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  • Saudi Arabia ranks 3rd globally by growth in int’l tourists in 9M 2024

    Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in terms of the highest growth rate in the number of international tourists during the first eight to nine months of 2024, with a 61% increase compared to the same period in 2019, according to a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) published this month. The Kingdom also moved up 15 places in the global ranking for international tourist spending, achieving the 12th position globally in 2023 compared to 2019, making the largest leap among the top 50 countries, the state-run SPA reported.

  • Perspective: Is a Changing Saudi Arabia Eager for Trump – or Not?

    The economic and social components of Vision 2030 fit into a broader attempt by the state to build a new national image for Saudi Arabia, both at home and abroad. The country is well situated both geographically and economically to speak to both East and West in a newly multipolar era. A long-running partnership with the United States throughout the Cold War and growing trade ties with China – in addition to the country’s importance as one of the world’s largest oil exporters – grant it a unique position in world affairs, as does the country’s significance to Muslims as the birthplace of Islam.

  • Perspective: Is Saudi Arabia Serious About Joining the BRICS?

    At the start of 2024, the multilateral BRICS consortium of five emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—underwent its first expansion in 13 years, admitting Ethiopia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Iran to its ranks. But Saudi Arabia, arguably the most sought-after and high-profile invitee, stopped short of joining the bloc as a full-fledged member. When Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman skipped the annual BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan in October, it fueled speculation about whether Saudi Arabia could potentially refuse its invitation and content itself with observer or partner status instead. The Saudis have expressed interest in joining the BRICS for several years, starting with statements from the crown prince in 2022, but have also kept their intentions ambiguous.

  • Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency Seeks to Mobilize Private Sector for Land Restoration

    Today marked the launch of Land Day by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's presidency of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The event launches the first of seven scheduled Thematic Days aimed at sparking discussions and advancing negotiations on critical issues surrounding land degradation, desertification, and drought. A key topic of conversation highlighted the urgent need to mobilize private-sector investment to gather international resources for land restoration efforts. In light of this, Saudi Arabia's UNCCD presidency urged the private sector to significantly increase funding, especially after a UNCCD report revealed that only 6% of financial commitments for land resilience and drought recovery have come from private sources. The report further underscored the high cost of inaction, warning that the global economy could face a staggering loss of $23 trillion by 2050 due to continued land degradation, desertification, and drought.

  • Saudi Arabia will be most competitive in hydrogen production: SABIC CEO

    In a session during the Saudi Green Initiative, he said that the company is working to remove carbon and carbon emissions from hydrogen and is coordinating with Saudi Aramco and other companies to produce ammonia, which has proven to be the most competitive. He indicated that there is a need for all partners and value chains to cooperate in technical works and others. Al-Faqeeh also indicated that the logistical aspect is important, pointing to the need for an integrated logistics services chain for hydrogen producers and consumers, as well as financing and more time for the project to become successful.

  • UN experts call on Saudi Arabia to halt imminent executions amid sharp rise

    United Nations human rights experts have called on Saudi Arabia to halt the planned executions of three foreign nationals, amid a significant spike in the Kingdom’s use of the death penalty in recent years. According to two UN Special Rapporteurs – Morris Tidball-Binz, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and Alice Jill Edwards, the Special Rapporteur on torture – three Egyptians were executed by Saudi authorities on Tuesday this week, with two more Egyptian nationals and a Jordanian national due to be executed imminently. The reported upcoming death sentences come as the Kingdom’s executions this year have risen to over 300 people, a record increase in the penalty amid a general rise in the practice in recent years.

  • Saudi Arabia launches Milaf Cola, world’s first date-based soft drink

    Saudi Arabia recently launched a rather unusual cola, crafted not from corn syrup or cane sugar but from the nation’s most prized fruit—dates. Named Milaf Cola, the drink was developed by Thurath Al-Madina, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, and launched at the Riyadh Date Festival by the company’s CEO, Bander Al-Qahtani, and the Saudi agriculture minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley. The cola’s star ingredient are premium dates which are packed with fiber, antioxidants, and essential minerals such as magnesium and potassium, and are revered in the Middle East for their health benefits. Milaf Cola claims it contains no added sugar and is able to harness the superfood’s health benefits, positioning itself as a healthier alternative to conventional sodas without compromising on flavour.  

  • Aramco to develop CCS in Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Aramco has signed a shareholders’ agreement with Linde and SLB for development of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub in Jubail, the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Phase one of the new CCS hub is expected to capture and store up to 9 million metric tons/year of CO2 from three Aramco gas plants and other industrial sources. The captured CO2 will be transported through a pipeline network and stored below ground in a saline aquifer sink, the operator said in a release Dec. 4. Construction is expected to be completed by end-2027. Later phases could further expand capacity. The overall project is aimed at supporting Aramco's ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and gas emissions across its wholly owned operated assets by 2050.

  • Saudi Arabia extends term of $3 bln deposit with Pakistan for another year

    Saudi Arabia has extended the term of a $3 billion deposit placed with Pakistan to support its economy for another year, Pakistan's central bank said on Thursday. The term of the deposit, which was maturing on Thursday, was initially signed with State Bank of Pakistan in 2021, and was subsequently rolled over in 2022 and 2023, the bank said.

  • French President Emmanuel Macron visits Saudi Arabia’s historic AlUla Valley

    French President Emmanuel Macron visited the historic AlUla Valley on Wednesday as part of his state visit to Saudi Arabia. Accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Macron began his tour at Hegra, the ancient Nabataean city known for its spectacular stone-carved landmarks, Saudi Press Agency reported. Hegra, also known as Mada’in Salih, was Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Macron was guided through the most prominent monuments and archaeological sites in the area.