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  • Saudi ambassador to US represents Kingdom at Trump inauguration ceremony

    The princess passed on the congratulations of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Trump on the day of his second inauguration as US president. She also conveyed the hopes of the Saudi leadership that he will enjoy success in his duties, the Saudi Press Agency reported

  • Saudi: New executive regulations for law practice come into force

    The Saudi Bar Association (SBA) has announced the enforcement of the new executive regulations for law practice, effective from Jan. 15. These regulations replace the previous ones issued in 1423 AH. The updated regulations aimed to enhance the organizational framework of the legal profession, aligning it with modern international best practices. They also seek to strengthen the Kingdom’s competitiveness and improve its business environment by ensuring the availability of essential legal services for investors and business owners across various sectors. The new regulations include significant updates and reforms, such as the repeal of the rules on disciplinary action and the filing and adjudication of related complaints issued in 1443 AH. Additionally, the executive regulations for licensing foreign law firms, issued in 1444 AH, and the rules for mitigating conflicts of interest for former judiciary employees and their equivalents practicing law, issued in 1444 AH, will be annulled.

  • New Honeywell centre cements Saudi Arabia’s position in global cybersecurity market

    Honeywell recently launched a new centre in Saudi Arabia’s Jubail to provide localised cybersecurity services for critical industrial sectors in the Kingdom, according to a press release. Honeywell Himaya Center, which was announced at the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (iktva) Forum and Exhibition 2025 in Dhahran, will support Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation and strengthen its position as a key player in the global cybersecurity market.

  • Sotheby’s Reveals Linup For Saudi Auction

    Titled “Origins“, the two-day evening auction will open on February 8th. It will occur at the historic town of Diriyah, a UNESCO heritage site – though the exact location hasn’t been shared. Over 100 works would be sold in the auction. Before it, between February 1st and 8th, the works would be on public display at both enclosed spaces and open sites around Diriyah.  The artworks include works by Picasso and Warhol. There would be installations like one by James Turrell (est. $120k -$180k) and Sidle by Antony Gormley (est. 700k -$800k). Sotheby’s is also paying special focus to surrealist art. These include L’État de veille by Rene Magritte (est. $1 million -$1.5 million) and La Légende égyptienne by Paul Delvaux (est. 700k).

  • Saudi Arabia boosts mining industry

    Throughout this year, Saudi Arabia intends to promote mineral exploration opportunities in an area of up to 50,000 square kilometres, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef announced at the International Mining Conference recently held in Riyadh.  The minister noted that the Kingdom's programme to enable mineral exploration has already helped exploration companies excavate more than 440,000 square metres. He also used the occasion to announce the launch of the Mining Innovation Studio initiative, a project designed to attract global talent and accelerate the use of advanced technologies, as well as to advance Riyadh's vision of becoming the ‘Silicon Valley of Metals’.

  • KAUST leads efforts to kickstart an innovative cement industry in Saudi Arabia

    As part of efforts to support the Kingdom in diversifying the Saudi economy and creating innovative new industries, KAUST has announced the Future Cement Initiative (FCI) to guide cement manufacturing. KAUST, the Ministry of Industries and Mineral Resources, and the National Committee of Cement Companies form the core group of founding partners of the FCI. Saudi Arabia’s industrial sectors have surged by 60% over recent years, reflecting the country’s efforts to diversify its economy and position itself as a global manufacturing power. Many of these projects are cement intensive, and a primary goal of the FCI aims to improve the economic and environmental competitiveness of cement manufacturing in Saudi Arabia through the development of cost-effective approaches and innovative technologies. In turn, this will position Saudi Arabia as a leader in the Middle East region’s cement industry.

  • Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious new airline, just suffered a big setback

    In 2023, Riyadh Air announced it had ordered 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with options for 33 more. The airline had expected to take delivery of eight such aircraft this year, but now expected to get just four, Bloomberg reported. As a result, Riyadh Air has pushed its planned launch back from early 2025 to the third quarter.  "We have obviously pivoted like everybody else has on a number of occasions to be able to adjust to the latest forecast," CEO Tony Douglas told the outlet. "I am confident, given the latest forecast, that we'll get deliveries this year," he added. "Is it completely without risk? Obviously no, it's not." Boeing said in a statement: "We continue to work closely with Riyadh Air on their delivery schedule and look forward to supporting Riyadh's inaugural operations."

  • Energy Minister: Saudi aims to extract every ounce of its resources

    Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said energy security, affordability, and sustainability depend on urgent, collective, and comprehensive efforts to address the challenges of critical minerals. In his speech at the Future Minerals Forum, the minister said Saudi Arabia is determined to extract every ounce, gram, particle, atom, and electron of its resources. "This is my cause, and I am its advocate. I firmly believe in it," the minister confirmed.

  • Saudi economy expected to grow 3.3% in 2025: IMF

    Saudi Arabia’s economy is expected to grow by 3.3% and 4.1% in 2025 and 2026, respectively, a new report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) showed. The fund raised the 2025 growth forecasts from 4.6% previously in October due to extending the OPEC+ output reduction agreement. The IMF cut its growth forecast for the Middle East and North Africa this year, largely reflecting lower expectations for Saudi Arabia's economic growth to 1.3% in 2025, compared to previous estimates.

  • Why Saudi Arabia is so keen on the Turkish KAAN

    The KAAN is a Turkish fifth-generation, multi-role, stealth fighter aircraft developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and BAE Systems, which is based in London. The project to develop the aircraft began in 2010, with the aim of replacing Turkey’s aging F-16 fleet and boosting Turkey’s autonomy, self-dependency, and overall military and national power. The urgency to develop this aircraft increased after Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019. The KAAN made its maiden flight in February 2024. Riyadh has expressed interest in acquiring F-35 fighter jets since 2017; however, the United States has not committed to the sale, and the situation has been prolonged. Riyadh is likely also feeling unsure about its ability to secure an F-35 deal considering the experiences of its neighbors.