MUST-READS

• Commentary: For Saudi Arabia, There’s a Dealmaking Opportunity With Trump

  Instead, Trump may see a new agreement with Saudi Arabia as the most achievable, and potentially meaningful, of his three dealmaking opportunities in the Middle East. He inherits a remarkably advanced set of negotiations crafted by the administration of President Joseph R. Biden Jr., mainly in 2023 before the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on southern Israel. The Biden administration sought to develop a game-changing triangular agreement with Saudi Arabia and Israel. The bilateral Saudi component was the simplest and, by October 7, 2023, the Biden team had almost finalized the main aspects of this possible arrangement. Essentially, the United States would provide Saudi Arabia with a new mutual defense agreement modeled after those crafted with Japan and South Korea in the early 1950s plus an agreement for U.S. oversight of Saudi nuclear energy production. The sticking point for the deal that was never overcome was the parallel bilateral U.S.-Israeli negotiations for a “Significant Palestinian Component” accompanying Saudi normalization with Israel.

• Riyadh Air: Saudi airline to recruit ‘top talent in the Kingdom’ as it gears for launch

  Saudi Arabia’s new airline Riyadh Air will focus on recruiting top talent from inside the Kingdom, prioritizing hiring Saudi female graduates, before its launch next year, a senior official told Al Arabiya English. The airline plans to connect more than 100 destinations by 2030 and aims to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a global aviation hub and major tourism destination, Osamah Alnuaiser, SVP Marketing & Corporate Communications, said.

• History-making Saudi women’s 3×3 basketball champs out to inspire more girls to play

  On a balmy Sunday afternoon in Manama earlier this month, Kawther ‘Koko’ Khayyat (the basketball coach), Jana Salem Balgaith (the student) and Abeer Alhamidi (the Ministry of Sport manager), along with team-mate Riman Abdulaziz, helped Team Riyadh claim Saudi Arabia’s first ever major 3x3 title. On a balmy Sunday afternoon in Manama earlier this month, Kawther ‘Koko’ Khayyat (the basketball coach), Jana Salem Balgaith (the student) and Abeer Alhamidi (the Ministry of Sport manager), along with team-mate Riman Abdulaziz, helped Team Riyadh claim Saudi Arabia’s first ever major 3x3 title.

• US vetoes another UN Security Council resolution seeking Gaza ceasefire

  The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, marking the fourth time that Washington has used its veto power to block a ceasefire resolution at the international body since Israel's war on Gaza began in October 2023. The draft resolution was aimed at calling for an "immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Palestinian groups in the enclave. The measure received 14 votes in favour, with the US the sole member to reject it. However, because the US is a permanent member of the council, it has the ability to veto any resolution brought forward.

• Here’s how Saudi travelers are picking where to go in 2025

  First, we heard from flight comparison website Skyscanner, revealing that the Kingdom's citizens and residents have their sights set on a wide range of destinations in 2025 including the Italian capital of Rome, Poland's Krakow, Montreal in Canada and Gan in the Maldives. The company also revealed that two Saudi destinations have ranked among the world's top places to go next year, with the UNESCO World Heritage site of AlUla in Saudi's northwest and the capital city of Riyadh recording surging search interest. When travelling with children, nearly three in four Saudis pick destinations that they wanted to visit in their own early years, while places to build lasting memories remain high on the travel agenda, along with those that offer out authentic local experiences.

• Saudi king chairs cabinet meeting for first time since September
  Saudi Arabia's King Salman chaired the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to state television, for the first time since Sept. 24.
  The 88-year-old king of the world's biggest oil exporter, a major U.S. ally in the Middle East, recovered in October from lung inflammation after undergoing medical tests. His last cabinet meeting in September came after a royal decree a month earlier allowing the cabinet to convene in the absence of both himself and the prime minister, his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

• Riyadh Air: Saudi airline to recruit ‘top talent in the Kingdom’ as it gears for launch

  Saudi Arabia’s new airline Riyadh Air will focus on recruiting top talent from inside the Kingdom, prioritizing hiring Saudi female graduates, before its launch next year, a senior official told Al Arabiya English. The airline plans to connect more than 100 destinations by 2030 and aims to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a global aviation hub and major tourism destination, Osamah Alnuaiser, SVP Marketing & Corporate Communications, said.

• King Salman approves hosting of 1,000 Umrah pilgrims from 66 countries

  Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has approved the hosting of 1,000 pilgrims from 66 countries to perform Umrah as part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Programme for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit. The pilgrims will be hosted in four groups during the current Islamic year which ends in the final week of June 2025.

• Infection, prevention and control excellence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections

  In 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) faced a significant public health challenge: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) were alarmingly prevalent, particularly in adult intensive care units (ICUs). Through a comprehensive initiative led by the Ministry of Health and involving facility managers and clinicians Saudi Arabia has seen a reduction of 48.8% in the occurrence of CLABSI compared to 2021.

• The IMF and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Hold a High-Level Annual Conference on Emerging Markets

  The International Monetary Fund and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to organize jointly in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, a high-level annual conference on challenges and opportunities facing emerging market economies. The first edition of this series will be held on February 16-17, 2025.  “The Al-Ula Conference for Emerging Market Economies will convene a select group of emerging markets’ ministers of finance, central bank governors, and policymakers, as well as public and private sector leaders, international institutions, and academia. It will offer a unique platform to exchange views on domestic, regional and global economic developments and discuss policies and reforms to spur inclusive prosperity and build resilience supported by strong international cooperation.”

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