MUST-READS

• 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.

• 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.

• Saudi Arabia bans use of ‘sponsor,’ mandates ’employer’ for government and private entities
  The Ministry of Commerce in Saudi Arabia has instructed both government and private entities to refrain from using the term 'sponsor' and instead use 'employer' in all official documents. The ministry emphasised that, according to Article 2 of the Labour Law, the term 'employer' refers to "any natural or legal person who employs one or more workers in return for a wage." This directive was conveyed through a letter sent by the Ministry to the Federation of Saudi Chambers, which subsequently issued a circular to chambers of commerce and industry across the Kingdom.

• Saudi previously sought extradition for Germany attack suspect: Source close to government

  Saudi Arabia had previously requested extradition for the Saudi suspect in Germany’s deadly Christmas market attack, a source close to the government told AFP on Monday. “There was [an extradition] request,” said the source, without giving the reason for the request, adding that Riyadh had warned he “could be dangerous.” The attack on Friday evening killed five people. Saudi Arabia had warned Germany “many times” about Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, the source said. He did not explain in what way he was considered potentially dangerous.

• Macron wraps up Saudi visit as government faces no-confidence vote

  Macron flew out after viewing the ancient AlUla heritage site, a cornerstone of the conservative country's nascent tourism industry, at the end of his three-day tour. The first French state visit to Saudi Arabia since 2006 came against the backdrop of a major political crisis that threatens to force out the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Speaking to travelling reporters on Tuesday, Macron rejected calls to resign to break the deadlock, saying such a move was "political fiction" and "doesn't make any sense". The French president kept the focus largely on diplomatic and business ties during his visit to Saudi Arabia, which is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on revamping its oil-reliant economy.

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