MUST-READS

• Syria’s government signs breakthrough deal with Kurdish-led authorities in northeast

  Syria’s interim government signed a deal Monday with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country’s northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main US-backed force there into the Syrian army. The deal is a major breakthrough that would bring most of Syria under the control of the government, which is led by the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group that led the ouster of President Bashar Assad in December. The deal was signed by interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The deal to be implemented by the end of the year would bring all border crossings with Iraq and Turkiye, airports and oil fields in the northeast under the central government’s control. Prisons where about 9,000 suspected members of the Daesh group are also expected to come under government control.

• Clashes in Syria’s coastal region between government forces and Assad loyalists kill more than 70

  Clashes between Syrian security forces under the country’s new, Islamist authorities and gunmen loyal to ousted President Bashar Assad in Syria’s western coastal region have killed more than 70 people and left an area outside government control, a war monitor said Friday. The clashes, which erupted on Thursday and appear coordinated across the coastal region, were a major escalation and a challenge to the new government in Damascus, where the former insurgents now in power have pledged to unite Syria after 14 years of brutal civil war.

• Saudi Crown Prince congratulates Lebanese PM on forming new government

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on forming a new government, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday. MBS sent a cable to Salam, expressing “sincere congratulations and wishing [Salam] goodluck and success and for the brotherly people of Lebanon further progress. ”The Crown Prince’s cable to the prime minister comes after the newly formed Lebanese government won the lawmakers’ vote of confidence on Wednesday. Salam was serving as president of the International Court of Justice before his designation as prime minister in January. It came after the country’s army commander, Joseph Aoun, was elected as a president.

• Saudi Arabia ranks first globally in government trust and future outlook

  Saudi Arabia ranked as the most trusted government worldwide, with a remarkable 87 percent trust rate, according to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer. This reflects the Kingdom's continued leadership in global trust indicators. This achievement underscores the success of Vision 2030 in strengthening institutional stability and governance, making Saudi Arabia a global benchmark for public trust. Additionally, Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in future outlook, with 69 percent of citizens believing the next generation will be better off. This optimistic perspective starkly contrasts with less than 50 percent in most other countries, showcasing the positive societal impact of Vision 2030 and the nation’s commitment to sustainable development. In addition to maintaining its leading global position, Saudi Arabia outperformed several countries in trust indicators, including the United States with 47 percent, the United Kingdom 43 percent, and Germany 41 percent.

• NDMC closes the February 2025 Issuance under the Saudi Arabian Government SAR-denominated Sukuk Program

  The National Debt Management Center announces the closure of February 2025 issuance under the Saudi Arabian Government SAR-denominated Sukuk Program. The Total Amount Allocated was set at SAR 3.071Bn (three billion and seventy-one million Saudi Riyals)

• Saudi Arabia set to become a key wheat flour exporter if government controls relax further

  Flour mills across the Middle East are bracing for intensified competition from Saudi Arabia in the export market as expectations grow that the government will loosen its control over wheat procurement. "It's quite a concern for us," a UAE flour mill said. "Once public organizations have slowly been turning into the private realm, which means they'll be better managed for profit moving forward." Flour mills in Saudi Arabia procure all their wheat from the government body responsible for food security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the General Authority for Food Security (GFSA). However, 2025 is expected to be the year when the government's control over wheat purchases comes to an end, which means mills would take charge of imports themselves rather than buying from the GFSA, according to the source.

• NDMC closes January 2025 issuance under Saudi Government SAR-denominated sukuk program

  The National Debt Management Center (NDMC) announced the closure of January 2025 issuance under the Saudi Arabian Government SAR-denominated Sukuk Program. The total amount allocated was set at SAR 3.724 Bn (three billion and seven hundred and twenty-four million Saudi Riyals) The Sukuk issuance was divided into four tranches as follows: The first tranche has a size of SAR1.255 Bn (one billion and two hundred and fifty-five million Saudi Riyals) maturing in 2029. The second tranche has a size of SAR 1.405 Bn (one billion and four hundred and five million Saudi Riyals) maturing in 2032. The third tranche has a size of SAR 1.036 Bn (one billion and thirty-six million Saudi Riyals) maturing in 2036.

• Saudi Arabia Participates in Ministerial Meeting in New York to Back Yemeni Government

  The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has participated in the international ministerial meeting to support the Yemeni government, held here in conjunction with the UN Security Council meeting and co-chaired by Yemeni Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak and British Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer. SDRPY Director of Developmental Programs Dr. Hala Alsaleh underscored that Saudi Arabia's participation in the meeting reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting Yemen across various sectors. She highlighted the Kingdom's consistent efforts to foster peace and stability in Yemen through comprehensive development initiatives led by the program.

• UAE discusses post-war Gaza government with US and Israel
  The United Arab Emirates has discussed with Israel and the United States participating in a provisional administration of post-war Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority is able to take charge, according to people familiar with the talks. The behind-the-scenes discussions, reported by Reuters for the first time, included the possibility of the UAE and the United States, along with other nations, temporarily overseeing the governance, security and reconstruction of Gaza after the Israeli military withdraws and until a Palestinian administration is able to take over, a dozen foreign diplomats and Western officials told Reuters.

• Anti-corruption squad arrests Saudi government employees

  Government employees were among 145 people arrested in Saudi Arabia over corruption charges last month. The country’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) conducted 1,462 “oversight visits” in December, during which 390 accused individuals were investigated and the arrests made. Those involved worked for a range of government agencies including the ministries of the interior, defence, justice, health, education, municipalities and housing, Nazaha said. Those arrested, some of whom were released on bail, are accused of crimes including bribery and abuse of authority.

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