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  • Ford is the fastest-growing auto brand in Saudi Arabia ahead of upcoming overseas EV push

    More people are buying Ford’s vehicles in The Middle East than ever. “2024 has been an exceptional year for Ford in the Middle East, with sales having doubled since 2022,” president of Ford Middle East, Ravi Ravichandran, said Thursday. Ford’s success is being driven by “strong market share gains by our distributors,” Ravichandran explained.  The “Mustang Mach E represents a landmark moment for us,” Ford’s president of International Markets Group, Kay Hart, said. “It’s our first fully electric vehicle for the region and is truly one of the most exciting vehicles Ford has ever produced.” Ford will launch the 2025 Mustang Mach-E in the region next year. It will be available in two battery options with an estimated range of 350 to 450 km (217 to 280 miles).

  • ​​New Report Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Wellness Economy

    The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released new insights into Saudi Arabia’s $19.8 billion wellness economy, as part of its Geography of Wellness research initiative. Highlighted by the UN for surpassing its milestone of over 100 million tourists in 2023—seven years ahead of target—the Kingdom’s tourism sector has expanded rapidly under Vision 2030. Since the government program’s launch, tourism’s contribution to GDP has risen from 3 to 7 percent and is on track to reach 10 percent by 2030. GWI’s data underscores this momentum, showing a 66 percent average annual growth in Saudi Arabia’s wellness tourism sector from 2020 to 2022.

  • Snow falls for the first time ever in desert in Saudi Arabia: Video

    Snow accumulates on roads as it falls for the first time in desert in Saudi Arabia. Bizarre weather brought thunderstorms, hail, and rainfall across Saudi Arabia, and led to the snow accumulation.

  • Strengthening Documentary Heritage Preservation in Saudi Arabia

    UNESCO launched this week the first in a series of capacity-building activities aimed at preserving documentary heritage in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Organized in cooperation with the Royal Commission of AlUla (RCU), these activities will explore best practices at strengthening the capacity of national archives and other memory institutions. Featuring the participation of experts from RCU and partner organizations involved in the preservation of AlUla’s heritage, the inaugural workshop trained 16 heritage practitioners from AlUla’s memory institutions, including archivists, librarians, conservators, and cultural heritage managers.

  • Sotheby’s Inaugural Auction in Saudi Arabia to Take Place in Diriyah in February 2025n Saudi Arabia

    Sotheby’s has today announced plans for its inaugural auction in Saudi Arabia – an unprecedented event that will mark the first ever international auction in the Kingdom’s history. Titled Origins, the sale will take place on 8 February 2025, offering an array of Sotheby’s global offerings for new and seasoned collectors. The two-part evening auction will comprise a sale of fine art by both home-grown Saudi artists alongside the leading names in international art history, as well as a showcase of all that luxury encompasses, including jewellery, watches, cars, sports memorabilia and handbags. Prior to the sale, the contents of Origins will be showcased in a free, public exhibition, open from 1 – 8 February, in a week-long celebration of art, luxury and culture.

  • Iraq, Saudi Arabia move to shore up military cooperation

    Iraq and Saudi Arabia have inked a new military cooperation agreement, marking a potentially significant step in their evolving rapprochement. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) aims to enhance defense ties between the two neighbors, focusing on addressing shared security challenges. Signed amid mounting regional tension, the agreement signals Baghdad’s interest in forging a middle path, particularly concerning Iran. While details on the MOU are scarce, observers say it may be an initial step in a long journey to redefine Iraq’s role in regional security. 

  • Saudi Arabia Online Food Ordering and Delivery Analysis Report 2024: Market to Reach $7.95 Billion by 2029

    The online food ordering and delivery market in Saudi Arabia has experienced exponential growth in recent years, undergoing a transformative shift in the way consumers access and enjoy food. Several key factors contribute to the burgeoning success and evolution of this market within the kingdom. The market is characterized by stiff competition among various online food delivery platforms, each vying for consumer attention and loyalty.

  • Saudi Arabia issues Real Estate Transaction Tax Law

    The Law introduces specific exemptions for various real estate transactions, providing further guidance on certain exemptions that were not referenced previously. The Law is effective 180 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette (i.e., effective 9 April 2025). Once the Law is effective, any contradictory provisions will be superseded. Additionally, the Board of Governors of the ZATCA will also issue new Implementing Regulations (Regulations) within 180 days from the date of issuance of the Law to facilitate the effective implementation of the Law, by providing additional guidance.

  • ‘Exceptional’ 4000-Year-Old Settlement Emerges in a Saudi Arabian Oasis

    Until 20 years ago, little was known about the Bronze Age culture of the Hejaz, a mountainous region that abuts the Red Sea in western Saudi Arabia. Archaeological evidence was scant and the traces on the ground—largely megalithic monuments and rock art—pointed to an era and territory sparsely populated by nomadic pastoralists. In the early 2000s, that picture began to change through a Saudi-German mission in the Tayma oasis that uncovered a fortified settlement with strong trade links across the Arabian Peninsula and with other Mesopotamian civilizations. Next, a Saudi-Austrian expedition in 2015 explored another urbanized oasis. Now, new excavations, some 120 miles southwest in the Khaybar Oasis, further the idea that the area saw an increase in urban living between 2,500 B.C.E. and the beginning of the second millennium B.C.E

  • Saudi Arabia Inks Over $18 Billion in Agreements on Biban24 Opening Day

    Saudi Arabia’s Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (Monsha’at) signed over 17 agreements and MoUs worth SAR 18 Billion on the first day of Biban24. This marked a major milestone in the Kingdom’s efforts to transform its rapidly growing SME sector. The forum kicked off on 5 November, bringing together startups, fintechs, and enterprises from around the globe. These participants struck diverse, innovative agreements aimed at enhancing regional and global SME sectors. Biban24, the Kingdom’s largest startup and SME event, runs from November 5th to November 9th, 2024, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center. Monsha’at secured both local and international agreements, including an MoU with Korea’s Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises. This partnership focuses on enhancing SME technical classification, with a particular emphasis on the fintech sector.