Series earlier in 2024 and the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™.

• Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup — a controversial pick

  The world's largest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2034, soccer's governing body announced Wednesday — a controversial selection that has already drawn criticism from human rights groups. Saudi Arabia's was the only bid for the 2034 tournament, making its announcement on Wednesday a formality. And it is the biggest jewel yet of the long-running effort by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de-facto ruler, to rebrand the country and propel it onto the world stage. In a joint statement, 21 human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Saudi-focused organization ALQST, said the selection of Saudi Arabia represented a "moment of great danger" for "residents, migrant workers and visiting fans alike."

• Saudi Arabia’s human rights record under fire after World Cup bid win
  Rights organisations strongly criticised FIFA on Wednesday after world soccer's ruling body officially awarded the 2034 men's World Cup to Saudi Arabia. Hosting the global showpiece tournament is the pinnacle of Saudi Arabia's massive push into sports and entertainment over recent years as it seeks to improve its international image. "FIFA's reckless decision... will put many lives at risk," Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Labour Rights and Sport, said in a statement issued by 21 bodies. They included Saudi diaspora human rights organisations, migrant workers' groups from Nepal and Kenya, international trade unions, fans' representatives and global human rights organisations.

• Saudi Arabia’s $1.5B Solar Thermal Project Powers Green Manufacturing

  Saudi Arabia is making a bold move toward decarbonization and industrial sustainability with the launch of the $1.5 billion Ma'aden I initiative. Spearheaded by GlassPoint in collaboration with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA) and Ma'aden, this project represents the world’s largest industrial solar thermal endeavor, aiming to transform the aluminum supply chain while bolstering Saudi Vision 2030. The initiative begins with the GlassPoint Ma'aden Technology Showcase (GMTS), introducing groundbreaking advancements in solar-to-heat technology. Key innovations include anticlastic polymer membranes and high-performance Niobium mirrors, which have significantly reduced solar field costs by 30% and thermal storage expenses by 50%. These developments are crucial to achieving cost-effective decarbonization in industrial processes.

• Saudi Arabia announces the establishment of a new international water research center

  Saudi Arabia has announced the establishment of a new international water research center. The center was established in a partnership between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley. The announcement was made during the high-level dialogue session "Sustainable water management in arid and semi-arid regions for drought and land resilience," as part of the activities of the Sustainability Innovation Week during the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD Cop16). The center will be a leading global platform for applied research in the field of water research, including water economics, water security, water pollution, advanced technologies, and digital monitoring.

• Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. But when exactly?

  Saudi Arabia proposes 15 stadiums — eight still on paper — in five cities: Eight in the capital Riyadh, four in the Red Sea port city Jeddah, and one each in Abha, Al Khobar and Neom, the planned futuristic mega-project. Each would have at least 40,000 seats for World Cup games. The opening game and final are set for a 92,000-seat venue planned in Riyadh. Some designs are vivid. In Neom, the stadium is planned 350 meters (yards) above street level and one near Riyadh is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff with a retractable wall of LED screens. Saudi Arabia aims to host all 104 games, though there has been speculation that some games could be played in neighboring or nearby countries.

• 10 of 17512 results<< 1 … 61 62 63 … 1,752 >>